Heliatek
Heliatek develops and manufactures HeliaSol, the world's first commercially available IEC-certified organic photovoltaic solar film, serving commercial and industrial building owners globally through direct sales and a multi-tier partner network from its Dresden headquarters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersDresden, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Heliatek does
Heliatek GmbH is a Dresden-based, privately held technology company founded in 2006 that develops and manufactures organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar films under the brand HeliaSol. The company positions itself as a world leader in OPV with a portfolio of over 450 patents covering organic semiconductor materials, deposition processes, and roll-to-roll production equipment. Its commercial-scale HeliaFab facility in Dresden — inaugurated in August 2019 — uses a proprietary roll-to-roll production concept that, at full ramp, is stated to produce up to 2 million square meters of HeliaSol per year on only 5,000 square meters of manufacturing space, the only such commercial OPV roll-to-roll line disclosed in the inputs.
HeliaSol is the company's sole commercial product: an ultra-lightweight (<3 kg/m²), flexible, IEC 61215 and UL certified organic solar film designed for direct adhesive application onto concrete, metal, glass, membranes, and curved surfaces without drilling or mounting hardware. The technology uses organic semiconductor materials rather than crystalline silicon, carries a 20-year certified performance warranty, and the company claims the shortest CO₂ amortization time (under 100 days) of any solar technology. Hitherto niche applications — building facades, chimneys, membrane air domes, sound barriers, pre-fabricated steel halls — illustrate the differentiation versus conventional rigid silicon PV.
Heliatek monetizes primarily via hardware sales of HeliaSol modules and project-based delivery, reaching B2B customers through a multi-tier channel that includes project partners (e.g., SPI Intelligence Services, Energie-Interessen), integration partners (e.g., TEPE Systemhallen, AGC, SVK), exclusive solution partners (Triflex for roof renovation), and exclusive wholesale distributors (IGEPA Group in Europe). Named end-customer installations include BMW Group, Cologne Bonn Airport, Wien Energie, Siemens Energy, Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, Duisport, and Erlanger Stadtwerke, with 75+ installations reportedly realized worldwide. The company is backed by strategic investors including E.ON, ENGIE (6.6% stake since 2016), BASF, RWE, Aqton, Wellington Partners, eCapital, BNP Paribas, and Innogy, and benefits from public co-funding via BMWi, BMBF, SAB, and EU/EFRE programs. CEO Guido van Tartwijk has led the company since November 2018, with Christoph Ostermann (Sonnen Group founder) chairing the Advisory Board since April 2023.
Heliatek firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Heliatek
- Legal name
- Heliatek GmbH
- Website
- https://heliatek.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Heliatek develops and manufactures HeliaSol, the world's first commercially available IEC-certified organic photovoltaic solar film, serving commercial and industrial building owners globally through direct sales and a multi-tier partner network from its Dresden headquarters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Heliatek industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Next-Gen Photovoltaics R&D (Perovskite, Tandem, Organic, BIPV Materials) (EUAMAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film) (EUAMAHAA), Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO)
Keywords
Where Heliatek is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dresden
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Heliatek business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- HeliaSol Module Sales: Sale of HeliaSol organic solar film modules to partners and end customers through direct sales and channel partner network.
- Full Project Realization: Complete project delivery from development to implementation with project partners, including system design and installation support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based pricing for HeliaSol modules |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Heliatek product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Heliatek develops, manufactures, and distributes HeliaSol organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar film modules for building-integrated applications. The ultra-lightweight, flexible films adhere directly to surfaces such as concrete, metal, glass, and membranes without drilling or mounting systems, enabling solar generation on structures where conventional silicon panels are unsuitable. Production occurs at the company's HeliaFab roll-to-roll facility in Dresden, Germany.
