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Goleta Company to Receive $3.6 Million Grant
updated: Oct 04, 2011, 10:28 AM

Source: Lois Capps' Office

Today, Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) announced that Goleta-based Transphorm, a clean technology company using an advanced semiconductor device material to reduce power waste and improve the energy efficiency of a wide range of electrical devices, will receive a $3.64 million federal award from the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) program. The funding will help Transphorm develop high-efficiency power transforming devices for integration into solar energy panels and motion control applications. "Cutting edge clean energy research projects, like those being worked on at Transphorm, can fundamentally change the way our country uses and produces energy, drive economic growth through innovation, and wean us off our dangerous addiction to fossil fuels," said Congresswoman Capps. "Once again, the Central Coast has proven that it's a leader in developing these clean energy technologies. When I voted to enact ARPA-E to fund exciting, innovative energy projects, this is exactly the kind of transformational technology that I envisioned the program would be supporting." Capps toured Transphorm's Goleta facility in August and met with employees to discuss the company's research in advanced energy technologies. This marks the second time ARPA-E has awarded federal funds to Transphorm. In 2010, the company received a $2.95 million federal award for a similar project. Also in August, Vice President Joe Biden commended Transphorm for garnering more than $25 million in outside private capital investment. "From our headquarters in Goleta, we are solving energy waste problems for an ever-increasing base of customers," said Umesh Mishra, CEO of Transphorm. "Through public-private partnerships with innovative programs like ARPA-E, Transphorm is bringing its world-leading energy saving technology to a global market, while growing local advanced technology and manufacturing jobs," said Primit Parikh, President of Transphorm.

Transphorm's technology, which was among 60 research projects selected nationwide, is based on innovative high performance architecture, called a four quadrant switch, enabling a single semiconductor device to switch voltage and current in both directions. It will be made with Gallium Nitride (GaN). The four quadrant design will result in reduced losses and higher efficiency. This "plug-n-use" technology will enable reliable power transfer from solar panels to the grid and revolutionize photovoltaic deployment in commercial establishments and solar farms.

In announcing the selections, Arun Majumdar, Director of the Department of Energy's ARPA-E said, "These innovative projects are at the forefront of a new technological frontier that plays a critical role in our future energy security and economic growth. It is now more important than ever to invest in game-changing ideas that will build the technological infrastructure for a new, clean energy economy." The projects selected are located in 25 states, with 50% of projects led by universities, 23% by small businesses, 12% by large businesses, 13% by national labs, and 2% by non-profits. Prior to today, ARPA-E has awarded $365.7 million in funds to approximately 120 groundbreaking energy projects within seven program areas. This most recent round of selections brings the total to 180 projects, 12 program areas and $521.7 million in awards at ARPA-E to date.

ARPA-E is an agency within the Department of Energy that pursues high-risk, high-reward energy technology development. Congresswoman Capps has long supported ARPA-E and advocated for funding the agency after its creation in 2007. In 2010, she was successful in advocating for $400 million in funding for APRA-E in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

ARPA-E is modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) at the Department of Defense. DARPA's focus on funding unique, promising research has led to breakthroughs like stealth technology, GPS, and the internet.

More information on the ARPA-E program can be found here.

