Semprius Named to MIT Technology Review 2013 50 Disruptive Companies List

Semprius, Inc. has been identified in the field of Energy and Materials as one of 2013’s 50 Disruptive Companies, MIT Technology Review’s annual list of the world’s most innovative technology companies. The honorees are nominated by MIT Technology Review’s editors, who look for companies that have demonstrated original and valuable technology over the last year, are bringing that technology to market at significant scale, and are clearly influencing their competitors.

Spanning energy and materials, Internet and digital media, computing and communications, biomedicine and transportation, the companies on the list represent the disruptive innovations most likely to change our lives.

“The pace at which technology changes is astounding. This issue celebrates organizations at the forefront, displaying ‘disruptive innovation’ that will prove to surpass the competition, transform an industry, and change our lives,” Jason Pontin, publisher and editor in chief of MIT Technology Review, said.

“We consider Semprius a solar company worth watching closely,” continued Pontin. “It stands out for its novel method of concentrating sunlight onto tiny solar cells to deliver photovoltaic modules with cutting-edge efficiency and the potential to significantly lower the cost of generating solar electricity.”

Semprius, the first company to convert more than one-third of the sun’s energy into electricity, began commercial production of the world’s highest efficiency modules in September 2012, opening its first manufacturing facility in Henderson, NC. In November, Semprius announced that it will be supplying solar modules to Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) in support of PWR’s 200 kilowatt solar system to be located at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Semprius’ proprietary micro-transfer printing process enables the use of the world’s smallest commercial solar cell – approximately the size of a pencil point – to manufacture modules with unmatched performance and cost advantages. Compared with conventional silicon-based modules, Semprius’ modules, which were developed with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, are twice as efficient, offer consistent energy output and superior energy yields while performing better in hot climates.

“This recognition by MIT Technology Review validates our ongoing efforts to lower the cost of renewable energy,” said Joe Carr, CEO of Semprius. “We anticipate a busy year filled with innovation and the continued expansion of our production facility to meet the increasing demand for our solar modules.”

Last year, Semprius was named to MIT Technology Review’s 2012 TR10, an annual list of the world’s 10 most important emerging technologies.