Soliant Energy

About Soliant Energy

Soliant Energy, founded in 2005, operated in the alternative energy equipment sector with a focus on manufacturing concentrating photovoltaic modules. The company was headquartered in Monrovia, California, and targeted both commercial and residential applications. Its business revolved around producing solar panels specifically designed for commercial rooftops and carports.

The company developed a method to reduce the required amount of photovoltaic materials and silicon in its panels. This was achieved by designing modules that could rotate to follow the sun, concentrating sunlight onto a smaller photovoltaic surface area. This approach reportedly allowed for the same power output as traditional panels while using up to 80% less PV surface area, which aimed to lower the initial investment for customers. The design was also intended to be more suitable for roof mounting compared to traditional pole-mounted tracking systems.

Over its operational history, Soliant Energy secured $30.2 million in funding from investors including Band of Angels, California Clean Energy Angel Fund, Convexa, GE Energy Financial Services, and Nth Power. The company's journey culminated in its acquisition by Emcore on March 28, 2011.