Exowatt, a solar-thermal startup backed by Sam Altman, is developing a unique approach to power AI data centers using hot rocks. Co-founder and CEO Hannan Happi aims to provide electricity at a cost of one cent per kilowatt-hour, a significant milestone in the energy industry.
Exowatt’s solution consists of a container-sized box topped with a transparent awning, promising continuous and affordable solar power generation. This technology could potentially disrupt the data center market and transform the energy sector by offering round-the-clock power at minimal expense.
To achieve its ambitious pricing target, Exowatt recently secured an additional $50 million in funding, bringing its total Series A round to $120 million. The startup’s success in attracting investments from prominent firms like Andreessen Horowitz underscores the growing interest in sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions.
With a backlog of 10 million P3 units and plans to scale production to millions and eventually billions of units, Exowatt is poised to make a significant impact on the energy landscape. Happi projects that hitting the one-cent per kilowatt-hour milestone will be feasible once production reaches approximately 1 million units annually.
Source: TechCrunch