Powerfilm Solar

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.

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

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

• Flexible solar panels
• Thin-film photovoltaic
• Custom solar engineering
• Portable solar chargers
• Commercial vehicle solar

Headquarters

HQ city

Ames

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

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

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/powerfilm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PowerFilmSolarEnergy
• Facebookfacebook.com/PowerFilm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/powerfilm
• Instagraminstagram.com/powerfilmsolar
• Pinterestpinterest.com/PowerFilmSolar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Powerfilm Solar