Solyndra

Solyndra Corporation
Company typeStart-up company
IndustryEnergy
Founded2005
FounderChristian Gronet
Defunct2011
FateBankruptcy
Headquarters
Key people
Brian Harrison, CEO
Bill Stover, CFO
Revenue$100 million (2009)
$140 million (2010)
OwnerGeorge Kaiser Family Foundation,
U.S. Venture Partners,
CMEA Ventures,
Redpoint Ventures,
Virgin Green Fund,
Madrone Capital Partners,
RockPort Capital Partners,
Argonaut Private Equity,
Masdar and Artis Capital Management
Number of employees
1,100 (approx)
WebsiteOfficial Website (Archive from September 23, 2011)

Solyndra was a manufacturer of cylindrical panels of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin film solar cells. It was based in Fremont, California. In 2009, the Obama administration co-signed $535 million in loans to Solyndra.[1]

Heavily promoted as a leader in the sustainable energy sector for its unusual technology, Solyndra was not able to compete with conventional solar panel manufacturers of crystalline silicon.[2] The company filed for bankruptcy on September 1, 2011.[3][4]

  1. ^ Broder, John M (March 20, 2009). "Energy Department Issues First Renewable-Energy Loan Guarantee". The New York Times. ProQuest 1917598032. Retrieved February 18, 2022. The $535 million loan guarantee will go to Solyndra Inc. ... 'This investment is part of President Obama's aggressive strategy to put Americans back to work and reduce our dependence on foreign oil ... .
  2. ^ Lott, Melissa C. (September 27, 2011). "Solyndra — Illuminating Energy Funding Flaws?". Scientific American. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference bloomberg1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ White, Ronald D. (September 1, 2011). "Solar panel firm Solyndra to cease operations". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2011.