Voltiris and EBL pilot project brings solar energy to greenhouses

Voltiris, a Vaud-based energy start-up, has partnered with EBL and Eschbach Gemüsebau to pilot its revolutionary solar modules for greenhouses, offering a sustainable energy solution without compromising plant growth.

Voltiris, an innovative start-up headquartered in Epalinges (canton of Vaud), is advancing its groundbreaking photovoltaic (PV) technology through a pilot project in collaboration with EBL (Genossenschaft Elektra Baselland) and Eschbach Gemüsebau, a family-run vegetable farm in Füllinsdorf. This initiative showcases Voltiris’ unique solution: solar panels designed specifically for greenhouses, enabling dual use of space for energy generation and agriculture.

Conventional PV systems often cast shadows that inhibit plant growth, rendering them unsuitable for greenhouses. Voltiris has solved this issue with a sophisticated optical system based on spectral filtering. This technology channels only the light wavelengths unused in photosynthesis to the solar panels, allowing sufficient sunlight for crops while producing renewable energy. The systems are minimally invasive, requiring no major structural modifications.

In Füllinsdorf, around a third of a greenhouse roof has been fitted with Voltiris’ PV modules, generating more than 50,000 kWh annually—enough to cover a substantial share of the farm’s energy needs. Additional installations are planned for spring 2025, with Eschbach Gemüsebau’s microleaf crops showing no adverse effects from the system.

Accelerating renewable energy adoption

“Installation took about two and a half weeks and was straightforward, requiring minimal disruption to our greenhouse operations,” said Andreas Eschbach, co-owner of Eschbach Gemüsebau. “Voltiris’ PV system is the first technology I’ve seen that offers a viable energy solution for greenhouses without compromising plant growth.”

EBL is financing and maintaining the system under a contracting agreement, allowing the farm to purchase electricity at a fixed rate without upfront costs. Encouraged by the pilot’s initial success, EBL plans to expand the offering to other greenhouse operators across German-speaking Switzerland.

Voltiris’ collaboration with EBL represents a key milestone in scaling its innovative solar technology. By transforming greenhouse roofs into energy-generating assets, the project not only bolsters sustainability in agriculture but also underscores the potential of local energy solutions to address global climate challenges.