Ubiquitous Energy
A transparent coating that enables any surface to convert ambient light into useful electricity.
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* | $30.0m | Series B | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Ubiquitous Energy operates in the transparent solar technology sector, developing a patented photovoltaic glass coating that generates electricity while remaining visually indistinguishable from traditional windows. The company was founded in late 2011 by Miles Barr, Vladimir Bulović, and Richard Lunt, spinning out of research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The founders' work at MIT led to the creation of the first authentic transparent solar cell by selectively absorbing ultraviolet (UV) and near-infrared (NIR) light to generate electricity while allowing most visible light to pass through.
The company's core product, branded as UE Power™, is a thin, organic-based coating applied to glass surfaces. This technology utilizes non-toxic, earth-abundant materials, similar to pigments in paints, to harvest solar energy without altering the aesthetics of the window. The business model appears to be centered on licensing its technology and partnering with established glass and window manufacturers to integrate UE Power™ into their existing production processes using standard vacuum physical vapor deposition (PVD) equipment. Key clients are residential and commercial window and door manufacturers. The company has secured partnerships with major industry players like Andersen Corporation, AGC, and NSG Group to develop products for these markets.
Ubiquitous Energy has raised over $70 million in funding through a combination of private investments and government grants. A significant milestone was a $30 million Series B funding round in late 2021, with participation from investors such as Andersen Corporation, ENEOS, and Safar Partners. The company has completed several demonstration projects, installing its transparent solar windows at its headquarters, Michigan State University, and commercial buildings in Colorado and Japan. Despite these advancements and plans to open its first high-volume manufacturing facility in the U.S. by 2024, the company reportedly began terminating employees in April 2024, facing an uncertain future.
Keywords: transparent solar, photovoltaic coating, building-integrated photovoltaics, energy-generating windows, smart glass, organic photovoltaics, solar energy, cleantech, renewable energy, window manufacturing