Durham semiconductor maker Semprius qualified today for $3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to speed up development of its next-generation solar energy technology.
Semprius is the only North Carolina out of four nationwide that qualified for $12 million in stimulus funds and federal grants announced today. The money will be awarded in stages over 18 months upon completion of project milestones.
The five-year-old company is developing a technology that concentrates solar rays by means of smaller semiconductors and special lenses. By concentrating solar rays by a factor of 1000, Semprius is attempting to reduce the area -- and cost -- of the solar photovoltaic cells required to generate electricity.
Semprius employs 28 people and has received nearly $20 million in venture capital and other investments.
John Murawski has been a full-time newspaper reporter since 1991, with stints at Legal Times and The Chronicle of Philanthropy (both in Washington, DC), The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Palm Beach Post (in South Florida) before arriving at the N&O in December 2004. At the N&O he covers energy (nuclear, coal, renewable, efficiency), hydralic fracturing (or "fracking"), public utilities (both electric and natural gas) and health care. His beat includes Progress Energy, PSNC Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, PowerSecure International, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Biogen Idec and others. You can reach him at 919-829-8932 or