SolarSub, a UK-based solar technology company spun out of the University of Edinburgh, has successfully closed a £1.34 million funding round. The investment is earmarked to accelerate the development and commercialisation of its passive cooling systems designed for photovoltaic (PV) modules.
The funding initiative was spearheaded by Sustainable Ventures, with significant contributions from Zinc VC, Scottish Enterprise, Old College Capital (the University of Edinburgh’s venture investment fund), SFC Capital, and the British Business Bank. Additional backing was provided through Innovate UK’s Investor Partnership programme.
The core challenge addressed by SolarSub’s technology lies in the inherent inefficiency of solar panels when operating at elevated temperatures. As PV modules heat up, their ability to generate electricity diminishes, and their degradation rate accelerates, ultimately shortening their operational lifespan and reducing their economic value.
SolarSub’s solution is a passive cooling technology engineered to maintain solar modules closer to their optimal operating temperature. Crucially, the system functions without requiring any pumps or moving parts, distinguishing it from active cooling methods. This design aims to enhance energy generation, mitigate temperature-induced degradation, and consequently improve the long-term financial viability of solar projects.
The newly secured capital will support the next phase of SolarSub’s technical development and real-world validation. This includes further product refinement, independent third-party testing, and deployments with various research institutions, utility providers, and industry partners. Over the coming months, the company, founded by two University of Edinburgh engineering graduates, plans to conduct trials in multiple international locations as it progresses towards commercial-scale deployment.
Early testing has demonstrated considerable performance enhancements under high-temperature conditions. Trials conducted at the University of Edinburgh’s FloWave ocean energy research facility recorded an impressive energy uplift of up to 17.5 per cent. Furthermore, outdoor testing at Heriot-Watt University’s Dubai campus yielded peak gains of up to 19 per cent.
Sebastiaan Schalkwijk, chief executive and co-founder of SolarSub, expressed gratitude for the investment, stating: “I’d like to thank all of our investors and supporters for backing us as we move into the next stage of SolarSub’s development. It’s been great to see the technology progress from the early days of research at the University of Edinburgh to the point where we’re now preparing for larger-scale trials and commercial deployment.”
James Taylor, co-founder and COO of SolarSub, added: “I am immensely proud of the team in getting to this point. This investment allows us to move from successful technical validation into the next stage of real-world deployment. Our focus will now shift to demonstrating the technology at increasing scale and building out our commercial adoption with industry partners.”
Joshua Armistead-Wood, investor at Sustainable Ventures, highlighted the strategic importance of SolarSub’s approach: “The challenge of energy generation is one that, unsurprisingly, remains at the top of our agenda, particularly at a time of increasing price volatility. The solution the SolarSub team is developing stood out to us because, instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, they are focused on one simple root of inefficiency within existing solar systems: excess heat. We have been impressed by what the team has achieved to date and are excited to work with them as they deliver the next stage.”
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Derek Shaw, director of company funding & investment at Scottish Enterprise, underscored the investment’s alignment with national goals: “Our investment in SolarSub Ltd underscores our commitment to creating an internationally competitive energy transition industry in Scotland. By supporting ambitious companies in areas such as clean energy technology, we can help them drive innovation and capitalise on the significant economic opportunities linked to the shift from the production and consumption of fossil fuels to sources of renewable energy.”
Initially, SolarSub plans to target the floating solar market, where direct access to water offers an advantageous environment for passive thermal management, before extending the technology’s application to the broader utility-scale solar market. The funding will also facilitate the expansion of SolarSub’s engineering capabilities as the company prepares its technology for manufacturing, certification, and ultimate commercial rollout.