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Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 219738	2011-10-04 11:10 AM
How long before they file for bankruptcy?
COMMENT 219743	2011-10-04 11:19 AM
I don't understand why taxpayer funds have to be spent on risky and unproven green technology. Why not spend it on some tangible green technology which will then be an asset to taxpayers? This money could be spent on bikepaths or busses and we'd have something to show for it afterwards. This company is embarking in an extremely risky project that might not and probably won't payoff. Plus, Google already has heavily invested in this company because if things work out, it will save a lot of energy use (and money) for Google. Why do taxpayers have to subsidize Google?
COMMENT 219750	2011-10-04 11:37 AM
Sounds like another Solyndra.
COMMENT 219769	2011-10-04 12:04 PM
I was thinking the same thing! The Federal government is the buyer/investor of last resort.
COMMENT 219791	2011-10-04 12:38 PM
Woah. I'm surprised at the comments. A local tech company, which employs a bunch of local people, gets some federal funding, and everyone whines? The technology is essentially creating higher efficiency. That's not a bad thing no matter how you look at it, or your stance on "green" technology. Go Transphorm! Local companies rock!
COMMENT 219844	2011-10-04 01:58 PM
We're whining because taxpayer funds should go towards projects that benefit the general community. Plus this company seems to have no problem getting funding from private investors, so there's no point for taxpayer funds to be spent there. So if you really feel federal taxpayer funds need to be spent on funding local companies, there are other local companies where this money would be better spent. If you feel that federal taxpayer funds need to be spent on risky green ventures, there are actually other local companies that better qualify as well. This company needs no government funding.
RAYGOLD	2011-10-04 02:05 PM
This is just another case of the federal government attempting to pick winners and losers in the private sector. Even if the feds were swimming in money it would not be right. Seeing as how 40 cents of every dollar is having to be borrowed from our children and grandchildren, it is doubly wrong.
COMMENT 219857P	2011-10-04 02:13 PM
If anyone wants to whine - take a look at oil company profits and look at the oil subsidies that they are getting. That is money going down the drain. When the oil runs out and we do not have substitutes the same people whining today will be whining about why nothing was done about it a long time ago. And one company's failure is not another's. Broad-brushing is a favorite past-time - if one of a number of things has xyz quality, then all of those things have xyz quality, whether true or not. Don't worry about the facts - just brush, brush, brush.. The planet is heating up and the sooner we do something about it, the better - otherwise there will be nobody left to whine. http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/6211138097
COMMENT 219873	2011-10-04 02:32 PM
It's going to be a glorious day when Lois Capps gets her long awaited das boot from office. What a waste of tax payer money.
COMMENT 219904	2011-10-04 03:54 PM
Solyndra by the Sea
COMMENT 219926	2011-10-04 05:05 PM
Interesting how the complaints are the government's investments in green technology yet the program is based off of government investments in the defense sector.
COMMENT 219942	2011-10-04 06:15 PM
As the USA Burns - Are all the us rep's doing photo ops so they can get reelected? Raising money and spending money we don't have? This has been weeks for LC. Why in the name of Mr Lincoln are they not in Washington doing the people's business. Please remember when you vote next time - look around - smell the burning toast - They should be sleeping in their office and getting the usa moving - not showing up and reading a sound bite from a over paid assistant.
COMMENT 219950	2011-10-04 06:54 PM
@Raygold Hooey. You don't know your own country's history. Government doesn't pick winners... Except when it fought a war against England to help New England shippers in 1812. Except when it gave free land to homesteaders and subsidized the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860s. Except when it jacked up import tariffs on foreign products to help American manufacturers in the 1890s. Except when it fought numerous wars to protect American investments in Asia and Latin America in the 1900s. Except when it subsidized the auto industry by building the world's largest free road network from 1920-1960. Except....well...you get the point, right?
RAYGOLD	2011-10-04 08:16 PM
@950, None of those expenditures were made into individual private companies. As I said Lois and her cohorts are picking the winners and losers to spend money on that the government does not have.
COMMENT 219985	2011-10-05 06:21 AM
Unlike social networking start-ups, firms developing new energy technology need significant capital to develop a groundbreaking invention into a product ready for market. Transphorm is primarily competing with Asian firms, all of which are getting more help from their governments. The U.S. can choose to not participate in this international competition if it is comfortable with the present trade deficit. The people who started Transphorm have developed a successful company before, and sold it. It has as good a chance as any company in this market, and a somewhat better chance with modest help from ARPA-E. And the firm's owners are committed to staying in Goleta as long as they possibly can.
COMMENT 220001P	2011-10-05 07:12 AM
I dont have anything against Transphorm or their product (more efficient electrical transmission), just the govt funding part. Lets see, we are borrowing money from Asia to subsidize an American company to compete with an Asian company...what could possibly go wrong with that scenario? Also, has anyone checked to see if Transphorm donated any money to politicians, or intends to? just sayin...
COMMENT 220010	2011-10-05 07:26 AM
So why is this announcement not being made at a press conference by the company administration? Is this another lame attempt by Capps office to fool constituents into thinking she is doing SOMETHING for this district?
COMMENT 220016	2011-10-05 07:41 AM
@010 It's a press release. @Raygold Yes, in fact, there are plenty of examples of direct payments to companies to subsidize favored industries. The Federal government paid the railroad companies $16000 per track mile constructed on flat land, $32000 per mile on hilly land, and $48000 per mile on mountainous terrain. In addition, the RR companies were given more than 33 million acres of public land, which they turned around and sold to fund their operations. There are plenty of other examples of other sectors that have benefited from Federal spending--aviation, electronics, printing, etc...
COMMENT 220064	2011-10-05 09:05 AM
I wonder how many people are aware that many of the innovations we take for granted today were partially supported by tax dollars and grants. Or are aware that many research projects depend on public funding? I guess it really is true.... if you hear the same (Tea Party) fabrications repeated over and over they start to become real.
COMMENT 220134P	2011-10-05 10:55 AM
Did I hear above that the principles of Transphorm have already started a company before and sold it? That's one big red flag. They're not it for the long haul. They are in for the quick profit. What's to stop these guys from selling this company to...say a Chinese company. So we'll have the taxpayers funding research for the Chinese. Excellent. The real problem with this pork is this: the Federal government is broke! With each of these handouts we are digging a deeper and deeper hole.
COMMENT 220405	2011-10-05 07:34 PM
VOTE 4 CHANGE _ Hows that working 4 U
COMMENT 220413	2011-10-05 08:21 PM
Transphorm is not a 'green company', they simply are developing a technology that happens to waste less energy, i.e. use GaN instead of the traditional semiconductors. Do a little research before making ridiculous comparisons.
COMMENT 220733	2011-10-06 04:38 PM
I feel like we have Barney Fife in office

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