Skip to main content

This innovative solar foundation company just got $40M in funding

San Rafael, California-based Ojjo, whose solar foundations will hold the photovoltaic panels on one of the largest solar farms in the United States, just closed a $40 million Series C funding round.

Ojjo’s Earth Truss system will be an essential part of the $1.2 billion, 690 megawatt (MW) + 380 MW battery energy storage Gemini Solar project. The huge solar farm will sit on around 6,000 acres of federal land in the Mojave Desert, 30 miles northeast of Las Vegas. It will generate enough clean energy to power 400,000 homes, and it’s expected to be commissioned next year.

Ojjo’s patented Earth Truss combines its hardware with a drilling machine, the Truss Driver. Ojjo claims that the Earth Truss is one of the industry’s fastest-to-install solar foundations, and says it typically requires 50% less steel volume and labor than a conventional pile system. The Earth Truss system has been contracted or constructed in over 1.6 gigawatts (GW) of solar projects to date.

Earth Truss Photo: Ojjo

Ojjo’s Series C funding round was led by NGP ETP, the energy transition investing platform of NGP, and Ajax Strategies also participated. The new funding will speed up Ojjo’s growth and execution on its 9 GW active project pipeline.

James Wallis, a partner at NGP, said:

Solar foundations represent a major untapped opportunity in the industry. We believe that Ojjo’s experienced team is perfectly positioned to deliver innovation, automation, and cost savings at a time when the industry needs it most

Electrek’s Take

Solar farm discussions (and media coverage) tend to focus on photovoltaic panels and their power output. But something’s got to hold up those panels effectively for 25+ years – foundations are an essential part of every solar project (if you really want to geek out about solar).

Ojjo’s Earth Truss is clearly a standout product, as it’s attracting significant funding. This solar foundation product is going to play an important role in the Gemini Solar project, which is massive and will ultimately provide an enormous amount of clean energy and feature in many more solar farms.

Read more: The largest solar farm in the US has been approved

Photos: Ojjo


UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Stay up to date with the latest content by subscribing to Electrek on Google News. You’re reading Electrek— experts who break news about Tesla, electric vehicles, and green energy, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow Electrek on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our YouTube channel for the latest reviews.

Comments

Author

Avatar for Michelle Lewis Michelle Lewis

Michelle Lewis is a writer and editor on Electrek and an editor on DroneDJ, 9to5Mac, and 9to5Google. She lives in White River Junction, Vermont. She has previously worked for Fast Company, the Guardian, News Deeply, Time, and others. Message Michelle on Twitter or at michelle@9to5mac.com. Check out her personal blog.


Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications