In September 2023, Latimer Controls was named a grand prize winner of the American-Made Solar Prize Round 6. But what’s next for the team and how has the Solar Prize impacted their trajectory?
Latimer Controls received a total of $650,000 in cash prizes for their innovative solutions to speeding the transition to rapid and equitable solar energy deployment. They also received $150,000 in technical support vouchers to help them bring their concept to life.
Latimer’s winning technology is a software control solution that allows large solar operators to provide reliable and demand-ready power. The Latimer Flexible Solar Management System increases the flexibility of utility-scale solar photovoltaics by continuously reading in real-time the maximum grid power point, proactively curtailing generation, and ramping up generation as needed to meet power demand. This innovative solar solution improves the reliability and sustainability of large-scale solar on the grid.
Latimer Controls originated in CEO Simon Julien’s graduate research at the University of Colorado-Boulder and graduate internship at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Over the next 3-6 months, Julien, along with co-founders Zachary Jacobs and Tristan Liu, will use their winnings to expand their team and implement their first pilot project. Latimer will partner with Kauai Island Utility in Hawaii to manage 24 MW of solar power.
See Latimer Controls’ winning Solar Prize submission and learn more about their startup!
