What Sorane does

Sorane SA is a Geneva-based consulting engineering firm founded in 1978 that specializes in the energy rationalization of buildings, both new construction and renovation. The firm operates through four interconnected sectors: Energy Engineering (building physics, energy design, advanced simulations including dynamic simulation, CFD airflow, smoke extraction, daylight and thermal comfort, plus renewable energy integration and certification work across Minergie, SMEo, DGNB, BREEAM, and SNBS); Energy Efficiency (consumption analysis, installation optimization, maintenance staff training, and the proprietary energo Internet-based monitoring platform for hundreds of buildings); Scientific Mediation (school animations, teaching materials, and public awareness campaigns reaching 12,000+ children annually); and Research & Development (participation in EU Horizon 2020 programs including the Homeskin aerogel insulation project, and multiple IEA research tasks on solar heating, net-zero buildings, and energy economics).

The company's core technology stack combines building physics expertise with simulation tooling (dynamic, CFD, lighting, thermal comfort, district-scale energy), a proprietary energy monitoring and early-drift-detection platform developed in-house (energo), and applied research outputs such as aerogel-based super-insulation and solar district-heating integration methodologies. Sorane is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified and operates as part of the Groupe Pierre Chuard, a network of related engineering firms (Chuard Ingénieurs Vaud, Fribourg, Genève, and Fluides-Concepts) that together provide coordinated energy, HVAC (CVCR), and sanitary engineering services.

Sorane's business model is professional services consulting, delivering direct engineering mandates to public sector clients (hospitals, administrations, schools) and private building owners/developers in French-speaking Switzerland (Romandie) and Ticino. Go-to-market is sales-led, leveraging the Pierre Chuard network for coordinated multidisciplinary delivery, supplemented by content marketing via corporate website, the Echos newsletter series, scientific mediation outreach, and professional referrals within the Swiss energy sector. Pricing is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Sorane

Legal name

Sorane SA

Website

https://sorane.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sorane SA is a Geneva-based consulting engineering firm founded in 1978 that specializes in energy rationalization of buildings, serving public sector clients (hospitals, administrations, schools) and private building owners in French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino via engineering design, simulation, certification, and a proprietary energo monitoring platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Energy Consulting Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Energy Systems & Power Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAM), Asset Management & Owner’s Engineering (Lifecycle Strategy, Budgeting, Technical Due Diligence) (EUAMAGAJ), Standards, Certification & Compliance (RECs/GOs, sustainability reporting) (EUAMANAJ)

Keywords

• Building energy consulting
• Energy efficiency optimization
• Building physics services
• Renewable energy engineering
• Energy simulation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ecublens

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Engineering Consulting Services: Core consulting services including energy design, building physics, simulations, renewable energy systems, certifications (Minergie, SMeo, DGNB, BREEAM, SNBS), audits, and technical assistance for building projects
2. Energy Efficiency Optimization: Operating efficiency optimization services for existing buildings, including consumption analysis, technical installation optimization, and energy management training for maintenance personnel
3. Scientific Mediation Services: Educational outreach including school animations, teaching materials, public awareness campaigns, and technical training courses on energy and environment topics
4. Applied Research Projects: Participation in Swiss and international research programs including European Horizon 2020 projects and IEA (International Energy Agency) research tasks

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sorane SA is a Swiss engineering consulting firm founded in 1978 that provides building energy rationalization services for new and renovated buildings. The firm delivers energy engineering consulting (building physics, simulations, renewable energy systems, certifications such as Minergie/DGNB/BREEAM), energy efficiency optimization (consumption analysis, installation optimization, monitoring) for existing buildings, applied research participation (Horizon 2020, IEA), and scientific mediation/education programs reaching over 12,000 children annually.

