Ausra is a technology company.
Ausra has raised $94.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Ausra has raised $94.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Ausra was a technology company that developed and deployed utility-scale solar thermal power systems using Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) technology to generate zero-carbon electricity competitive with fossil fuels.[1][2][4] It targeted electric utilities worldwide, solving the challenge of providing reliable, large-scale renewable energy on demand through solar concentrators that boil water with focused sunlight to drive turbine generators, with plans for low-cost thermal storage for 24/7 power.[1][2] Founded in 2006 in Palo Alto, California, Ausra raised $183.9M before being acquired by Orano in August 2010 and marked as "Dead" post-acquisition, though it achieved early projects like a 1MW installation in Australia expanding to 12MW and developments in Portugal and California.[1]
Ausra's core CLFR technology originated in the early 1990s at Sydney University and was first commercialized in 2004 by Solar Heat and Power Pty Ltd. in Australia, with an initial 1MW project.[1][2] The company relocated to the U.S., rebranded as Ausra (named after an Indo-European dawn goddess), and was formally founded in 2006 (some sources note 2007), hiring executives from AES Corporation while securing backing from Khosla Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB).[1][3] It emerged from stealth in 2007 with over $40M raised, initially declining some VC due to government support in Australia before pivoting to U.S. growth, including a planned 177MW project in California.[1]
Ausra rode the mid-2000s renewable energy boom, capitalizing on global pressure for utilities to deliver clean power amid rising fossil fuel costs and emissions regulations.[1][2] Its timing aligned with early solar thermal commercialization, bringing university research to utility-scale via VC from top firms like Khosla and KPCB, influencing the shift toward scalable CSP (concentrated solar power) alternatives to PV dominance.[1] Market forces like government incentives and utility needs for baseload renewables favored its CLFR for lower land/water use and storage potential, contributing to the ecosystem by pioneering cost reductions that paved the way for modern solar thermal advancements, even post-acquisition.[2]
Ausra's legacy as a solar thermal pioneer ended with its 2010 acquisition, but its CLFR innovations and early projects demonstrated viable utility-scale renewables, influencing successors in CSP storage and cost-optimized designs.[1][2] Post-acquisition by Orano (now integrated or dormant), direct activity ceased, yet trends like grid-scale storage and hybrid renewables could revive similar tech amid 2025's net-zero push. Its story underscores VC-fueled clean energy scaling, likely shaping how today's firms evolve baseload solar for a decarbonized grid—echoing its original mission to power the world competitively and cleanly.[1]
Ausra has raised $94.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Ausra's investors include Khosla Ventures.
Ausra has raised $94.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $26.0M Venture Round in April 2009.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2009 | $26.0M Venture Round | Khosla Ventures | |
| Aug 1, 2008 | $25.0M Series B | Khosla Ventures | |
| Aug 1, 2007 | $43.0M Series A | Khosla Ventures |