Sunlit Sea
Sunlit Sea AS, founded 2019 in Norway, designs and manufactures prefabricated aluminum-based floating solar panel systems for water bodies. It sells hardware and professional services to enterprise customers across hydroelectric dams, industrial parks, ports, and wakeboard parks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersOslo, Norway
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Sunlit Sea does
Sunlit Sea AS is a Norwegian floating photovoltaic technology company founded in 2019 and headquartered in Trondheim, specializing in prefabricated aluminum-floated solar panel systems designed for deployment on inland and near-shore water bodies. The core product consists of flat-lay solar modules mounted on anodized aluminum floats with circular dimples for thermal conductivity, butyl rubber (IIR) waterproof sealing enabling frameless construction, cold-formed clinch joints (V-Loc 5.5; 100 joints per float) replacing fasteners and welds, and integrated transducer antifouling technology. Panels operate with water-cooling for higher efficiency and are engineered for high wave and wind tolerance. Manufacturing partners include Hydal Aluminium Profiler (anodizing), BTM Scandinavia (clinching tooling), Metsolar EU (customized frameless 1655x1700mm monocrystalline panels), Whiston Industries (PLC-optimized press automation), and Andron Handling (semi-automatic assembly line), with reported production gains of 130% speedup and 80% scrap reduction.
The company operates an enterprise field-sales motion combining hardware sales with professional services billed hourly, bundled with product sales, or at fixed price. Services span three workstreams: solar development (project management, HOMERpro/PVsyst modeling, local energy communities, procurement), hydrodynamic development (MetOcean consulting, mooring and wave load design, wave tank testing), and product development (industrialization, prototyping, finite element simulation). Target use cases include hydroelectric dam reservoirs, desalination plants, marinas, dredging sites, industrial parks, and ports. Strategic channel partnerships drive distribution: Rixen Cableway (500+ wakeboard parks across 50+ countries, potential up to 30 MWp) and Emrgy (three upcoming joint solar-hydro sites totaling 7.5 MW). Named pilots and projects include the Honnørbrygga installation with the Port of Oslo (May 2022), Prototype 12 at the Tofte Næringspark green industrial cluster (June 2022), and Enova-funded 105 kWp winter-condition testing at Haugaland Næringspark (initial 105 kW May 2024, with a 1.2 MW project and an additional 1.9 MW project underway).
The leadership team consists of co-founders Per Lindberg (CEO, PhD Physics / MSc Nanotech, 15 years of solar project development and panel production) and Eirik Larsen (CFO/CDO, MSc Computer Science, 20 years of programming and business). The organization is small (1–10 employees). In November 2021 the company announced a target to raise 230 million NOK (~USD 27 million) within one year to establish at least one large manufacturing facility in Norway and become a leading global player in floating solar technology. The company also participates in the EU Horizon-funded SUREWAVE wave-breaking research project with SINTEF, was featured on Norway's official greentech marketplace (The Explorer), and is a participant in the Intersolar Europe conference in Munich.
Sunlit Sea firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sunlit Sea
- Legal name
- Sunlit Sea AS
- Website
- https://sunlitsea.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sunlit Sea AS, founded 2019 in Norway, designs and manufactures prefabricated aluminum-based floating solar panel systems for water bodies. It sells hardware and professional services to enterprise customers across hydroelectric dams, industrial parks, ports, and wakeboard parks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sunlit Sea industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Floating Solar Systems
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Prefabricated Metal Buildings & Components (3448), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- PV Balance of System (BOS) & Electrical Infrastructure (Inverters, Transformers, Cabling, Substations) (EUACAGAC)
Keywords
Where Sunlit Sea is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oslo
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sunlit Sea business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Floating Solar Product Sales: Sale of prefabricated floating solar panel installations. Products are sold with associated services or as standalone offerings.
- Professional Services (Hourly): Hour-by-hour charged services for floating solar projects. Can be standalone, bundled with product sales, or charged at fixed prices. Includes solar development, hydrodynamic consulting, and product development services.
- Regulatory and Certification Services: Services related to permissions, guarantees, certifications, and regulatory compliance for floating solar installations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Hourly services for floating solar projects |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Sunlit Sea product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sunlit Sea designs, manufactures, and sells prefabricated floating solar panel installations built on anodized aluminum floats that lay flat on water for optimal cooling, wave tolerance, and wind resistance. The company also provides engineering services for floating solar projects, covering solar development (energy communities, project management, plant studies), hydrodynamic consulting (MetOcean, mooring, wave analysis), and product development (industrialization, prototyping, FEA simulation), typically charged hourly or bundled with product sales.
