French startup Heliup has commissioned a 100 MW solar panel factory in Le Cheylas, southeastern France , to produce lightweight solar panels specifically designed for flat commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftops with limited load-bearing capacity.

French startup Heliup has commissioned a 100 MW solar panel factory in Le Cheylas, southeastern France , to produce lightweight solar panels specifically designed for flat commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftops with limited load-bearing capacity. The panels use ultra-thin glass technology in their Stykon PV panels , which are glued directly onto waterproof membranes, reducing weight by 60% without compromising performance or reliability. The project, developed under the Solar Heliup Energy for Flat roofTop initiative, was supported by a €3.22 million grant from the European Commission's Innovation Fund and an additional €10 million raised in October 2023. Heliup plans to scale production significantly from 2026, increasing capacity by 5 to 10 times the current size. This innovation addresses the challenge of installing solar panels on buildings with structural limitations, contributing to Europe’s decarbonization goals.

Data Extracted:

Factory Details:

1. Location:

   • Le Cheylas, southeastern France

2. Production Capacity:

   • 100 MW

3. Product Focus:

   • Lightweight solar panels for flat commercial and industrial rooftops with limited load-bearing capacity.

4. Technology Used:

   • Ultra-thin glass technology in Stykon PV panels .

5. Weight Reduction:

   • Panels are 60% lighter due to being glued directly onto waterproof membranes.

Funding and Support:

1. Private Funding:

   • €10 million raised in October 2023 to finance factory construction.

2. Public Funding:

   • €3.22 million grant from the European Commission's Innovation Fund .

3. Future Plans:

   • Scaling production capacity by 5 to 10 times starting from 2026 .

Key Features of Stykon PV Panels:

1. Design Purpose:

   • Specifically designed for low load-bearing capacity rooftops , such as those on commercial, industrial, and logistics buildings.

2. Installation Method:

   • Glued directly onto waterproof membranes, reducing structural stress.

3. Performance:

   • Maintains high performance and reliability despite significant weight reduction.

Applications:

1. Target Buildings:

   • Flat rooftops of commercial, industrial, and logistics buildings with structural limitations.

2. Market Gap Addressed:

   • Enables solar installations on buildings traditionally unsuitable due to weight constraints.

Leadership and Vision:

1. CEO Statement:

   • Yannick Veschetti , CEO of Heliup, emphasized that the project addresses the unrealized potential of structurally constrained buildings and accelerates Europe’s decarbonization efforts.

2. Strategic Goal:

   • Contribute to Europe’s decarbonization objectives by enabling broader adoption of solar energy.

Timeline:

1. Factory Completion:

   • Fully operational as of October 2023 .

2. Scaling Phase:

   • Planned for 2026 onwards , with production capacity increased by 5 to 10 times .