France-based Heliup has won SolarPower Europe’s Gold European Solar Startup Award 2025
It won the award for its patented panels that weigh 60% less than conventional panels for flat rooftops
It currently operates a pilot 100 MW production line with the capacity to produce 350,000 panels/year
Heliup, the French solar PV startup producing modules 60% lighter than conventional panels for flat rooftops, has won SolarPower Europe’s (SPE) annual Gold European Solar Startup Award 2025.
Its stykon solar PV panels weigh 5 kg/m2 and have an efficiency of 20%. The company claims its patented CEA design panels maintain high performance and durability standards. Developed at CEA INES for over 3 years, this technology involves the direct bonding of the panel to the waterproofing membrane while saving glass.
Since these are lightweight, they are resistant to extreme weather conditions, including hailstones of 55 mm and tearing due to high wind speeds. Heliup offers a 12-year product and a 25-year linear power output warranty for these panels that come with IEC 61215/61730/61701 certifications.
It runs a 100 MW pilot production plant for these panels at Le Cheylas in France’s Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, which can produce 500 to 1,000 panels/month and more than 350,000 panels/year.
Heliup President and Co-Founder Yannick Veschetti believes in the potential of its stykon panels for more than 4 billion m² of large rooftop space available in the EU.
The French company beat 2 other finalists to win the award, namely Norway’s Aevy, which was in the running for its automated information management platform, and German provider for AI-based battery storage and renewable energies marketing suena energy.
Other shortlisted companies in the running for the award were 2nd Cycle for PV Modules, Battwoo, Clever Solar Devices, encentive, EXXOSQEL, Heliocity, and PV2+. More details about the winner and other shortlisted companies are available here.
“Only with these forward-thinking innovators can we strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and guarantee a swift energy transition. Innovative solar startups like HELIUP will be critical to the future growth of the solar sector, and shaping our solar-powered future,” said SPE CEO Walburga Hemetsberger.
The award jury comprised Bloomberg New Energy Finance Solar Analyst Jenny Chase; Co-Founder, Shareholder and Board Member at Enerparc AG Stefan Müeller; Managing Partner at Vireo Ventures Felix Krause; and Director Market Intelligence at SPE Michael Schmela.