Product overview

Sorane is a consulting engineering firm founded in 1978 specializing in energy rationalization of buildings, serving both new construction and renovation projects. The company operates through four interconnected activity sectors: Energy Engineering (consulting, building physics, simulations, renewable energy), Energy Efficiency (optimization and the proprietary energo monitoring platform), Scientific Mediation (public education and awareness), and Research & Development (participating in Horizon 2020 and IEA research programs). The synergies between these sectors allow Sorane to offer comprehensive solutions aligned with sustainable development objectives for public and private clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Energo: An energy optimization platform representing the Swiss romande association for energy optimization, distributed by Sorane SA.
• energo

Products and services

• Energy Engineering Consulting (Ingénierie énergétique)
• Energy Efficiency Optimization (Efficience énergétique)
• Scientific Mediation (Médiation scientifique)
• Applied Research and Development (Recherche et développement)

Quantifiable outcome

• Buildings with very low energy consumption designed to meet sustainable development objectives
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• IEA SHC Task 52 - Solar Heat and Energy EconomicsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014International research collaboration focused on solar heat and energy economics in buildings. Sorane developed methodology for integrating solar energy into urban district heating networks.
• Horizon 2020 - Homeskin ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014European research project (EeB-2014) focused on developing aerogel-based insulation material. Sorane participates in developing super insulation capable of competing with extra-European products, with a manufacturing process aimed at reducing production costs.
• IEA Task 40/ECBCS Annex 52 - Net Zero Energy BuildingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008International research collaboration on net zero energy buildings, addressing design processes for large-scale non-residential solar buildings.
• Groupe Pierre ChuardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSorane SA is part of the Pierre Chuard Group, which includes Chuard Ingénieurs Vaud, Chuard Ingénieurs Fribourg, Chuard Ingénieurs Genève, and Fluides-Concepts. This structure enables the provision of comprehensive coordinated solutions combining energy engineering with CVCR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) and sanitary engineering services.
• energo AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSorane SA serves as the representative of the Swiss energo association in French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino. Energo is the leading specialist in energy optimization in Switzerland. This partnership enables Sorane to represent and implement energo's energy optimization methodologies and tools.
• IEA (International Energy Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSorane SA participates in research and development projects in collaboration with the International Energy Agency (IEA), including tasks on solar heating, energy economics, net zero energy buildings, and building simulation programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with buildings + places practice covering energy modeling, decarbonization, and certifications. Adjacent incumbent comparable to Sorane in building energy consulting scope but with global delivery.
• WSP Global Inc. Global professional services firm with a strong buildings and energy efficiency practice. Comparable to Sorane in building energy modeling and certification work, but operating at vastly larger scale across multiple geographies.
• Arcadis NV: Global design and consultancy with significant sustainability and buildings expertise. Overlaps with Sorane in net-zero energy strategies, building performance, and sustainability certification for institutional clients.
• Ramboll Group A/S: Global engineering, design, and consulting firm with significant buildings and energy practices. Overlaps with Sorane in net-zero energy buildings, energy simulation, and sustainability consulting at a much larger scale.

Direct peers

• EBP (Schweiz) AG: Swiss consulting firm active in energy, buildings, infrastructure, and mobility. Comparable to Sorane in building energy modeling, sustainability consulting, and Minergie/DGNB certification work for institutional and public clients.
• Waldhauser + Hermann AG: Swiss engineering office focused on building physics, energy, and HVAC. Directly competes with Sorane in Minergie certification, energy concepts, and energy consulting for public and private building projects.
• Drees & Sommer SE: European real-estate and building engineering consultancy with deep expertise in sustainable building certification and energy efficiency. Comparable to Sorane in DGNB/BREEAM certification and integrated building energy consulting.
• Basler & Hofmann AG: Swiss engineering firm with strong building physics, energy, and environmental consulting practices. Overlaps with Sorane in building energy simulation, certification, and integrated multi-discipline project delivery across Switzerland.
• Amstein+Walthert AG: Major Swiss engineering consultancy specializing in building services, energy, and sustainability. Directly comparable to Sorane in Swiss building energy consulting, certification work (Minergie, LEED), and energy efficiency optimization.
• CSD Ingenieure AG: Swiss engineering group covering environment, energy, buildings, and infrastructure. Comparable to Sorane in energy consulting, building energy optimization, and engagement with public-sector institutional clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Sorane