Product overview
Heliatek offers a single unified product line centered on its organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar film technology called HeliaSol. HeliaSol is the world's only commercially available and IEC-certified organic solar film product, developed and manufactured in Germany using a proprietary roll-to-roll production process called HeliaFab. The technology is based on organic semiconductor materials (not crystalline silicon) and produces ultra-lightweight, flexible solar films that adhere directly to building surfaces without mounting systems. The company's strategic focus is on building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), serving the building and construction sector through project partners, integration partners, and solution partners, with HeliaSol as the sole product brand.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HeliaSol The world's only commercially available and IEC 61215-certified organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar film. Ultra-lightweight, flexible, and sustainably manufactured, HeliaSol adheres directly to building surfaces such as concrete, metal, glass, and membranes without drilling or mounting systems, similar to an adhesive sticker. It is sold to commercial and industrial building owners, construction companies, building-material manufacturers, and installation partners, carries a certified 20-year performance warranty, and offers a CO2 amortization time of less than 100 days.
- HeliaFab Heliatek's proprietary roll-to-roll series production concept for manufacturing organic solar films. HeliaFab enables compact, state-of-the-art production of HeliaSol; the Dresden facility occupies 5,000 square meters with planned output capacity of up to 2 million square meters of HeliaSol per year. The concept is described as a deployable production platform for further HeliaFab plants worldwide.
- Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) Technology Platform Heliatek's proprietary organic photovoltaic technology platform, developed in-house and protected by a portfolio of more than 450 patents covering materials, processes, and production equipment. It uses organic semiconductor materials (not crystalline silicon) and produces ultra-thin, flexible, lightweight solar films with stable performance at high temperatures and non-optimal orientations, with a CO2 amortization period of less than 100 days. The platform underpins the HeliaSol product and HeliaFab manufacturing process.
Quantifiable outcome
- CO2 payback time of less than 100 days
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Heliatek
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Heliatek technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
Feature3 records
Heliatek partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KumanoyacoreJapan-based partner with many years of experience in sustainable technologies supporting Heliatek's market entry, local distribution, and implementation in Japan.
- IGEPA GroupcoreExclusive partnership for wholesale distribution of HeliaSol innovative solar film. IGEPA group is one of Europe's leading wholesale trading groups.
- TriflexcoreExclusive partnership offering system solution combining HeliaSol solar films with Triflex waterproofing products for sustainable and efficient roof renovation with integrated solar power generation. The system solution enables installation on roofs with low load-bearing capacity where conventional solar would not be possible.
- LooopcoreStrategic partnership agreement to market and install Heliatek's innovative solar films in Japan.
- PETA EngineeringcoreStrategic partnership agreement to market and install significant volumes of Heliatek's innovative solar films in the Republic of Korea.
- PlantechcoreProject partner providing engineering and construction services for large-scale projects in Korea, installing HeliaSol solar films on facades and rooftops.
- SPI Intelligence ServicescoreProject partner providing advanced energy consultancy and innovative solutions in Austria, realizing 'Solar Everywhere' concept.
- Energie-InteressencoreProject partner in Austria, specializing in energy consulting and sustainable energy solutions.
- SUNODINminorPartner for solar and smart solutions distribution.
- MDV SolarminorPartner for solar solutions distribution in Brazil.
- WB EnergyminorPartner for solar solutions distribution in the United Kingdom.
- Sunlight PowerminorPartner for solar solutions distribution in Romania.
- BrueninghoffminorPartner for building integration solutions.
- BVD Druck+Verlag AGminorPartner incorporating Heliatek technology into advertising technology solutions for sustainability.
- InprominorPartner for energy solutions distribution in Germany.
- Fraunhofer ISEcoreResearch and development partner in organic photovoltaics technology development.
- Fraunhofer IWScoreResearch and development partner in laser structuring and production processes.
- Fraunhofer FEPcoreResearch and development partner in flexible organic electronics.
- Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden)coreAcademic research partner in organic photovoltaics and perovskite solar cell technologies.
- AGCcoreGlass manufacturer partner developing facade elements with integrated HeliaFilm for building integration.
- SVKcoreFiber cement facade manufacturer partner developing facade elements with integrated solar films.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Heliatek competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Oxford PV: Oxford PV commercializes perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, the most credible next-generation thin-film PV technology competing for the same building-integrated solar opportunity as Heliatek's organic films, and represents the primary long-term competitive threat in the next-gen PV category.
- SolarWindow Technologies: SolarWindow develops transparent and semi-transparent organic PV coatings for window glass, making it an emerging peer in the OPV/BIPV space with overlapping technology category but differentiated end-application focus on glazing.
- Flisom: Flisom develops flexible CIGS thin-film solar modules for building-integrated applications, overlapping with Heliatek's lightweight flexible film value proposition in facades, roofs, and unconventional surfaces.
Broad incumbents
- First Solar: First Solar is the leading global thin-film (CdTe) solar module manufacturer at utility scale, representing a broad incumbent competitor in the thin-film solar category with significantly greater scale, capital, and project pipeline than Heliatek.
- Hanwha Qcells: Hanwha Qcells is a major global solar manufacturer and EPC with a growing BIPV portfolio, representing a broad incumbent that competes with Heliatek for building-integrated solar project wins.
- LONGi Green Energy: LONGi is the world's largest crystalline silicon solar manufacturer, dominating the mainstream PV market and indirectly setting the cost-per-watt benchmark that any OPV/BIPV player like Heliatek must undercut to be commercially viable.
Direct peers
- ARMOR Group (ASCA): ARMOR Group's ASCA division produces organic photovoltaic films for building-integrated applications, making it the closest direct competitor to Heliatek's HeliaSol in the OPV film category, with a similar target market of facades, rooftops, and industrial surfaces.
- Maxeon Solar Technologies: Maxeon (spun out from SunPower) produces high-efficiency solar cells and is active in the building-integrated PV segment, directly competing with Heliatek in premium BIPV and architectural solar applications.
Others
- ENGIE (Solar & BIPV division): ENGIE is both a Heliatek investor (6.6% stake) and a major developer of distributed solar and BIPV projects across Europe, making it a key channel partner and a potential adjacent competitor in building-integrated energy solutions.
- Fraunhofer ISE: Fraunhofer ISE is a leading PV research institute and a direct R&D partner of Heliatek on organic photovoltaics; while not a commercial peer, it shapes the technology roadmap and is an ecosystem node for next-gen PV including perovskite and tandem approaches.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Heliatek social profiles
Digital presenceHeliatek compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Heliatek financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Heliatek leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Heliatek funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors18 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Heliatek 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 Heliatek
What does Heliatek do?
Heliatek develops, manufactures, and distributes HeliaSol organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar film modules for building-integrated applications. The ultra-lightweight, flexible films adhere directly to surfaces such as concrete, metal, glass, and membranes without drilling or mounting systems, enabling solar generation on structures where conventional silicon panels are unsuitable. Production occurs at the company's HeliaFab roll-to-roll facility in Dresden, Germany.
Is Heliatek a public or private company?
Heliatek is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Heliatek founded?
Heliatek was founded in 2006. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Heliatek based?
Heliatek is headquartered in Dresden, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Heliatek make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. HeliaSol Module Sales are the primary driver. The others are full Project Realization.
Who are Heliatek's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Oxford PV, SolarWindow Technologies and Flisom. Broad incumbents are First Solar, Hanwha Qcells and LONGi Green Energy. Direct peers are ARMOR Group (ASCA) and Maxeon Solar Technologies. Others are ENGIE (Solar & BIPV division) and Fraunhofer ISE.
Does Heliatek have an API?
No public API is recorded for Heliatek.
What industry is Heliatek in?
Heliatek's product category is Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAOAA, Next-Gen Photovoltaics R&D (Perovskite, Tandem, Organic, BIPV Materials), with a secondary code of EUAMAHAA, Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 3600.