Not all of the light spectrum is useful for plant growth. In fact, only part of the light’s frequencies are utilized for photosynthesis. What if light could be filtered to allow only the fraction that is beneficial for growth and utilize the rest for energy generation? That is precisely what Voltiris does, helping growers power their greenhouses sustainably while keeping optimal yields.

Voltitris mirror solution separates the part of the light spectrum that is useful for plant growth from the part that is not. Their solution functions as a filter inside the greenhouse, allowing plants to receive only the fraction of light necessary for their growth. The rest is transformed into electricity. This same energy can power irrigation, lighting, and humidity control systems used in greenhouses.

“In this way, we can have greenhouse agriculture and energy production at the same time, without compromising on the crop yield. Interestingly, we have recently validated that our technology also has the ability to reduce temperature in greenhouses, an aspect that is crucial to crops’ yield as summers get warmer,” explains co-founder Nicolas Weber.

Understanding The Ecosystem

Hailing from Switzerland, and with the three cofounders all coming from different industries— such as mechanical engineering and strategy consulting—Voltiris applied for StartLife’s Accelerate Fall 2022 program. “StartLife has been instrumental in helping us understand the horticulture ecosystem and connect with partners. Creating relationships that are still very relevant to us in the industry has been for us the main takeaway,” underlines Nicolas.

Comprehending the market dynamics and investors’ behavior was beneficial, although Voltiris has, from day one, aimed to integrate growers’ feedback in the development of its solution. Nicolas: “Since the early days, we have strived to be not a tech-focused company but a client-focused one.”

Partnering With a Multinational Company

Voltiris’ journey is an example of effective collaboration between a startup and a large company. The Swiss team partnered up with American multinational 3M, which also became one of the investors.

“As a startup, you need to understand how validation processes work in larger companies; it takes time, whereas as a small company, you are often on a tight timeline. In our case, we managed our relationship well, reaching a common understanding that the more you execute well together, the more opportunities will be created”, Nicolas recalls.

Deploying Spectral Filtering at Scale

The Swiss startup is now confidently looking to the future, having proven the validity of its solution, which has been deployed in 15 greenhouses across France, Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Customer traction is growing, and so will large-scale installations.

At the same time, Voltiris is also exploring ways to deploy its mirror technology beyond greenhouses. The company is currently using a readaptation of its tech with growers in Spain. The mirror technology, which would be placed above crops, has another potential advantage. Thanks to its temperature reduction capabilities, it would be particularly beneficial for regions facing water scarcity issues.

Although the concept of agrivoltaic—the combination of solar panels and crops—has been around for a long time, Voltiris is striving to bring its own twist to it. Nicolas: “We are convinced of our spectral filtering approach, as the light for crops remains, but we can also offer the benefits of the shade.”

Discover More Insights And Success Stories In Our 15-Year Anniversary Magazine

Dive into our special 15-Year Anniversary Magazine, highlighting the startups, partners, and innovations shaping the future of food and agriculture. Explore inspiring stories, key milestones, and what’s next for our ecosystem. Read Online or Download the PDF