Voltiris, active in solar energy solutions for greenhouses, has successfully closed a CHF 4.8 million (over 5 million euro) seed financing round to accelerate the electrification of high-tech greenhouses. Voltiris has already demonstrated the system in Dutch demo greenhouses, among other places. A follow-up test to investigate the added value of cooling in strawberries is in the making. This year, practical installations will follow at various growers in the Netherlands and Belgium.
The round was co-led by the Swiss venture capital firm EquityPitcher Ventures and 3M Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of 3M Company, joined by the Climate Tech VC fund Satgana and several prominent family offices, reflecting strong support from key opinion leaders.
"The new funds will accelerate large-scale commercialization and further performance optimization of the proprietary spectral filtering technology—driving ROI for growers in times where energy independence and decarbonization are more valuable than ever", says Nicolas Weber, Co-Founder & CEO of Voltiris. He expressed his enthusiasm for the next stages of the company's growth, stating, "This funding marks an important moment for Voltiris as we expand our commercial footprint across key European markets including Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. We are also excited to continue enhancing our technological edge, making solar-powered greenhouses a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture."
Demo setup Voltiris at Delphy in Bleiswijk.
The funding will catalyze Voltiris' capacity to execute confirmed projects in key markets. The company is also set to expand its team in Switzerand and the Netherlands, enriching expertise in agronomy, solar project development, and sales.
"With this new round of funding, Voltiris is looking to scale operations significantly," added Sascha Horrig, Founding Partner at EquityPitcher. "We are excited to support their journey together with the global leader 3M to elevate and broaden the integration of agronomy and solar energy."
Over the past two years, Voltiris has reached milestones, including 12 commercial projects with growers in Europe, partnerships with leading energy utilities like Elektra Baselland and Romande Energie, and multiple industry awards. "These achievements attest to the practical and economic benefits of the spectral filtering technology, which not only allows for efficient solar energy production on top of the most light-sensitive crops, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, but also improves the greenhouse climate, contributing to healthier crop growth and resilience."
Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Voltiris develops solar modules compatible with greenhouse agriculture and its crops. Leveraging spectral filtering technology, Voltiris transmits to crops the essential light components for photosynthesis, while the 'unused' spectral elements are filtered and directed towards solar panels. "We allow growers to leverage their greenhouse surfaces to generate the clean, competitive, and independent energy they need to transition to a carbon-free electrification", Nicolas summarizes.
Last year a test with the special solar panels was conducted at Delphy. A follow-up trial to investigate the added value of cooling in strawberries is in the making.
This year, practical installations will follow at Division Q, above the cresses of Koppert Cress, at growers of the Lingezegen Energy collective (potted plants and peppers), BioVerbeek (peppers), and at Belgian Tomeco (tomatoes).
Voor meer informatie:
Voltiris
[email protected]
www.voltiris.com