PRESS RELEASE – 18 SEPTEMBER 2024
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – Eaton, a global leader in intelligent power management, and Insolight, a Swiss agrivoltaic company are examining new opportunities to couple Eaton’s energy management technologies with Insolight’s agrivoltaic technologies.
Insolight agrivoltaic solutions generate energy that can be stored until needed in Eaton’s battery energy storage systems (BESS). Depending on the farm’s size and energy output, this energy can be used by buildings on site, or sold to local communities via the local electricity grid. It can even be used in conjunction with Eaton’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EVCI), to power electric vehicles or tractors.
Insolight plans to launch by 2026 more than 100 projects that will collectively generate over 300 MWp (Megawatt Peak) of renewable energy across Europe, with 66 MWp already currently under development. Eaton will support the projects with technical expertise and product training, while agrivoltaic pioneers Insolight will support farmers with the integration, commissioning and ongoing maintenance of new sustainable energy systems.
Insolight agrivoltaic solutions provide much needed protection to crops, against wind, hail, frost, heatwaves and rain. The combination of weather protection, solar generation and proprietary light management means that farmers can optimise agronomic production whilst also generating renewable energy for use either to reduce their own energy bills or sell as a source of income.
Eaton’s robust energy management systems will be integrated seamlessly with such installations to provide farmers and communities with efficient, sustainable energy without compromising agricultural output.
The agrivoltaic sector is relatively new and research shows it is set to grow rapidly in the coming years, with Europe leading its evolution. It is a crucial component of the shift to a sustainable energy future, in an increasingly energy intensive world. Dual use of land for agriculture and solar energy production uses finite land resources more effectively, and the approach that Eaton and Insolight offer will reward farmers financially through different business models.
Laurent Coulot, CEO & Co-founder, Insolight,
Andreea Laplace, Business Development and Transformation Director, Sustainability officer, Energy Transition Business Unit, Eaton
Anne Lillywhite, Senior Vice President and General manager, Energy Transition, Digital and Services, Eaton,
Luiggino Torrigiani, Head of Marketing & Partnerships, Insolight
Speaking about the partnership, Luiggino Torrigiani, Insolight Head of Marketing and Partnerships said:
This collaboration with Eaton represents a significant milestone in our mission to bring innovative agrivoltaic solutions to market. By integrating our advanced solar technology with Eaton’s energy management expertise, we can offer a solution that benefits both the environment and the agricultural sector. Together, we are not just envisioning a greener future, but actively creating it.
Anne Lillywhite, Senior Vice President and General manager, Energy Transition, Digital and Services also commented:
At Eaton, we are dedicated to driving the energy transition and supporting sustainable practices across industries. Partnering with Insolight allows us to extend our capabilities into the agrivoltaic sector, where energy efficiency alongside agricultural productivity can make a real impact. We are excited about the potential of this partnership to deliver innovative solutions that will help shape a more sustainable world.
About Eaton
Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy sources, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come. Eaton was founded in 1911 and has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange for more than a century. We reported revenues of $23.2 billion in 2023 and serve customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.
About Insolight
Insolight is a Swiss-based agrivoltaics company that specializes in developing innovative solar technologies to enhance agricultural productivity, while generating renewable energy. With a strong focus on sustainability and efficiency, Insolight is at the forefront of integrating solar energy into agricultural systems across Europe. Insolight is on a mission to improve agriculture resilience against climate change, while contributing to megatons of CO2 savings, and to have a tangible impact on both climate change adaptation and mitigation. For more information, visit insolight.ch.
Contact at Eaton:
Name: Angela Swann
Phone number: +44 7773198113
Email address: AngelaSwann@eaton.com
Contact at Insolight
Name: Kalina Koleva
Email address: Kalina.Koleva@insolight.ch