Powerfilm Solar
PowerFilm Solar designs and manufactures custom flexible thin-film, crystalline, and gallium arsenide solar panels in Ames, Iowa, serving commercial transportation fleets, the US Department of Defense, uncrewed maritime systems, low-speed electric vehicles, IoT, and consumer markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersAmes, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Powerfilm Solar does
PowerFilm Solar (legal entity PowerFilm, Inc.) is a US-based custom solar solutions manufacturer founded in 1988 and headquartered in Ames, Iowa. The company designs, engineers, and produces in-house flexible solar panels for applications where rigid, glass-encapsulated modules are unsuitable, including commercial vehicle integration, defense field deployments, maritime platforms, low-speed electric vehicles, IoT devices, and consumer portable power. Operations span engineering, development, design, manufacturing, and electronics integration, all performed domestically to control performance and reliability.
The product portfolio is built on three solar technologies: thin-film amorphous silicon (a-Si) for low-light, indoor, and rugged portable use; crystalline silicon (c-Si) using high-efficiency SunPower/Maxeon cells for power-dense semi-flexible applications; and gallium arsenide (GaAs) at over 30 percent efficiency for the most demanding power-density and ruggedness requirements. Core SKUs include Foldables, Rollables, LightSavers, SemiFlexibles, Transportation products, PowerDrive (golf/LSEV), Electronic Component Panels (WeatherPro and Classic Application Series), Development Kits with energy-harvesting PMICs, and accessories. Custom-engineered solutions are scoped through a direct engagement model supported by an online configurator.
Revenue is generated through two streams: hardware sales of standard solar products distributed via the company's e-commerce storefront and a global distributor network, and professional services for custom solar engineering from concept to production. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce, enterprise field sales, channel partners, and event-driven demand generation. The company is privately held with 51-100 employees, no public financials, no reported funding rounds, and founders Derrick P. Grimmer and Frank R. Jeffrey (CEO and co-founder) referenced in leadership records. Named enterprise customers include C.R. England, Nussbaum, GEM, Farmote Systems, and the US Department of Defense.
Powerfilm Solar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Powerfilm Solar
- Legal name
- PowerFilm, Inc.
- Website
- https://powerfilmsolar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- PowerFilm Solar designs and manufactures custom flexible thin-film, crystalline, and gallium arsenide solar panels in Ames, Iowa, serving commercial transportation fleets, the US Department of Defense, uncrewed maritime systems, low-speed electric vehicles, IoT, and consumer markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Powerfilm Solar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Flexible solar panels and custom solar energy solutions
- NAICS
- Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film) (EUAMAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Solar PV Module Manufacturing (Cells, Modules, Thin-Film) (EUAMABAD)
Keywords
Where Powerfilm Solar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ames
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Powerfilm Solar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Solar Hardware Products: Sale of manufactured solar panels and solar-integrated products including foldable, rollable, semi-flexible, LightSavers, transportation solar products, PowerDrive for golf carts, electronic component panels, development kits, and accessories.
- Custom Solar Engineering Services: Custom solar solution design and engineering from concept to production. Engineering team evaluates customer applications, operating environment, and power requirements to develop tailored solar solutions.
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Powerfilm Solar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PowerFilm Solar designs, engineers, and manufactures lightweight, flexible solar panels—including foldable, rollable, semi-flexible, and electronic component panels—built on proprietary thin-film amorphous silicon, crystalline silicon, and Gallium Arsenide technologies. The company sells a standard product line through its e-commerce website and distributor network, and delivers custom-engineered solar solutions for specialized commercial transportation, government/DoD, maritime, low-speed electric vehicle, and IoT applications.
Product overview
PowerFilm Solar is a custom solar solutions provider offering a portfolio of flexible, lightweight solar panels and related products. The product lineup centers on thin-film amorphous silicon (Foldables, Rollables, LightSavers) and crystalline silicon (SemiFlexibles) technologies, with specialized offerings for transportation (Transportation Solar Products, PowerDrive), IoT/embedded electronics (Electronic Component Solar Panels), and prototyping (Development Kits). Products are designed for B2B applications in commercial transportation, defense, maritime, low-speed electric vehicles, and IoT sectors. The company differentiates through in-house engineering, design, and manufacturing capabilities in the USA, offering custom solutions rather than one-size-fits-all products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Foldable Solar Panels Lightweight, flexible foldable solar panels built with thin-film amorphous silicon technology for rapid field deployment and portability. Designed for outdoor recreation, emergency preparedness, and field applications.
