Two of the top 10 most compelling new companies Lux Research named this week work in solar energy innovation.

Zep Solar is leading innovation in new solar module racking technology that could dramatically cut installation time and cost.

Intermolecular, known for improving semiconductor processes, has created a new focus division on taking solar cells to the next level.

Lux analysts review 380 companies in 16 different emerging technology fields and rate them from “strong caution” to “strong positive” based on their maturity and market readiness.

Zep Solar, based in California, is building big clientele in the solar space and has plenty of room to keep growing, said Ed Cahill, the Lux analyst who reviewed the company.

“Zep focuses on mounting and racking for residential PV systems,” Cahill said. “They’ve come up with a system that gets rid of some material costs and reduces installation time.”

Zep builds module frames with a special groove design that allow them to mount directly onto the feet installers drill into the roof without adding horizontal mounting racks.

“They’re still pricing their systems at about the same price per watt (as other frames,” Cahill said. “The actual cost savings comes from the installation time reduction.”

Cahill said the system can be installed about twice as quickly as a standard solar racking system and saves about 25 cents per watt on installation costs.

“They’ve gotten a lot of traction from a lot of the bigger installers in the U.S.,” Cahill said.

Some of those major installers include Trina Solar and SolarCity. The company also has contracts with module manufacturers who are using Zep’s patented technology. The next step for Zep is to move into the global market, Cahill said.

Intermolecular has a history of helping semiconductor manufacturers increase their efficiencies and improve their systems. Now the company is focusing on solar cells as well, said Fatima Toor, the Lux analyst who rated Intermolecular.

The company has been working particularly with Copper Indium Gallium Selenide thin-film solar – CIGS technology – to bring it to market maturity. The company has had some success and achieved a record high efficiency of more than 17 percent, Toor said.

“That’s impressive for CIGS,” she said.

The company has been working closely with thin-film giant FirstSolar and recently announced a new partnership with the royal family of Saudi Arabia to help develop the country’s solar industry.

“You will start to see their name showing up in solar more,” Toor said.