Swift Solar
Swift Solar is a US perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell manufacturer founded in 2017, developing high-efficiency photovoltaic technology for utility, commercial, defense, data center, and aerospace customers while building a US gigawatt-scale factory following its 2026 Meyer Burger asset acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSan Carlos, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Swift Solar does
Swift Solar is a US-based solar technology company founded in 2017 that designs and manufactures perovskite-silicon tandem photovoltaic cells, stacking a perovskite cell on top of a silicon cell to exceed the ~30% efficiency ceiling of single-junction silicon panels. The company reports up to 34.8% record efficiency, stability improvements exceeding 100x with 3,000+ hours of high-temperature operation equivalent to a 30-year field lifetime, and deposition speed improvements exceeding 10x for cost reduction. Its product portfolio targets utility-scale solar, commercial and industrial facilities, residential and community solar, data centers, space and aerospace, and vehicle-integrated applications.
The company is pre-commercial and currently monetizes through pilot deployments and strategic co-development partnerships rather than general product sales. Named counterparties include the US Department of Defense (first US perovskite deployment for defense, October 2025), American Tower Corporation (evaluation across 42,000+ US communications sites, announced June 2025), Eni Plenitude (utility-scale pilot testing, announced November 2025), and NREL (joint R&D through the US-MAP Consortium). Revenue model is hardware sales once a US gigawatt-scale factory is commissioned, with potential technology licensing as a secondary stream.
In March 2026, Swift Solar acquired Meyer Burger's silicon heterojunction manufacturing assets and global IP portfolio, bringing GW-scale HJT equipment, a deep IP base, and senior manufacturing talent into the company. Total disclosed venture funding is approximately $40M+, including a $27M Series A in June 2024 led by Eni Next and Fontinalis Partners, with government grants from the Department of Energy, NSF, US Space Force, and California Energy Commission supplementing private capital. The company holds 40+ patents and a management and advisory team drawn from MIT, Stanford, Oxford, NREL, Bloom Energy, First Solar, Meyer Burger, and DataDog.
Swift Solar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Swift Solar
- Legal name
- Swift Solar Inc.
- Website
- https://swiftsolar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Swift Solar is a US perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell manufacturer founded in 2017, developing high-efficiency photovoltaic technology for utility, commercial, defense, data center, and aerospace customers while building a US gigawatt-scale factory following its 2026 Meyer Burger asset acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Swift Solar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Next-Gen Photovoltaics R&D (Perovskite, Tandem, Organic, BIPV Materials) (EUAMAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film) (EUAMAHAA)
Keywords
Where Swift Solar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Carlos
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Swift Solar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Solar Panel Manufacturing & Sales: The company is building gigawatt-scale manufacturing in the US to produce perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells and modules for sale to utility-scale solar developers, commercial & industrial customers, and defense applications. Revenue will come from hardware product sales once manufacturing scale is achieved.
- Technology Licensing (Potential): The company's extensive patent portfolio covering materials, architectures, and manufacturing processes may provide licensing opportunities. The company mentions unique patent-protected solar cell materials, architectures, and manufacturing processes.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Swift Solar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Swift Solar designs and manufactures perovskite-silicon tandem photovoltaic cells and modules that stack a perovskite top cell on a silicon heterojunction bottom cell, achieving efficiencies exceeding the ~30% single-junction silicon limit (34.8% record demonstrated). Following the 2026 acquisition of Meyer Burger's assets, the company operates GW-scale US manufacturing equipment for both HJT silicon cells and tandem modules, serving utility-scale solar developers, commercial and industrial customers, defense/critical infrastructure, space, and vehicle-integrated applications.
Product overview
Swift Solar is a US solar technology company offering perovskite-silicon tandem solar technology as its core product. The company produces high-efficiency solar cells and panels that combine perovskite semiconductor materials with silicon through a tandem architecture. Swift Solar's product line centers on its patented perovskite-silicon tandem cells, which are offered both as standalone high-efficiency cells and integrated into various application solutions including commercial & industrial, utility-scale, residential, data center, space, and vehicle solar applications. Following the 2026 acquisition of Meyer Burger's manufacturing assets, the company now also offers heterojunction (HJT) silicon technology, creating a comprehensive manufacturing capability for tandem solar products in the US.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Solar Cells High-efficiency photovoltaic cells that stack a perovskite top cell on a silicon bottom cell to capture light that single-junction silicon wastes, achieving efficiencies above the ~30% theoretical silicon limit. Sold to utility-scale solar developers, C&I customers, defense/critical infrastructure operators, and downstream space/aerospace and vehicle integrators.
- Heterojunction (HJT) Silicon Cells and Modules High-efficiency silicon heterojunction cells and modules acquired from Meyer Burger, serving as the ideal bottom cell for tandem structures and offered as a standalone high-efficiency silicon product. Provides GW-scale US manufacturing capacity for Swift Solar.
Quantifiable outcome
- 34.8% record efficiency for perovskite-silicon tandem cells in 2025, vs ~20% for standard silicon panels
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Swift Solar
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Swift Solar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Swift Solar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Plenitude (Eni)coreSwift Solar announced partnership with Plenitude, a solar developer controlled by Italian energy company Eni, for pilot testing of perovskite-silicon tandem solar modules at US solar facilities. The collaboration involves evaluating technology performance and durability at utility scale, with potential long-term supply arrangements. The partnership aims to validate the technology for widespread deployment.