- Rollable Solar Panels
- LightSaver Solar Chargers
- SemiFlex Crystalline Solar Panels
- Commercial Transportation Solar Products
- PowerDrive Golf Car Solar Panels
- Electronic Component Solar Panels
- Solar Development Kits
- Solar Panel Accessories
- Custom Solar Engineering Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 440W solar system maintained batteries for 800+ hours without engine auto-start charging during C.R. England field test
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Powerfilm Solar
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Powerfilm Solar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Powerfilm Solar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Powerfilm Solar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ascent Solar Technologies: Public US manufacturer of flexible, lightweight thin-film CIGS solar modules for aerospace, defense, and portable applications. Closely comparable to PowerFilm's thin-film a-Si flexible panels, with overlapping customer verticals in defense and rugged portable power.
- Solbian Energy Solutions: Italian manufacturer of flexible, lightweight solar panels based on high-efficiency SunPower/Maxeon cells, primarily for marine, RV, and outdoor applications. Direct competitor to PowerFilm's SemiFlexibles line and rollable marine products with comparable cell sourcing and end-market focus.
- Renogy: Major US-based solar brand selling foldable, portable, and rigid panels plus complete off-grid systems for consumer, RV, marine, and off-grid markets. Directly competes with PowerFilm's consumer foldable/rollable lines and shares the e-commerce + distribution go-to-market motion.
- Voltaic Systems: Manufacturer of portable, rugged solar panels and solar-charging bags designed for outdoor, IoT, and field-deployment applications. Closely overlaps PowerFilm's foldable consumer and IoT panel lines with similar form factors and target buyers.
- MiaSolé Hi-Tech Corp. US-based manufacturer of flexible, high-efficiency CIGS thin-film solar cells and modules for rooftop, vehicle, and portable applications. Comparable to PowerFilm as a fellow flexible thin-film producer serving building-integrated and transportation-adjacent use cases.
- Goal Zero: Leading consumer brand for portable power stations and foldable solar panels for outdoor, emergency, and off-grid use. Directly competes with PowerFilm's consumer LightSavers and Foldables lines through similar products, channels, and buyer segments.
Broad incumbents
- First Solar: US-headquartered thin-film solar manufacturer (CdTe technology) operating globally in utility-scale solar generation. A broad incumbent in thin-film PV whose technology approach (large-scale thin-film deposition) anchors the thin-film category in which PowerFilm competes, though it does not overlap in portable/flexible products.
- Hanwha Qcells: One of the largest global solar manufacturers with crystalline silicon module production spanning residential, commercial, and utility-scale. A broad incumbent that frames PowerFilm's pricing and supply context through its dominance in commodity c-Si, though it does not target PowerFilm's flexible/portable niches.
Others
- SunPower (Maxeon Solar Technologies): High-efficiency c-Si cell maker whose Maxeon cells are sourced by PowerFilm for its SemiFlexibles line. Functions as a key technology supplier/partner rather than a direct competitor in flexible panels, but its product roadmap materially affects PowerFilm's c-Si offering.
Emerging players
- Jackery: Fast-growing consumer brand for portable power stations and compatible foldable solar panels. An emerging player expanding from portable batteries into the solar panel category that overlaps with PowerFilm's consumer foldable products, though primarily through bundling with its own power stations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Powerfilm Solar social profiles
Digital presencePowerfilm Solar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Powerfilm Solar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Powerfilm Solar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Powerfilm Solar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Powerfilm Solar
What does Powerfilm Solar do?
PowerFilm Solar designs, engineers, and manufactures lightweight, flexible solar panels—including foldable, rollable, semi-flexible, and electronic component panels—built on proprietary thin-film amorphous silicon, crystalline silicon, and Gallium Arsenide technologies. The company sells a standard product line through its e-commerce website and distributor network, and delivers custom-engineered solar solutions for specialized commercial transportation, government/DoD, maritime, low-speed electric vehicle, and IoT applications.
Is Powerfilm Solar a public or private company?
Powerfilm Solar is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Powerfilm Solar founded?
Powerfilm Solar was founded in 1988. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Powerfilm Solar based?
Powerfilm Solar is headquartered in Ames, United States, in the North America region.
How does Powerfilm Solar make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Solar Hardware Products are the primary driver. The others are custom Solar Engineering Services.
Who are Powerfilm Solar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ascent Solar Technologies, Solbian Energy Solutions, Renogy, Voltaic Systems, MiaSolé Hi-Tech Corp. and Goal Zero. Broad incumbents are First Solar and Hanwha Qcells. SunPower (Maxeon Solar Technologies) is listed as an others. Jackery is listed as an emerging player.
Does Powerfilm Solar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Powerfilm Solar.
What industry is Powerfilm Solar in?
Powerfilm Solar's product category is Flexible solar panels and custom solar energy solutions. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAHAA, Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film), with a secondary code of EUAMABAD, Solar PV Module Manufacturing (Cells, Modules, Thin-Film). Its NAICS code is 33531 and its SIC code is 3600.