Heliup sets up its first plant in Le Cheylas (Isère)

For the CEA spin-off Heliup, based at Savoie Technolac, is building a photovoltaic panel production unit at the ZAC Actiparc Sillon Alpin in Le Cheylas, Isère.

In September, Heliup will move into its first industrial production site for photovoltaic panels, which the Savoy-based company has chosen to set up in Le Cheylas, Isère, not far from its headquarters in Le Bourget-du-Lac.

Currently being renovated on the SLS Actiparc site in the Sillon Alpin, the building will house the first industrial line, which will produce up to 500,000 m² of panels per year.

Our pilot line has a capacity of around 10,000 panels a year," explains Yannick Veschetti, co-founder and president of Heliup. The aim of this new site, which will start production in October 2024, is to gradually increase output, thanks in particular to automation. We're going to go from the current 40 panels per day on the pilot line, to 80 panels per hour."

This acceleration will depend on orders, but Yannick Veschetti obviously wants it to happen as quickly as possible. "The closer we get to full production, the more costs will be optimized, enabling us to offer even more competitive products.

Since its creation in 2022, Heliup panels have been unique in that they are lightweight panels, making them compatible with all types of roof.

"They are designed for installation on the roofs of existing buildings. We're targeting large commercial, logistics and industrial buildings in particular. Many of these buildings, especially the less recent ones, were not designed with the possibility of photovoltaic installation in mind, and could not withstand the overload of traditional solutions. We have therefore developed a lightweight panel, with an associated integration system, which provides a technical solution that is economically viable and poses no problem for ten-year insurance."

In France, there are almost 300 million square meters of this type, to which we can add 400 million square meters of agricultural buildings, i.e. as many possibilities for solarization using Heliup's solution.

Yannick Veschetti: " Offer a competitive product, while creating value in the region".

With his differentiated solution, Heliup's President is confident of his ability to hold his own in a turbulent photovoltaic market driven by Chinese competition. "It's a measured optimism based on a number of criteria. First of all, we need to reach a certain level of industrial maturity and production capacity. But our panel is different from those on the market: it's innovative, patented, and even if we have competitors, it's not on the same scale. Our end customers are also profiles with an appetite for local products with strict certifications. Regulations will also oblige them to install more panels on existing buildings, including panels made in Europe. With our technology, there's plenty of room to offer a competitive product, while creating value locally."

Thirteen million euros secured in latest financing round

Renovation of the site and installation of the industrial line represent an investment of 5 million euros for Heliup, financed by a recent fund-raising round which enabled it to secure 13 million euros.

The current financial year will be the first to generate sales, but Yannick Veschetti expects to break even as early as next year.

Heliup currently employs 30 people, but this figure is set to rise to 50 by the end of the year. "We will then recruit as production ramps up. The plant will be able to accommodate up to 100 people when it's at full capacity."

Article published on the Tecsol website