Product overview
Sunlit Sea offers prefabricated floating solar panel installations as its core product, designed for water bodies to boost renewable energy production. The portfolio includes the main floating solar panel product plus three service modules: Solar Development Services (energy communities, cross carrier connections, project management, and power plant studies), Hydrodynamic Development Services (MetOcean consulting, mooring design, and wave tank testing), and Product Development Services (industrialization, prototyping, and structural simulation). Services are typically charged hourly, can be bundled with product sales, or offered at fixed prices. The modular design enables quick installation and scalable deployment across various water environments including cottages, hydroelectric dams, desalination plants, marinas, and dredging operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sunlit Sea Floating Solar Panels Prefabricated floating solar panel installations that lay flat on water, providing optimal cooling from water underneath, excellent behavior on waves, and very high wind resistance. Engineered for durability with anodized aluminum floats and butyl rubber sealing to withstand extreme weather. Sold to enterprise customers across inland and near-shore water bodies.
- Solar Development Services Engineering services for floating solar projects covering local energy communities, cross-carrier connections, procurement, project management, and solar power plant studies using HOMERpro, PVsyst, and customized scripting tools. Sold to enterprise customers on an hourly, bundled, or fixed-price basis.
- Hydrodynamic Development Services Hydrodynamic and MetOcean consulting for floating solar projects, including wave, wind, and current design criteria, hydrodynamic and mooring design loads, green sea and slamming loads analysis, and wave tank testing. Sold to enterprise customers on an hourly, bundled, or fixed-price basis.
- Product Development Services Services covering industrialization, production optimization, factory-cell requirement specification, floating solar product development, product design, prototyping, testing, and finite element simulation of loads and structural integrity. Sold to enterprise customers on an hourly, bundled, or fixed-price basis.
Quantifiable outcome
- 29% annual growth predicted for floating solar market (vs 18% for land-based solar)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sunlit Sea
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sunlit Sea technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Sunlit Sea partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.
- Haugaland Næringsparkmajor1.2 MW floating solar project at Skiftestjørna integrating with existing windmills. Initial 105 kW installation starting May 2024. Additional 1.9 MW project underway. Testing winter resilience for bankable installations in remote Norwegian areas.
- Metsolar EUcorePartnership to jointly develop the floating solar industry. Metsolar provides customized frameless 1655mm x 1700mm solar panels (10x10 monocrystalline full cells, fully tempered glass) specifically designed for Sunlit Sea's uniquely designed floats. Products comply with European standards through quality assurance.
- EmrgycoreStrategic partnership to harness canals for floating solar, providing cooling, light reflection, and debris barriers. Combined with Emrgy's hydrokinetic turbines for optimized solar and hydro energy with shared infrastructure. Three upcoming sites totaling 7.5 MW in joint solar-hydro projects.
- Statkraft Tofte ASsupportingTofte Næringspark organized by Statkraft Tofte AS hosts Prototype 12 launch. Green industrial cluster enabling climate-friendly growth and value creation. Module electrically commissioned with transducer antifouling.
- SUREWAVE (EU Horizon)majorEU Horizon grant project with Sunlit Sea, SINTEF et al. Focus on wave-breaking technology to support floating solar structures, expanding possible locations and decreasing wave-induced string mismatch losses. Funded through 'Sustainable, secure, and competitive energy supply' call.
- Port of OslosupportingHonnørbrygga pilot installation in Oslo. Port of Oslo participates in data sharing for learning and knowledge sharing within floating solar field. Vice Mayor Victoria Marie Evensen and Port officials attended launch.
- OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan UniversitysupportingAcademic partnership for Honnørbrygga pilot project. Contributing to data sharing and knowledge sharing within floating solar field.
- Andron HandlingsupportingSelected for semi-automatic production line installation. PV panel manipulator installed as first part of assembly line. Transitioning from manual to automatic production for increased speed and quality.
- Rixen CablewaycorePartnership to install floating solar in wakeboard parks. Rixen tours Europe showcasing Sunlit Sea's floating PV system. 500 existing parks with expansion plans; each site requires 30-105 kWp. Panels function as wave breakers, enhancing ride quality while generating power. Potential up to 30 MWp.
- Whiston IndustriessupportingManufacturing partner for press tool optimization. Implementing measures to improve production speed and efficiency of aluminum forming through adaptive machining, pneumatics, and PLCs. Achieved 130% speedup and 80% reduced scrap rate.
- Hydal Aluminium Profiler ASsupportingAnodizing services provider in Raufoss, Norway. Performs electrochemical anodizing process on aluminum floats for corrosion, wear resistance, and visual finish. Dark grey color reduces visibility in water for city-integrated projects.
- SolarCleanosupportingPartnership for operation and maintenance demonstration. SolarCleano M1 robot demonstrated on floating PV installations. Battery-powered robot with integrated camera, 800m²/h cleaning capacity, NO microcracks certified, suitable for harsh marine conditions.
- BTM Scandinavia ABsupportingMetal joining partnership using clinching technique (V-Loc 5,5) to seal aluminum sheets. Zero waste process, no fasteners or welds, less than one second per point. 100 clinch joints per float providing vibration resistance and leak-proof features.
