Heliup, a French startup that develops and produces lightweight photovoltaic panels, has raised €10M in funding.
The company aims to transform the large roofs of existing buildings into a clean energy source.
Starquest Capital led the financing round, along with participation from EIT InnoEnergy, BNP Paribas Développement, and IDEC Group.
Regional branches of BPI France, the France 2030 investment plan, and several other banks also back the financing.
Heliup develops and produces photovoltaic solutions for large roofs on buildings (commercial, industrial, logistics, local authorities, etc.).
Equipped with a special integration system, they reduce the weight of the solar power plant by over 60 percent with significant time and cost reduction.
The company claims, that at the end of the first industrial phase, its technology will avoid more than 500,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and save more than 7,000 tonnes of aluminum, 14,000 tonnes of glass, and 30,000 tonnes of steel compared with ground-mounted solar power plants.
At the moment, Heliup has developed two types of solar panels, namely Stykon and Lighton. The silicon cells-based Stykon is used in flat roofs, with an innovative, quick, and simple installation system with adhesives for waterproofing.
Lighton is instead dedicated to pitched roofs, being based on ultra-thin glass technology. Scheduled for market release in 2025, Lighton will feature a fastening system optimized for this substrate.
The startup aims to internationalize the use of its photovoltaic panels. Starting by commencing Europe-based projects, Heliup looks forward to expanding its services beyond France in the upcoming years.
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