Designergy has made great strides

Conventional photovoltaic systems for roofs have several disadvantages. There is a damage risk when solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are set on the roof, the roof design is not uniform and the roof has to be insulated additionally to make sure that no energy is wasted. The products of Designergy solves those problems. Its TCR system combines a PV module and insulation. The system is installed in one step, so that the installation of the PV system cannot damage the roof. The combination of PV module and installation prevents waste of energy and thanks to a dummy system the roof looks better. And the most important advantage: the Designergy system has a shorter payback time than traditional aggregate roof and PV solutions.

Designergy was founded by Daniel Lepori. What the industrial start-up has achieved since then is really impressive. A prototype developed at the University of Applied Sciences of Lugano (SUPSI/ISAAC) two years ago passed several tests in the context of a joint CTI research project and formed the basis of a pilot-project last year. The commercial exploitation will start in spring 2014. The company has set up a small production plant that will be soon upgraded in capacity and has built up a Swiss value chain partnership with Sunage and Sika certified by the “Swiss made” logo.

Designergy was able to attract investors too. “We achieved a relevant multi-million CHF figure of financing so far and the opportunity of further investments has been judged bilaterally very interesting”, told Daniel Lepori startupticker.ch. In addition the company won several awards and received the CTI Start-up label.

Daniel Lepori is optimistic about the chances of the Designergy system on the market. “We have presented the company at Swissbau end of January 14 with very positive feedback”, Lepori says. There are good opportunities for Designergy to continue its success story.