Semprius is the recipient of state and county incentive packages totaling US$7.88 million, which will go towards the construction of a pilot HCPV production facility in Henderson, North Carolina. Funding was provided by the State of North Carolina Job Development Investment Grant, grants from the Golden LEAF Foundation, Vance County, the One North Carolina Fund and the North Carolina Community College System. The incentive packages comes just a few weeks after the company closed its Series C venture funding round with US$20 million.

“Semprius HCPV modules can concentrate the sun more 1,000 times for highly efficient conversion into electricity,” said Joe Carr, president and CEO of Semprius. “We believe HCPV solar technology is leading us toward achieving grid parity with fossil-based fuels, and we’re proud that the state of North Carolina and Vance County find our technology as important to the future of clean energy as we do.”

Construction on the plant in North Carolina is anticipated to begin later this month with the first phase of the pilot plant coming in at 50,000 square feet. Semprius is already planning to expand over the next few years so that the facility will encompass a total of 150,000 square feet and employ over 250 people. The pilot plant will have an initial capacity of 5MW with the capability to house 35MW as the company grows.

With its pilot production plant expected to be operational by August 2012, Semprius has committed a US$89.7 million capital investment for the facility, with an projected US$120 million investment to be brought into the region.