Solar Inventions

Solar Inventions operates at the forefront of photovoltaic science, focusing on developing and licensing new solar cell architectures. The company was established in 2019 by co-founders Dr. Ben Damiani, Bill Nussey, and Gregg Freishtat and is headquartered at Georgia Tech's startup accelerator, the Atlanta Technology Development Center (ATDC). The company's genesis is rooted in the extensive research and inventions of Dr. Damiani, the Chief Scientist, who holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech and has a substantial background in the solar and semiconductor industries with pioneers like Suniva, SolarWorld, and Intel. His work, which includes implementing the first high-volume production of Ion Implanted Solar Cells, bridges advanced electronics technology with solar applications.

The company's business model centers on licensing its intellectual property to solar cell and panel manufacturers globally. Rather than manufacturing products itself, Solar Inventions provides its patented technologies to partners, who can then integrate them into existing production lines without significant capital expenditure. This approach is designed to create a revenue stream through licensing fees and joint ventures, where partners share in the revenue generated within their regions. The firm primarily serves solar cell and module manufacturers, offering them a way to improve product efficiency and reduce costs.

Solar Inventions' core product is the Configurable Current Cell (C3), a novel solar cell architecture. This technology electrically divides a single silicon solar cell into multiple sub-cells directly on the wafer during the metallization process, which eliminates the need to physically cut the cells. The key benefits of C3 include increased power output, improved performance in shaded conditions, enhanced safety by reducing hotspot risks, and significant cost savings from reduced silver consumption—a major material expense in cell production. C3 is compatible with approximately 95% of mainstream silicon cell technologies, including PERC, n-type, and bifacial cells, allowing for broad market adoption without altering existing manufacturing equipment. A significant milestone was achieved in September 2019, when Solar Inventions won the top prize in the U.S. Department of Energy's American-Made Solar Prize competition, securing substantial funding and validation for its technology.

Keywords: solar cell technology, photovoltaic architecture, configurable current cell, C3 technology, solar IP licensing, Ben Damiani, Bill Nussey, Gregg Freishtat, solar manufacturing, silicon solar cell, PV efficiency, solar panel innovation, renewable energy hardware, energy technology, Atlanta Technology Development Center, Department of Energy Solar Prize, solar metallization, PERC solar cells, n-type solar cells, bifacial solar modules, hotspot reduction, shade tolerance