Greenwing taps SolFocus for utility-scale solar projects

GreenWing Energy Management, builder of large renewable energy developments, has chosen SolFocus to provide its concentrating photovoltaic systems for utility-scale use in the western U.S. The news comes only two weeks after SolFocus raised an additional $30.6 million in venture capital.

It’s the second victory for four-year-old SolFocus, which is still battling to make a name for itself among larger competitors like Audra, First Solar and high-flying SunPower. Based in Mountain View, Calif., the startup only hit commercial capacity in the last year. So this is a milestone, even though no financial terms of the deal have been released.

The deal is also big news for GreenWing, which has previously focused on wind developments. As one of its first forays into solar, it plans to construct utility-scale facilities capable of producing 20 to 300 megawatts — in addition to distributed generation installations ranging from 1 to 20 megawatts. For all of these goals, the agreement doesn’t restrict GreenWing from using other companies besides SolFocus.

At the same time, SolFocus has other projects on its plate. Having finished its half-megawatt facility in Spain last year, it is now working to bring 10-megawatt installations to different European countries. So far, the company’s focus has fallen squarely on Europe, where solar is supported by a host of advantageous government incentives. The pact with GreenWing could give it the U.S. foothold it needs to rapidly grow its market presence in 2010.

SolFocus is a concentrating solar company, meaning its products use reflective technology to concentrate sunlight 650 times onto fewer and more efficient solar cells. This has become an attractive option for developers looking to save money by using less silicon and other solar-cell materials.

SolFocus is backed by Apex Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, NGEN, Yellowstone Capital and Demeter Ventures.