A French business called Heliup has acquired €10 million in investment to develop and manufacture lightweight solar panels. The business wants to turn the expansive roofs of existing structures into a renewable energy source.
Together with EIT InnoEnergy, BNP Paribas Development, and IDEC Group, Starquest Capital led the fundraising round. Regional BPI France offices also support finance, the France 2030 investment initiative, and several other banks.
The finance made public on October 5 would enable Heliup to invest in a manufacturing facility for portable solar panels in France and quicken its commercial development.
Traditional panels are too heavy to fit on the structure of buildings. The industrial line, which will have a capacity of 500,000 m2/year (100 MWp/year), will start up in 2024 to meet the high demand for solarizing roofs that can not be met by current options.
President of Heliup Yannick Veschetti states, “We deeply appreciate our investors for their ongoing support of our ambition to make solar energy more widely available and effective than before. Thanks to this financing, we will be able to further our objective to aid in the switch to greener energy.
Sustainable solar power systems
Heliup creates and manufactures solar systems for expansive building rooftops (commercial, industrial, logistical, municipal government, etc.). They significantly cut time and expense while reducing the weight of the solar power plant by over 60%, thanks to a unique integration technique.
According to the business, compared to ground-mounted solar power plants, their technology would prevent more than 500,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and save more than 7,000 metric tons of aluminum, 14,000 metric tons of glass, and 30,000 metric tons of steel.
Heliup now offers two different models of solar panels: Stykon and Lighton. Stykon, a flat roof material made of silicon cells, has an inventive, speedy, and straightforward installation process that includes adhesives for waterproofing.
Lighton, which uses ultra-thin glass technology, is focused on pitched roofs. The Lighton will include a fastening method tailored for this substrate and is slated for market availability in 2025.
Making affordable solar energy
Heliup’s photovoltaic panels will convert roofs into clean energy sources, lowering buildings’ carbon footprints and aiding in the battle against climate change by encouraging users to consume their energy.
The business wants to expand the use of its solar panels across borders. Heliup plans to begin with European projects before extending its services outside France in the next few years.
“EIT InnoEnergy is pleased to assist Heliup in growing. Johanne Ulrich, Investment Director at EIT InnoEnergy France, said, “We are confident that this experienced and effective team will bring an efficient and sustainable solution to finally cover 80% of the current commercial building market.”
“Since it was founded, the startup has already grown significantly, and the support provided by InnoEnergy will allow them to grow even more quickly and significantly,” Ulrich continues.
