Blog Archives

“Generation Solar” is the brainchild of the multinational photovoltaics research project, GRECO. The result of a unique collaborative process of science, IT support and input from citizens, the web version of “Generation Solar” is now available on iOS and Android. For more information: press release in English and French.

We are very proud to be recognized as one of the TOP 100 Swiss Startups 2020! Thank you to Venturelab & Venture Kick for the continuous support over the years! Congratulations to the Insolight team for this achievement!

Insolight’s solar module THEIA – Translucency & High-Efficiency in Agrivoltaics was attributed the “Solar Impulse Efficient Solution” Label following an assessment performed by external independent experts and based on verified standards. It is thereby joining the #1000solutions challenge, an initiative by the Solar Impulse Foundation to select solutions that meet high standards in profitability and sustainability and present them to decision-makers to fast-track their implementation.

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THEIA is a photovoltaic module which was designed for Agrivoltaics (the combination of agriculture and photovoltaics). Agrivoltaics holds the promise for enabling energy transition through dual use of land whilst improving agricultural yields and water usage. THEIA can produce 30-160% more electricity per m² than a conventional crystalline-silicon agrivoltaic installations whilst letting through part of the sunlight. Its key applications are mounted on open fields or integrated within greenhouses with sufficient light transmitted for plant photosynthesis. The solution further enables decarbonization of agriculture, increased revenues for farmers and lower water consumption.

To receive the “Solar Impulse Efficient Solution” Label, THEIA was thoroughly assessed by a pool of independent experts according to 5 criteria covering the three main topics of Feasibility, Environmental and Profitability. All labelled solutions are part of the #1000solutions portfolio that will be presented to decision-makers in business and government by Bertrand Piccard, Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation. The aim of this initiative is to encourage the adoption of more ambitious environmental targets and fast-track the implementation of these solutions on a large scale.

About the “Solar Impulse Efficient Solution” Label

One of the first labels for positive impact businesses bringing together protection of the environment and financial viability, the “Solar Impulse Efficient Solution” Label is attributed following an assessment performed by external independent experts. In collaboration with renowned institutions, solutions applying for the label must go through a neutral methodology based on verified standards. This label serves as an award for clean and profitable solutions.

About the Solar Impulse Foundation

The Solar Impulse Foundation is dedicated to accelerating the implementation of clean and profitable solutions. Moreover, the Foundation is helping decision-makers in businesses and governments to achieve their environmental targets and adopt more ambitious energy policies, which are necessary to pull these solutions to market. A way to carry the success of the first solar-powered flight around the world further.

It’s been two years in the making: We have graduated from the ESA-BIC program! We are among the first roster of ESA-BIC start-ups and therefore entering in their alumni club.

We are very happy to announce that we partner with Dow Silicones Belgium and Topsil in a Eurostars project. Eurostars is a joint programme between EUREKA and the European Commission, co-funded from the national budgets of 36 Eurostars Participating States and Partner Countries and by the European Union through Horizon 2020. The consortium is bringing a strong expertise in optics manufacturing and assembly processes. This project will allow us to progress with the industrialization of our solar panel and therefore accelerate our road to market.

Dow is the world leader in supplying silicone material and are supporting us on material properties and their lifetime qualification. Dow consider our project as an excellent contribution to a more sustainable future.

Topsil has been specializing in processing of elastic materials, with a special focus on silicone, for the most demanding customers and the most challenging working conditions, since 1988. They were one of the first companies worldwide to introduce optical silicone products to their portfolio.

We are partnering with CSEM and SUPSI in an InnoSuisse project. This project will allow us to facilitate the integration of Insolight’s technology onto a standard silicon module allowing optimized harvesting of both direct and diffuse sunlight. The collaboration will focus on the electrical and assembly aspects linked to the hybrid cells approach.

CSEM’s PV-center is an industry-driven and application oriented center to foster innovation in the field of photovoltaics. They have 25 years of experience in the development of PV-techologies. CSEM is also home to a wide array of fabrication processes machines.

SUPSI PVLab is the only Swiss laboratory with ISO 17025 accreditation for photovoltaic module testing.

From April 6 to April 8 Insolight participated to the Climate Show 2018 in Geneva that presents new technologies and outcomes that are related to the reduction of carbon emissions and the mitigation of the climate change effects. For more info about the fair, please check Climate Show website.

During this fair, our COO, Florian Gerlich, did an outstanding pitch, presenting Insolight business and involvement into a sustainable world and Insolight won the “coup de coeur start-up” award !

Many thanks to the Climate Show 2018 and CleanTechAlps for this opportunity !

We have beautifully entered the TOP100 Swiss Startup list by being the best newcomers! This makes us 18th overall :). This leads us well into the progress we’re making at the moment. We’re looking forward to showing it with the results coming from our first pilot site! Read more here: http://www.startup.ch/top100

We have been selected to be among the Venture Leaders startup development program. We will therefore be in the Silicon Valley for the last week of March to gain international exposure in an important market. Read more about it here.

We’re finishing the year with a nice announcement: We’ve won Venture Kick III :).

We’re very grateful for VK’s ongoing support. As Laurent, our CEO, best puts it:

The three stages of the program helped us to progress on the business aspects, with continuous coaching and monitoring. The support received at the kickers camps was outstanding and extremely efficient, as it helped us transform a technical project into a real venture. Venture Kick is substantial for us to gain visibility and be on the radar of Swiss and international investors

Now on to the next year!!!

Read more about Venture Kick here.