Investors in this equity financing include Ausra’s founding investors, Khosla Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

In an encouraging sign for the solar thermal energy sector, Ausra, Inc. has announced a $25.5 million equity funding facility.

Other than its founding investors, the company has also attracted other investors in KERN Partners of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Generation Investment Management, based in London, England; and Starfish Ventures of Melbourne, Australia.

The funding is going to support Ausra’s global expansion opportunities for existing power generation and industrial process steam applications.

Only a couple of months ago, the company was in news for a change in its business strategy in response to the credit crisis. It had decided to focus on being a technology and equipment supplier rather than an independent power developer and owner.

Related links: Ausra, Khosla Ventures