Planted Solar, a provider of solar deployment solutions, has announced the successful raising of $12 million in a new funding round. The funds are intended to enhance its platform, which aids developers in expediting the construction of solar projects. Established in 2020 and based in California, Planted Solar offers solutions that enable developers and independent power producers (IPPs) to deploy solar projects more swiftly and cost-effectively than traditional models. The company’s integrated platform includes software tools that optimise project layouts, energy models, and engineering drawings. Their “terrain-following hardware” notably reduces land requirements and allows deployment on previously unsuitable land by removing the need for site grading. Additionally, rapid installation tools, including field robotics and simplified components, enable quicker builds with smaller crews.
Planted Solar claims its platform offers numerous benefits, such as a 50% reduction in land use compared to conventional solar projects, the capability to deploy on slopes of up to 27%, faster deployment times, a 70% reduction in steel requirements, and a 30% decrease in the cost of energy. Eric Brown, CEO of Planted Solar, remarked, “We’ve seen the headlines, but the real story is happening behind the scenes. Forward-looking developers are still moving, and we’re helping them move faster. We’re rethinking solar deployment to deliver what developers urgently need to build energy generation capacity today: less risk, better returns, and faster time to power.”
The funding round was spearheaded by energy and industrial-focused venture investor Piva Capital, with participation from existing investors, including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and Team Builder Ventures. Planted Solar plans to use the new capital to advance the development of its digital and hardware solutions and to expand its deployment capacity. The company is also increasing its presence in international markets such as Asia-Pacific and Europe. Mark Gudiksen, Managing Partner at Piva Capital, stated, “Solar developers don’t have a decade to solve these problems—the crunch is happening right now. Planted Solar’s platform clears some of the industry’s biggest roadblocks by making it faster and cheaper to get projects in the ground. This is exactly the kind of pragmatic innovation the energy transition needs.”
