Oakland-based solar startup Planted Solar has secured a substantial boost for its innovative terrain-following solar installation design. The company recently announced receiving a hefty $20 million in Series A funding from major backers like Bill Gates Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Kholsa Ventures, and support from the Department of Energy Funds. This funding injection is intended to fuel the scaling of their groundbreaking solar array technology.
Unlike traditional solar installations that require flat and uniform land, Planted Solar’s approach involves tightly packing solar arrays in a sheet-like configuration that follows the natural contours of the terrain, accommodating slopes of up to 27%. This strategic design not only minimizes land development costs but also enhances energy production per acre, a crucial advantage given the projected need for 22 million acres for solar projects in the U.S., according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
Planted Solar emphasizes the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of its design compared to conventional south-facing fixed tilt and tracker designs. By using a higher inverter loading ratio (ILR) and reducing structural balance of system costs, civil work, and land requirements, the company claims significant improvements in energy yield and installation efficiency. Their terrain-following mounts, compatible with various module formats and sizes, allow for a megawatt of solar to be installed on just two acres, slashing the usual five-acre footprint and reducing balance of system costs by 50%.
The company’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond design innovation to include automated installation processes using robots, reducing both installation time and environmental impact. Planted Solar’s CEO, Eric Brown, highlighted the transition from pilot projects to large-scale portfolios, citing an 11 MW portfolio in Chicago with Cultivate Power as a recent milestone.
For partners like Cultivate Power, Planted Solar’s technology offers strategic advantages in land stewardship and community collaboration, facilitating seamless integration of solar projects with local environments and agricultural operations. Planted Solar’s low-impact approach and automated installation methods, as detailed in their whitepaper, aim to minimize environmental disruption and optimize solar deployment efficiency, marking a significant step forward in sustainable energy solutions.