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- Solar energy demand has grown at about 30% per annum over the past 15 years. (Hydrocarbon energy demand typically grows between 0-2% per annum).
- The US market showed 57% growth in 2007. Japan’s market reached 230MW, a marginal increase from 2006.
- Japan has taken over from the United States as the largest net exporter of PV cells and modules.
- Japan accounted for 39% of total global cell production in 2006
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July 01, 2008
Sencera Awarded NC Green Business Fund Grant for $100,000
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Lt. Governor of North Carolina (2008)
Bev Perdue
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Charlotte based solar panel manufacturer Sencera was one of 13 companies awarded a grant from the North Carolina Green Business fund. 85 firms applied to the fund. Sencera was awarded the maximum grant of $100,000.
The objective of the North Carolina Green Business fund is to encourage the development and commercialization of green technologies such as renewable energy, next generation biofuels and the green building industry. Lt. Governor Bev Perdue initiated the legislation to create the Green Business fund and the program is administered by the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology.
"We appreciate the leadership Lt. Governor Perdue has shown in her efforts to support the growth of green technologies and new green jobs in North Carolina through the establishment of the NC Green Business Fund." said Sencera CEO, Dr. Rusty Jewett.
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Founded in 2003, Sencera's core technology is based on advanced Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) hardware and processes used to deposit thin films of semi-conductor material on glass, metal or plastic substrates. In 2007, Sencera began to use its proprietary technology to deposit thin photovoltaic films on glass to create a solar module. When sunlight hits the surface of a solar module, a percentage of the sunlight is converted directly into clean renewable electricity. Sencera plans to utilize its patent pending technology to manufacture solar modules at rates up to 10 times faster than its current competitors.
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Acting Executive Director for the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology (2008)
Dr. John Hardin, Ph.D.
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"Sencera will use the grant from the NC Green Business fund to develop and commercialize a new generation of low cost solar modules that we plan to manufacture right here in North Carolina. The award will also help us attract private sector investment that will be needed to scale our operations and meet the fast growing demand for clean solar energy." said Sencera CEO Dr. Rusty Jewett
Recently, the company accepted a $3.6 million investment from the Quercus Trust in Newport Beach, California. This capital is being deployed to build a pilot production line at the Sencera headquarters in Charlotte. The company anticipates additional investment of $15 million this summer. This money will be used to complete the company's first production line, expected to start up in the summer months of 2009.
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