- NTNU Energy Transition InitiativesupportingAcademic partnership for knowledge sharing. CEO Per Lindberg appeared on NTNU Energy Transition Podcast #24 discussing floating solar technology and prefabrication benefits.
- EndrasupportingCollaboration with Endra and Ev Powercharge on Enova-funded floating solar installation testing at Haugaland Næringspark. Testing winter conditions for floating solar panels.
- Ev PowerchargesupportingCollaboration with Endra and Ev Powercharge on Enova-funded floating solar installation testing at Haugaland Næringspark, including battery bank and fast EV charger.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sunlit Sea competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ciel & Terre: Ciel & Terre is the global market leader in floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems with Hydrelio technology and over 1 GW deployed across 30+ countries. It is the most direct competitor to Sunlit Sea, addressing the same land-scarcity use case (hydro dams, reservoirs, industrial ponds) with a mature, utility-scale product.
- Ocean Sun: Norwegian floating solar company with a flexible membrane-based FPV system targeted at hydropower reservoirs. As a fellow Norwegian-headquartered FPV specialist with similar target segments (hydroelectric dams, reservoirs), Ocean Sun is a direct regional peer and likely competitor for the same customers.
- SGG Energy: SGG Energy is a French FPV technology provider offering modular floating solar systems for utility and industrial applications. It is directly comparable to Sunlit Sea in product (modular floats), target customer (utility-scale and industrial parks), and European geographic focus.
- Isigenere: Isigenere is a Spanish manufacturer of floating photovoltaic systems, specializing in HDPE-based modular floats for reservoirs, irrigation ponds, and industrial sites. It serves overlapping customer segments (hydroelectric, industrial parks) with a similar modular FPV value proposition to Sunlit Sea.
- Zimmermann PV: Zimmermann PV is a German floating solar specialist providing turnkey FPV systems across European industrial and water infrastructure projects. Comparable to Sunlit Sea in product design (modular prefabricated floats) and target markets (industrial parks, water bodies).
Broad incumbents
- Sungrow FPV: Sungrow is a global top-tier solar inverter and FPV system supplier, offering integrated floating solar solutions including inverters, floats, and monitoring. It competes with Sunlit Sea across utility-scale FPV projects but as a much broader incumbent leveraging its inverter and storage portfolio.
- JA Solar Technology: JA Solar is a top-tier global PV module manufacturer that has expanded into integrated floating solar solutions. As a broad incumbent with massive module manufacturing scale, it competes on cost and bankability rather than differentiation in floating infrastructure.
Emerging players
- Adrift Floats: Adrift Floats is a smaller European emerging FPV company offering modular floating PV systems. It competes with Sunlit Sea in the same emerging modular FPV niche but typically with smaller-scale deployments and a narrower geographic footprint.
Others
- CubicPV (Metsolar parent context): Metsolar EU is Sunlit Sea's panel supplier partner providing custom frameless 1655mm x 1700mm modules. As an upstream component supplier in the FPV value chain with adjacent custom solar module capabilities, it represents the supplier-side of the ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
- Emrgy: Emrgy is a hydrokinetic turbine company that Sunlit Sea has partnered with on 7.5 MW joint solar-hydro projects. While not a competitor, Emrgy is thematically adjacent as a distributed water-based renewable energy company, and the partnership illustrates complementary rather than competing technology stacks.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sunlit Sea social profiles
Digital presenceSunlit Sea financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sunlit Sea leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Sunlit Sea funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sunlit Sea M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sunlit Sea
What does Sunlit Sea do?
Sunlit Sea designs, manufactures, and sells prefabricated floating solar panel installations built on anodized aluminum floats that lay flat on water for optimal cooling, wave tolerance, and wind resistance. The company also provides engineering services for floating solar projects, covering solar development (energy communities, project management, plant studies), hydrodynamic consulting (MetOcean, mooring, wave analysis), and product development (industrialization, prototyping, FEA simulation), typically charged hourly or bundled with product sales.
Is Sunlit Sea a public or private company?
Sunlit Sea is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sunlit Sea founded?
Sunlit Sea was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sunlit Sea based?
Sunlit Sea is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Sunlit Sea make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Floating Solar Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are professional Services (Hourly) and regulatory and Certification Services.
Who are Sunlit Sea's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ciel & Terre, Ocean Sun, SGG Energy, Isigenere and Zimmermann PV. Broad incumbents are Sungrow FPV and JA Solar Technology. Adrift Floats is listed as an emerging player. Others are CubicPV (Metsolar parent context) and Emrgy.
Does Sunlit Sea have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sunlit Sea.
What industry is Sunlit Sea in?
Sunlit Sea's product category is Floating Solar Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAB, Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System), with a secondary code of EUACAGAC, PV Balance of System (BOS) & Electrical Infrastructure (Inverters, Transformers, Cabling, Substations). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 3448.