Solar Heat

Factories often require enormous amounts of heat for production – heat that is typically generated from fossil fuels. Existing solar technologies are either too expensive or unable to reach the required temperatures. Pioneer Fellow Luca Thommen is developing a novel solar-thermal collector that uses low-cost standard materials.

Two prototypes already demonstrate that the system can reach up to 150°C, is modular and scalable, and is so cost-effective that even price-sensitive industries can switch to clean process heat. As part of the Pioneer Fellowship, Luca Thommen will develop the market-ready version, test it in a real production environment, and prepare the launch of his company.