What Heliowatt does

Heliowatt SAS is a France-based specialist engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm focused exclusively on photovoltaic solar canopies — known in French as ombrières photovoltaïques — primarily over parking lots, logistics yards, and other large impermeable surfaces. The company is headquartered in Vendargues with a secondary office in Avignon, and operates a wholly-owned construction subsidiary, Heliowatt Construction, created in 2016. Its core product is the Héliophane®, a proprietary canopy model invented in 2009, paired with the Héliophix R integration system that enables bottom-side panel installation and replacement. Underlying engineering uses Eurocode-compliant structural calculations, hot-rolled IPE or cold-formed modular steel components, and a proprietary hollow auger foundation system that delivers up to 30 foundations per day with roughly 80% reduction in concrete and steel versus shallow foundations.

Heliowatt delivers projects across four integrated service modules: project accompaniment (feasibility, layout optimization, permitting), in-house engineering (structural design, R&D, 3D visualization), equipment supply (galvanized/painted steel structures and rainwater systems), and full construction through Heliowatt Construction. Customers are large enterprise and institutional accounts, including airports (Montpellier, Toulouse-Blagnac, Carcassonne, Béziers, Nouméa Tontouta), industrial manufacturers (L'Oréal, L'Occitane, La-Roche-Posay, Renault Trucks, Plastic Omnium, Biomérieux), logistics operators (GCA, Wallon, GEFCO), research sites (ITER), retailers (supermarket and hypermarket chains), leisure venues, and France's largest automotive salvage yard (GPA Livron). Headline installations include the 16 MWc Corbas canopy (2018–2019) and the 29 MWc Blyes canopy (2022–2023), the latter being Europe's largest solar canopy at the time of build.

Revenue is generated through custom, quote-based multi-year contracts for design-build delivery of canopy installations; pricing is bespoke by site, capacity, and complexity and is not publicly disclosed. The company goes to market via a direct enterprise field-sales motion with no resellers or intermediaries. Heliowatt holds triple ISO certification (9001, 14001, 45001) and claims to be the only metal structure constructor in the PV sector with that triple. Founded in 2008 and refounded as Heliowatt SAS in 2014 following the wind-down of the original SARL under the Quadran group, the company is privately held by its two founders, both former Vergnet employees.

Name

Heliowatt

Legal name

Heliowatt SAS

Website

https://heliowatt.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heliowatt SAS is a France-based EPC firm specializing in photovoltaic solar canopies (ombrières photovoltaïques) over parking lots, logistics yards, and industrial surfaces, serving enterprise and institutional clients across airports, manufacturing, logistics, retail, and research sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Photovoltaic Solar Canopy Infrastructure

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar PV Power Plant EPC (Utility-Scale) (EUAEAAAG), Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO), Land Acquisition, Site Preparation & Civil Works (Geotech, Grading, Roads, Drainage) (EUACAGAL)

Keywords

• Photovoltaic canopies
• Solar carports
• Parking shade structures
• Photovoltaic engineering
• Solar infrastructure construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Vendargues

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Engineering Services: In-house engineering bureau provides project-specific structural design, photovoltaic layout optimization, and 3D photorealistic visualizations. Services include regulatory document preparation for building permits.
2. Equipment Supply: Supply of high-quality equipment for photovoltaic canopy projects including galvanized/painted steel structural components, aluminum or PVC rainwater systems, and delivery to construction site ready for assembly.
3. Construction Services: Full construction services through subsidiary Heliowatt Construction, including foundation work, structural assembly, and photovoltaic panel installation. Covers all on-site implementation aspects.
4. Project Support: Ongoing project accompaniment from conception through delivery, including geometric adaptation, technical optimization, and economic evaluation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Heliowatt designs, engineers, supplies, and constructs photovoltaic solar canopies (ombrières photovoltaïques) for parking lots and various surfaces including airports, industrial sites, logistics parks, commercial zones, and exhibition venues. The company delivers complete turnkey projects via four integrated service phases: project support (Accompagnement), engineering (Ingénierie), equipment supply (Fourniture), and construction (via its subsidiary Heliowatt Construction). Its proprietary Héliophane® canopy model and Héliophix R integration system distinguish it from standard solar canopy providers.