- US Department of DefensecoreSwift Solar and DoD showcased the first US perovskite solar deployment for defense during a cyber warfare exercise in Virginia Beach. The technology was integrated into a transportable microgrid providing clean energy alongside two other power sources. This confirms the technology's readiness for commercial release and scale-up, with potential for broader defense applications.
- American Tower CorporationcoreStrategic partnership with America's largest tower company (42,000+ US communications sites) to evaluate Swift Solar's perovskite tandem technology for critical infrastructure. The partnership focuses on long-term stability, ease of installation, and field performance testing across space-constrained distributed sites. This represents a major opportunity for distributed solar deployment.
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)coreCollaboration with NREL on DOE-funded research to understand and mitigate reverse bias behavior in perovskite modules. Swift Solar is a founding member of the US-MAP (US Manufacturing of Advanced Perovskites) Consortium led by NREL. Partnership involves integrated bypass diode research and technology commercialization support.
- Energy Materials CorporationminorCollaborator with Swift Solar and NREL on DOE grant project for printed interconnects with integrated bypass diodes for perovskite modules. Focuses on engineering scalable bypass diode solutions to protect perovskite PV modules from shading damage.
- Eni PlenitudecoreStrategic partnership with Eni Plenitude (Italy-based Eni S.p.A.'s renewable energy arm) to validate perovskite tandem technology at utility scale. The partnership involves pilot testing at US solar facilities and long-term supply arrangements as part of industry efforts to deploy next-generation solar power.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Swift Solar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Oxford PV: UK/German perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell developer and manufacturer. Oxford PV is the closest direct peer to Swift Solar, pursuing the same tandem architecture with commercialization focus, and represents the primary global competitor in commercializing perovskite-silicon tandem cells.
- Caelux: US-based perovskite-silicon tandem cell developer acquired by First Solar. Caelux directly competes with Swift Solar in developing high-efficiency tandem cell technology using perovskite layers on silicon, with the key difference that Caelux now operates within First Solar's CdTe manufacturing footprint.
Broad incumbents
- Hanwha Qcells: South Korean-headquartered global solar manufacturer with extensive US manufacturing operations. Qcells is actively pursuing tandem cell R&D and represents a broad incumbent that could scale tandem production with established silicon manufacturing, competing with Swift Solar's premium positioning.
- JinkoSolar: World's largest solar module manufacturer by shipments, with significant tandem cell R&D investments. JinkoSolar represents a formidable incumbent that could commoditize tandem technology if it achieves commercial-scale production ahead of niche players like Swift Solar.
- LONGi Green Energy: Global leader in monocrystalline silicon wafers and cells/modules. LONGi has publicly pursued perovskite-silicon tandem R&D and would be a major competitor if it brings tandem product to scale, leveraging its dominant silicon supply chain position.
- First Solar: US-headquartered thin-film (CdTe) solar module manufacturer with established US manufacturing scale. First Solar competes broadly in utility-scale solar and now owns Caelux (perovskite-silicon tandem), making it both a potential partner and competitor across tandem and adjacent technology spaces.
- Trinasolar: Top-3 global solar module manufacturer with extensive tandem cell R&D and a US manufacturing footprint announced. Trinasolar is comparable to Swift Solar in targeting high-efficiency tandem products for utility-scale customers while operating from a much larger silicon manufacturing base.
Emerging players
- CubicPV: US-based perovskite tandem technology developer that was acquired by Centennial Resources. CubicPV pursued direct tandem cell development with significant capital backing, representing an emerging competitor that validates the perovskite tandem approach even as it shifts under new ownership.
- Saule Technologies: Polish perovskite solar startup focused on inkjet-printed flexible perovskite cells for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Saule competes with Swift Solar in the perovskite space but targets a distinct BIPV niche segment rather than utility-scale tandem silicon products.
- Ubiquitous Energy: US-based transparent perovskite solar cell developer targeting window-integrated applications. While focused on a different application (transparent coatings vs utility-scale tandem), Ubiquitous Energy competes in the broader perovskite solar technology space with similar academic and venture-backed origins.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Swift Solar social profiles
Digital presenceSwift Solar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Swift Solar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles23 records
Swift Solar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Swift Solar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Swift Solar
What does Swift Solar do?
Swift Solar designs and manufactures perovskite-silicon tandem photovoltaic cells and modules that stack a perovskite top cell on a silicon heterojunction bottom cell, achieving efficiencies exceeding the ~30% single-junction silicon limit (34.8% record demonstrated). Following the 2026 acquisition of Meyer Burger's assets, the company operates GW-scale US manufacturing equipment for both HJT silicon cells and tandem modules, serving utility-scale solar developers, commercial and industrial customers, defense/critical infrastructure, space, and vehicle-integrated applications.
Is Swift Solar a public or private company?
Swift Solar is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Swift Solar founded?
Swift Solar was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Swift Solar based?
Swift Solar is headquartered in San Carlos, United States, in the North America region.
How does Swift Solar make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Solar Panel Manufacturing & Sales are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing (Potential).
Who are Swift Solar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Oxford PV and Caelux. Broad incumbents are Hanwha Qcells, JinkoSolar, LONGi Green Energy, First Solar and Trinasolar. Emerging players are CubicPV, Saule Technologies and Ubiquitous Energy.
Does Swift Solar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Swift Solar.
What industry is Swift Solar in?
Swift Solar's product category is Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAOAA, Next-Gen Photovoltaics R&D (Perovskite, Tandem, Organic, BIPV Materials), with a secondary code of EUAMAHAA, Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film). Its NAICS code is 334413 and its SIC code is 3674.