Heliatek develops, produces and distributes industrial-grade organic PV solar solutions for virtually any building surface (horizontal, vertical, curved, rigid, and flexible). Heliatek stands for energy solutions designed for various traditional and never been possible before applications based on its unique features – it is ultra-light, flexible, ultra-thin and truly green. HeliaSol® is a ready-to-use solution, ideal for retrofitting on existing building structures. HeliaFilm® is tailor-made solar film for companies in the building and construction material industry, to integrate into their façade or roof system products.
Heliatek employs more than 200 people at the Dresden and Ulm locations in Germany.
The Free State of Saxony, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the European Union funded research and development, as well as the installation of the production technology.
Interview with Stephan Kube, Head of Marketing at Heliatek.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Stephan Kube: We are developing and producing innovative solar films based on a new technology, called organic PV. We have built the first of its kind manufacturing facility that can mass produce these solar films in a roll-to-roll manufacturing process. We have just started commercial production and will provide the solar films to customers around the world step by step.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
S.K: We have developed an innovative solar product which is ultra-light, flexible, ultra-thin and truly green with a carbon footprint of less than 10 g CO2e/kWh. This makes it the greenest of all solar technologies. The films are also easy to install with their integrated backside adhesive. Simply glue it to various building surface without the need of a substructure.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
S.K: Ranges in terms of dimension: 2m length by 436 mm width. Range of application? We target surfaces on buildings there were no accessible with standard solar modules due to weight or shape restriction of the rooftop. Our films are light and flexible and can be easily glued.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
S.K: We start selling first commercial volume to selected key customers in 2022. In parallel we are ramping production capacity up to supply the strong demand we already have.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
S.K: There is an overall trend to change the way we produce from fossil based, centralized electricity production towards decentralized, green and sustainable electricity production. This is what we provide, almost carbon free electricity from the sun on surfaces, that were not imaginable with conventional PV.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
S.K: HeliaSol is our only marketed product as of now. For more information, check our website.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2022?
S.K: We want to start successfully our commercial sales of our solar films, further develop our technology to make it more competitive and we want to master all challenges of today, like the ongoing Corona pandemic, the Ukraine war, supply chain restrictions and an high inflation rate.