Product overview

Heliowatt is a specialized provider of photovoltaic parking shade structures (ombrières photovoltaïques) offering a comprehensive, integrated service from project conception through construction completion. The core product portfolio centers on the Hélio phane shade structure and the Hélio phix R integration system. Services are organized across four interconnected phases: Accompagnement (project support and optimization), Ingénierie (structural engineering and R&D), Fourniture (equipment supply), and Construction (via the Heliowatt Construction subsidiary). The company has delivered over 250 installations totaling more than 300 MWc of installed capacity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Héliophane® photovoltaic canopy The original solar canopy model invented by Heliowatt in 2009, featuring an innovative design that distinguishes it from conventional canopy alternatives. It is the company's foundational product in the parking canopy market, supplied as a complete structural system with steel frame and integrated photovoltaic mounting.
• Héliophix R integration system Proprietary integration system developed by Heliowatt that enables simplified maintenance of photovoltaic modules by allowing installation and replacement from underneath, avoiding the need to walk on panels. Improves reliability and safety of the installation.
• Accompagnement (Project Support) Comprehensive enterprise project support service covering initial studies through administrative permit preparation, including photovoltaic layout design, geometric adaptation, technical and economic optimization, 3D photorealistic visualization, and regulatory document preparation for building permits.
• Ingénierie (Engineering) Custom engineering bureau services including structural calculations compliant with Eurocodes, finite element analysis, electrical equipment integration, and ongoing R&D for product improvement.
• Fourniture (Equipment Supply) Supply of high-quality equipment for photovoltaic canopy projects including galvanized/painted steel structural components (S235 minimum), aluminum or PVC rainwater systems, delivered to construction sites ready for assembly.
• Construction (via Heliowatt Construction subsidiary) Full construction services through subsidiary Heliowatt Construction, including foundation work using auger piles (up to 30 foundations per day), steel structure assembly, and photovoltaic panel mounting using exclusive fixation systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% reduction in concrete and steel usage for foundations compared to shallow foundations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• French and European Industrial PartnerscoreOthersHeliowatt works with a network of French and European industrial partners for equipment supply, ensuring high quality standards for photovoltaic canopy components including structural steel, galvanized components, and rainwater systems. Partners are selected for proximity to project sites to ensure optimal responsiveness and adaptation to local specifications.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Sun'R Group: French solar developer with canopy and agrivoltaic projects for enterprises and agricultural operators, competing with Heliowatt for parking-lot and industrial site opportunities in France.

Direct peers

• GSE Intégration: French specialist in large-scale solar canopy (ombrière) installations on parking lots and industrial sites, historically the most direct domestic competitor to Heliowatt in the same product category and customer base.
• Aliant: French specialist in metallic structures and solar canopies for parking lots, offering competing modular steel canopy products with in-house engineering and assembly comparable to Heliowatt's Héliophane range.

Broad incumbents

• Akuo Energy: Independent French renewable energy developer active across solar, wind, and storage, with a portfolio of canopy and ground-mount PV projects for enterprise and public-sector clients comparable to Heliowatt's target segments.
• Reden Solar: French/European solar IPP developing and operating ground-mount and rooftop PV plants including canopy projects for enterprise off-takers — comparable business model of build-own-or-sell for large French corporates.
• Photosol (TotalEnergies Renewables): Major French solar PV developer and installer (now part of TotalEnergies) building rooftop, ground-mount, and canopy installations for enterprises and communities across France — overlapping with Heliowatt's enterprise and large-site pipeline.
• CVE (Compagnie Voltaique de l'Energie): French decentralized renewable energy producer developing rooftop, ground-mount, and canopy solar for industrial and agricultural customers, often in similar geographies and segments as Heliowatt.
• Amarenco Group: European solar developer (France-headquartered) building rooftop, ground-mount, and canopy PV for enterprise and public clients, including projects similar in scale and use case to Heliowatt's logistics and industrial sites.
• Urbasolar (EDF Renewables): French solar PV developer (acquired by EDF Renewables) executing rooftop, ground-mount, and shade-structure installations for industrial and public clients across France, competing for similar large-tender opportunities as Heliowatt.

Emerging players

• Ciel & Terre International: French-originated floating solar PV specialist whose structurally-engineered floating canopies share engineering parallels with Heliowatt's modular canopy design and serve a similar enterprise/municipal RFP ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heliowatt

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Heliowatt