SAVD Solar
2013 TransTech Energy Business Development Conference
Self Aligning Vertical Dipole
Mark Vernallis
Founder and CEO
Team
Dr. Hong Koo Kim
Founder and CTO
Tim Fogarty & Tim Appleberry
Founders /Directors
• The global market for solar cells is over $30 billion and is
growing rapidly.
Market
Facts
• Market demand in the US alone has grown 44% annually
over the last 6 years.
• SAVD technology applies to over 90% of solar cells.
Solar Is
Inefficient
Snell’s Law: Light entering solar panels are
refracted at very inefficient angles.
Inefficient angles direct light downward into the cell
resulting in poor energy conversion due to:
•Higher bounce-back reflection
•Shorter paths (opportunities) for photon conversion
•Inefficient distances from the conversion junction
Our patent-pending process dramatically
improves solar cell efficiency by more
than 50% in the lab
SAVD Solar Inc.
light
SAVD t e c h n o l o g y
SAVD
Redirects
Light
SAVD’s proprietary technology builds
nanostructures on solar cells that redirect light
into the active layer more efficiently (where the
light is absorbed and electrons are generated &
collected), thereby overcoming Snell’s Law:
• Enhances light absorption from increased optical path
length that is closer to absorption/junction field
• Diminishes adverse impact from “bad angle” in morning
and afternoon (maximizes energy absorption at oblique
angle)
• SAVD Solar process only expected to add 5-6% to total
costs (but will improve efficiency 50%+)
• Uses standard semi-conductor manufacturing processes
Process
• Scalable
Conventional cells: Light
enters into silicon normal
to the surface through
horizontal dipoles.
SAVD builds nanoscale
vertical dipoles (right)
that directs light into
glancing direction.
Facts
•
Different from other coating technologies because our
technology not only dramatically decreases reflection, by
overcoming Snell’s law, we dramatically increase energy
absorption and carrier collection.
•
Early lab results so far show that SAVD’s technology far
exceeds current commercial efficiencies for solar cells.
•
We believe once optimization work is completed that SAVD’s
technology will make solar cost competitive to coal and natural
gas.
•
SAVD technology is the ‘last step’ (back-end process) in cell
manufacturing - we are insulated from price fluctuations of
silicon and other material prices. No potential for another
Solyndra.
•
This technological potential is a billion dollar opportunity.
Research
Funding
• National Science Foundation
• University of Pittsburgh
• Innovation Works
• PA NanoMaterials Commercialization Center
• University of Louisville
Over $1 million in non-dilutive funding
1st Round Venture Capital
Crimson Hill LP
Funding Goals
Seeking $1.5 million for commercialization
Our product
A proprietary ‘finishing’ step using proven manufacturing
processes, applicable to 90% of solar cells to dramatically
increase efficiency by 50% or more
Key
Points
Our market
Large utility customers and major manufacturers as
licensees
Protection
Broad US and worldwide patents pending
Value
SAVD achieves grid parity. We make solar cost-competitive
to coal and natural gas
Proven research team/technology visionary
Seasoned entrepreneurs
University of Albany College of NanoScale Science and
Engineering partnership
University of Pittsburgh partnership
Why Us?
Why Now?
Compelling value proposition
Large and rapidly growing global market
Proprietary technology
Potentially disruptive technology
Multiple paths to commercialization
Excellent capital raising environment for high-potential
renewable energy commercialization
Recent market transactions with high value exits
SAVD Solar Inc.
Team
Mark Vernallis •
Founder and CEO
Experienced entrepreneur, C-level executive, start-up/turnaround
specialist and venture capitalist
Dr. Hong Koo Kim - Founder and CTO
•
•
Director of the Petersen Institute of NanoScience and Engineering,
University of Pittsburgh
World-renowned expert in the emerging field of nano-optics and nanoelectronics research
Tim Fogarty & Tim Appleberry – Founders /Directors
•
•
Fogarty was Director of Energy Programs at Innovation Works, one of
the most active early stage energy technology investors in the country.
A seasoned executive, his accomplishments include growing a
university start-up to a $250M publicly traded company.
Appleberry has a proven track record as an inventor and global
operations executive. He was twice named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s
“Hot 100”.