Konarka Technologies
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Solar energy |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | 42°38′50″N 71°18′28″W / 42.6471°N 71.3079°W, Lowell, Massachusetts , USA |
Key people | Howard Berke, Executive chairman; Rick Hess, CEO; Daniel E. Geffken, EVP and CFO; Daniel P. McGahn, EVP and CMO |
| Products | Photovoltaics |
Number of employees | 70 (2008) |
Konarka Technologies, Inc. was a solar energy enterprise based in Lowell, Massachusetts, established in 2001 as a spin-off from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The company ceased operations and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May 2012, with its assets sold off to repay creditors.
The firm specialized in two varieties of organic solar cells: polymer-fullerene solar cells and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Its photovoltaic technology was lightweight and flexible, capable of being printed or coated onto various substrates. Konarka’s production methods aimed to achieve greater efficiency at reduced costs compared to conventional crystalline silicon solar panels by utilizing organic chemical processes. Additionally, the company explored photovoltaics activated by infrared light for generating power during nighttime.
Co-founded by Nobel Prize winner Alan J. Heeger, the company’s name was inspired by the Konark Sun Temple located in India.
Funding
By 2006, Konarka had attracted $60 million from venture capital investors such as 3i, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, New Enterprise Associates, Good Energies, and Chevron Technology Ventures. It also secured nearly $10 million in grants from the Pentagon and European governmental sources. In 2007, additional financing was obtained through the Solar America Initiative, part of the White House's Advanced Energy Initiative.
In October 2007, the company raised $45 million in private funding led by Mackenzie Financial Corporation. State-level assistance included $1.5 million from Massachusetts' alternative energy trust fund in 2003 and a further $5 million during Governor Deval Patrick’s administration.
At the time of its bankruptcy in 2012, Konarka had accumulated over $170 million from private investors alongside $20 million in government grants. Significant contracts included a $1.6 million award from the U.S. Army in 2005 and a $3.6 million grant from the Department of Energy in 2007. Under President Obama’s administration, Konarka was one of 183 clean energy companies that benefited from tax credits totaling $2.3 billion via the 2009 economic stimulus package.
Bankruptcy and political fallout
Konarka’s insolvency declaration came soon after Republican presidential hopeful Romney visited Solyndra, another solar firm that had received more than $500 million in federal funding. Democrats emphasized that Konarka had obtained a loan in 2003 during Romney’s tenure as governor, making it a point of discussion within the political debates surrounding the 2012 presidential election.
Dye-sensitized solar cells
In 2002, Konarka obtained a license for dye-sensitized solar cell technology from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL). This approach utilized a photosensitive dye that emitted electrons when exposed to sunlight, combined with titanium dioxide nanoparticles that facilitated electron transfer to an external circuit, thereby producing electrical power.
Polymer-fullerene solar cells
Konarka engineered photovoltaic devices by applying nanomaterials onto plastic rolls, branded as Power Plastic. These nanomaterials captured both sunlight and indoor lighting, converting them into electricity suitable for a variety of uses. The company operated within the nanotechnology-driven solar cell sector alongside peers such as Nanosolar and Nanosys.
Their fabrication method involved roll-to-roll processing, where metallic ink electrodes were printed onto plastic substrates, enabling mass production at a fraction of the cost typical for standard solar panels. Richard Hess, who served as president and CEO at the time, highlighted that utilizing pre-existing manufacturing equipment allowed scaling production at roughly one-tenth the expense of conventional methods.
In contrast to traditional rigid glass solar panels, Konarka’s cells were lightweight and flexible, making them ideal for portable applications. They were available in multiple colors to blend aesthetically into products such as briefcases designed to recharge laptops, outdoor umbrellas, tents, and awnings. Additionally, transparent variants were created for window lamination purposes, generating electricity while functioning as tinted glass.
Despite these advantages, the technology faced limitations: the cells exhibited a shorter operational lifespan of only a few years compared to the multi-decade durability of traditional solar panels. Their efficiency reached up to 8.3%, which was lower than the approximately 15% efficiency certified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for conventional cells during that period.
Flexible batteries
Konarka held rights to an organic-based flexible battery technology capable of being recharged by integrated solar cells. However, as of April 2007, there were no immediate plans to bring this product to market.
These flexible batteries incorporated thin-film solar cells encapsulated within a pliable gas barrier layer designed to shield against air-induced degradation. Weighing merely two grams and measuring one millimeter in thickness, they were well-suited for low-power electronics such as smart cards and mobile phones. This innovation aimed to meet the increasing demand for compact, self-recharging energy sources.
Dye-sensitized solar cells
Konarka Technologies collaborated with Renewable Capital to license and co-develop its dye-sensitized solar cell technology with the objective of scaling manufacturing capacity to several hundred megawatts.
Polymer-fullerene solar cells
The company inaugurated a commercial-scale manufacturing facility capable of producing polymer-fullerene solar cells with an annual output reaching one gigawatt—comparable in scale to a large nuclear power plant. The production volume was expected to increase progressively over a two- to three-year timeframe.
Patents
Konarka secured numerous U.S. patents pertaining to its photovoltaic innovations. These patents encompassed technologies such as photovoltaic cell interconnections, low-temperature nanoparticle joining techniques, gel electrolytes tailored for dye-sensitized cells, photovoltaic fiber designs, wire interconnect methods, ultrasonic slitting processes for cells and modules, mesh electrode configurations, oxynitride compound applications, and fabrication techniques for interconnected photovoltaic devices.
See also
External links
- Official site of Konarka Technologies, Inc.
- Solar energy companies of the United States
- Dye-sensitized solar cells
- Organic solar cells
- Thin-film cell manufacturers
- Defunct technology companies based in Massachusetts
- Companies based in Lowell, Massachusetts
- Energy companies established in 2001
- Renewable resource companies established in 2001
- 2001 establishments in Massachusetts
- 3i Group companies
- American companies established in 2001
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment