Janta Power closed $5.5 million in seed financing to develop its vertical solar tower, with pilot programs already underway at major global airports such as Dallas-Fort Worth and Munich International Airport.
Janta Power, developer of vertical three-dimensional solar towers, announced that it has closed a $5.5 million seed funding round led by Mac Venture Capital and Collab Capital.
The money is expected to help the startup scale up its patented 3D solar towers, which are designed to have high energy density for areas with limited space. The product has applications for data centers, EV charging hubs, telecommunications towers, universities and a range of industrial facilities, Janta Power said.
Janta said the geometry of the single-axis sun tracking tower achieves approximately three times the solar surface exposure of traditional flat arrays on the same land surface. The stacked vertical design of each tower captures both morning and evening light from a low angle, creating a double-peak power curve that better matches actual energy demand, the company said.
The company said its solar tower has a capacity factor that is 50% greater than that of traditional solar installations. The capacity factor is the amount of electricity actually produced compared to the theoretical maximum capacity of the installed solar energy. While typical flat installations have a capacity factor of around 22%, Janta Power says its typical installations achieve a capacity factor of around 32%.
The company said it can achieve a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) as low as $0.05 kWh.
The company currently offers a 5 kW solar tower, with 1.5 kW rooftop models and 8.5 kW and 10 kW towers in development.
The towers are currently being deployed in pilot programs at major international airports, including Munich International Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Each structure is designed to withstand wind speeds of at least 110 miles per hour and as much as 170 miles per hour, and features steel construction and modular spiral or pier foundations that eliminate the need for extensive grading, according to Janta Power.
While single-axis tracker installations concentrate output around noon, Janta says the 3D configuration smooths out energy delivery throughout the day, reducing strain on power grids and dependence on peaker power plants.
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