CHF 150’000 to enable efficient solar heat harvesting

More energy is used for process heat in the industrial sector than for electricity worldwide. Today, industrial heat demand is almost entirely met by fossil fuels, and it is responsible for 20% of the global CO2 emissions annually. SOLAXER is directly contributing to the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals by targeting the emerging market of Solar Heat for Industrial Processes (SHIP).

The Ecublens (VD)-based startup aims to accelerate the deployment of solar process heat by delivering a new generation of receivers for efficient solar heat harvesting. The receivers are coated with an innovative selective absorber coating that is air-stable at high temperatures and has superior durability and optical performance to existing absorbers. The patented manufacturing process is based on a cost-efficient method using non-hazardous chemicals coupled with an energy-efficient local induction heating.

Concentrating collectors deliver solar steam and process heat with high conversion efficiencies and are among the cheapest and most mature technologies to decarbonize industrial processes. SHIP projects have shown an impressive cost reduction of 70% over the last six years. Today, SHIP is recognized as the sector with the highest potential among solar heating applications, with projected annual growth rates of 90%. The global addressable receiver market stands at USD 4B.

SOLAXER could supply receivers for more than 800.000 m2 installed collector area over the next five years based on its letters of intent alone. Yearly fossil-fuel savings from a 1 MWp solar field is 300.000 m3 of gas or 250.000 liters of oil.

With its solution, Solaxer has the vision to become the leading supplier of receivers for concentrating solar collectors. The startup will use the CHF 150,000 Venture Kick award to accelerate its up-scaling and complete the first pilot solar installations with SOLAXER receivers.

SOLAXER was founded by Anna Krammerand Maxime Lagier, who jointly bring ten years of research experience on solar selective absorber coatings. Andreas Schüler, Head of the Nanotechnology for Solar Energy Conversion Group at the LESO-PB laboratory, and Jean-Christophe Hadorn, former Head of the Solar Heat and Heat Storage research program of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, serve as advisors to the founders.

“The Venture Kick program with its three-stage pitch structure, diverse pool of experienced jury members, and the Kickers Camp helped us refine our value proposition, continuously improve and adapt our business strategy and extend our network. Thanks to the invaluable feedback and business insights we have received, we have grown from an idea into a company. We are honoured to be among the winners of stage three and we are thankful for the visibility and credibility that Venture Kick support grants us.” said Anna Krammer, co-founder of SOLAXER.

(Press release/RAN)
Photo: The Solaxer team: Giacomo David, Anna Krammer, Maxime Lagier, Andreas Schüler, Ciriaco Perez Rodriguez, Guénaël Gaulier.