The panels are various new thin-film technologies that Chevron thinks could cost less than current thin film technologies or traditional crystalline silicon solar cells.

FORBES: Chevron Stages Solar Talent Show

Nanosolar is one of several Silicon Valley startups that have attracted billions of dollars in venture capital to develop a thin-film technology called copper indium gallium selenide, or CIGS. Such solar cells use little expensive silicon, the main ingredient of conventional photovoltaic cells.

FORBES: Nanosolar Snares a Gigawatt in Orders for its Thin-Film Solar Panels