Dr Vince Allen

Cheque-in: 8 startups gobbled up $572.12 million in funding this week

Weekly roundup of eight raises totalling $572.12 million, led by Firmus's $500 million round; RAGE Biotech, SunDrive, Number 8 Bio, Fabra, Keeyu, MyGig and Drone-Hand also funded, plus two RAGE Biotech executive appointments.

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ARENA commits $25.3 million to continue SunDrive's copper solar cell breakthrough

The renewable energy agency will grant SunDrive up to $25.3 million to scale its copper solar cell technology with partners Maxwell and Vistar, adding to $14 million in earlier support.

Also RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy

“Shell companies for rent seekers:” Coalition attacks solar innovators, including Turnbull-backed SunDrive

A federal opposition senator attacks Labor's solar manufacturing program and SunDrive, which has cut staff and changed CEO while pursuing partnerships with AGL and Trina Solar to localise panel production.

“New era:” SunDrive wins funds to scale up Australia made solar cell production

SunDrive secured an A$11 million ARENA grant to take its copper-metallised solar cell manufacturing from prototype to commercial scale in Sydney, with plans targeting up to 5GW of yearly capacity.

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Scaling up SunDrive’s advanced solar PV manufacturing

ARENA grants SunDrive $11 million to take its copper-based cell metallisation from prototype to commercial production, its second award after $3 million for earlier demonstration work.

Also @AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing

Solar innovator Sundrive maps out plan for 5GW of Australian PV manufacturing

Breakthrough solar panel startup SunDrive teams up with Sydney University on $2.78 million research project

ARENA has awarded $2.78 million to a University of Sydney professor partnering with SunDrive on perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. The piece also recalls SunDrive's $21 million Series B and names its backers.

NSW grants $3 million to Cannon-Brookes backed solar cell innovator

NSW Environmental Trust grants $3 million to solar innovator SunDrive within a $6.5 million allocation shared with Hysata, Southern Green Gas and Quickstep; SunDrive's recent series A drew CEFC alongside Blackbird and Grok Ventures.

Also @AuManufacturing·SmartCompany

SunDrive fabricates first ever full-size solar panel

Solar startup SunDrive has produced its first full-size panels using copper-based cells, a manufacturing milestone after September's efficiency record; the piece recalls backing from Cannon-Brookes, ARENA and Blackbird Ventures.

SunDrive, backed by Cannon-Brookes, produces first panel with record-busting solar cell

UNSW spin-out SunDrive has made its first full-size rooftop panel using record-efficiency copper-based cells; the piece recalls the $9 million ARENA grant it won in October 2020.

Also RenewEconomy

Australia’s breakthrough solar tech has eye on rooftop and mega-project markets

Profile of SunDrive, the Sydney solar startup whose copper-based cells set a world efficiency record, covering its founders, backers including Grok Ventures, Blackbird and ARENA, and plans for rooftop then large-scale markets.

SunDrive Solar produces world-record solar PV cell

Sydney solar startup SunDrive claims a world efficiency record for a commercial-size silicon cell made with copper rather than silver, verified by a German institute; backers include Blackbird Ventures, ARENA and Mike Cannon-Brookes.

SunDrive in funding overdrive on way to making solar cells

Solar cell startup SunDrive has drawn $5 million from Grok Ventures and Blackbird Ventures, adding to an earlier $3 million ARENA grant, as it scales its technology toward commercial rooftop modules.

Also RenewEconomy

Australian startup leading the way on next generation solar cells

ARENA announces a $3 million grant to SunDrive, an Australian solar startup, to commercialise copper-based solar cell manufacturing and scale its technology toward household rooftop use.

Also Blackbird Ventures portfolio·@AuManufacturing·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy

Fulfilling Solar’s Destiny with SunDrive

Podcast episode exploring SunDrive's solar cell technology, its founders' ambitions, and why Blackbird invested in the company despite the cleantech sector's history of failures.

SunDrive gets funding to manufacture new breed of solar cells in Australia

Solar cell startup SunDrive Solar wins a three million dollar government grant to help manufacture its copper-based high efficiency cells commercially in Australia.

Also @AuManufacturing