Startup Swift Solar has secured Meyer Burger’s remaining manufacturing assets. Can they jump-start homegrown solar in the US? (Latitude Media)
The background: European solar cell manufacturer Meyer Burger is known for its hyped-up heterojunction technology (HJT), an increasingly popular production technique that significantly boosts performance. But after failing to compete with low-cost Chinese imports, the company filed for bankruptcy last year.
California-based Swift Solar is also acquiring Meyer Burger’s remaining IP and some engineering talent, and will pair HJT with its newer perovskite cells. These are relatively light and efficient, but for now they’re short-lived and challenging to scale—so Swift has their work cut out for them.