What Solliance Solar Research does

Solliance Solar Research is a Dutch-Belgian-German research consortium founded in 2010 and headquartered at High Tech Campus Eindhoven, Netherlands, with partner operations at Energyville in Genk, Belgium. The organization coordinates 200+ researchers across leading European research institutions — imec, TNO, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Hasselt University, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Delft University of Technology, University of Twente, and Rijksuniversiteit Groningen — to advance thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technologies, with core research in perovskite-based solar cells, tandem solar devices (perovskite/silicon and perovskite/CIGS configurations), and mass customization production technology for integrated PV applications.

The consortium has demonstrated multiple world-record efficiencies, including 30% for four-terminal perovskite/silicon tandem devices, 26.5% for flexible perovskite/CIGS tandem cells, 30.2% bifacial equivalent tandem efficiency, and 12.6% cell-level efficiency for roll-to-roll produced perovskite modules. Its portfolio includes 68 granted patents and spans demo products such as SolaRoad (solar road pavement) and Abby Bike (solar-powered e-bike), as well as building-integrated PV (BIPV) applications including semi-transparent modules and facade tiles.

Solliance operates on a collaborative research consortium model rather than a traditional commercial revenue model. Funding flows from governmental sources — Province of Noord-Brabant, Province of Flemish Limburg, NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research), BOM regional development agency, and European programs (Horizon Europe, Interreg, SOLAR-ERA.NET) — supplemented by industrial partner contributions through 20 Shared Research Programs. Industrial partners include Shell, Panasonic, MiaSolé Hi-Tech, Hanergy, Dyesol, AVANCIS, and others that gain access to Solliance's 6,000+ square meter shared lab facilities, pilot production lines, and IP framework under partnership agreements. The €13.5 million annual research budget underwrites these collaborative activities, with operational management since 2024 led by a four-person team chaired by Mark Boneschanscher of TU/e.

Name

Solliance Solar Research

Legal name

Solliance Solar Research

Website

https://solliance.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Solliance Solar Research is a Dutch-Belgian-German research consortium coordinating 200+ researchers across leading European institutes to advance thin-film photovoltaic technologies, including perovskite solar cells, tandem devices, and mass customization production for integrated PV applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Energy Research and Development

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Next-Gen Photovoltaics R&D (Perovskite, Tandem, Organic, BIPV Materials) (EUAMAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Plant Components Supply & Manufacturing (Modules, Cells, Wafers, Mirrors, Heliostats) (EUACAGAK), Solar Quality, Testing, Certification & Standards (Lab Testing, Inspections, Compliance) (EUAMABAN)

Keywords

• Thin-film photovoltaics
• Perovskite solar cells
• Tandem solar technology
• Solar energy research
• Building integrated PV

Headquarters

HQ city

Eindhoven

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Program Funding: Solliance operates as a publicly-funded research consortium receiving support from government bodies including the Province of Noord-Brabant, European funding programs (Horizon Europe, Interreg), and national funding bodies such as NWO. The €13.5 million research budget is funded through these mechanisms.
2. Shared Research Programs: 20 Shared Research Programs where industrial partners participate through research programs, with clear IP agreements allowing partners to access and develop technologies

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Solliance Solar Research is a research consortium that advances thin-film photovoltaic solar energy innovations through shared research programs and collaborative R&D with industrial and academic partners. Its core focus is on perovskite-based solar cells, tandem solar technology (combining perovskite with silicon or CIGS), and mass customization production technology for building-integrated PV applications. The consortium leverages over 6,000 square meters of lab facilities, including roll-to-roll pilot production lines, to develop flexible, semi-transparent, and high-efficiency solar cell technologies for industrial partners.

Product overview

Solliance Solar Research is a research consortium (not a commercial product company) focused on advancing thin-film photovoltaic solar energy innovations. Their offerings consist of shared research programs and technologies including perovskite-based thin-film solar cells, tandem solar technology (perovskite/silicon and perovskite/CIGS configurations), and mass customization production technology for PV integration. The consortium develops demo products such as SolaRoad (solar road pavement) and Abby Bike (solar-powered e-bike) to demonstrate technology applications. Their research scope encompasses semi-transparent perovskite modules for building integration, flexible solar cells, and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shared Research Programs
• Lab Facility Access
• MC2.0 Mass Customization Project
• Joint Solar Programme III (JSP3)

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% conversion efficiency for four-terminal perovskite/silicon tandem devices
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• imo-imomeccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2025Research institute organizing the 5th International TandemPV Workshop (May 13-15, 2025) in Hasselt, involving Solliance management team members Ivan Gordon and Bart Vermang.
• Province of Noord-BrabantminorOthers · 1 January 2025Dutch regional government providing funding and support for Solliance since establishment in 2010, supporting economic development in the Eindhoven-Hasselt axis region.
• Province of Flemish LimburgminorOthers · 1 January 2025Belgian regional government partner in the cross-border cooperation along the Eindhoven-Hasselt axis.
• Forschungszentrum JülichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023German research partner contributing expertise in device engineering and laser technologies for solar cells and modules, and advanced interconnection technology developments.
• Delft University of TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Academic partner participating in Solliance 2.0 partnership network, contributing to thin-film solar research.
• University of TwenteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Academic partner collaborating on integration of thin film solar technology in building materials, flexible applications, and perovskite-based solar cell analyses.
• Rijksuniversiteit GroningenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Academic partner participating in Solliance partnership network.
• AVANCISminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2019German solar company collaborating in SUCCESS project (European SOLAR-ERA.NET) targeting 20%+ efficiency for 30x30cm2 CIGS modules with Smit Thermal Solutions and research institutes HZB and CNRS.
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2019German research institute collaborating on SUCCESS project for higher CIGS efficiencies through heavy alkali doping research.
• CNRS (Institut des Matériaux Jean Rouxel)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2019French national research institute collaborating on SUCCESS project for CIGS technology advancement.
• MiaSolé Hi-Tech CorpcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2019US-based CIGS technology provider collaborating on flexible perovskite/CIGS tandem cells. Achieved world record 26.5% efficiency and 23% efficiency flexible tandem cells. Provides CIGS flexible solar panels from Santa Clara, California.
• Choshu Industry Co.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2019Japanese industrial partner contributing to bifacial tandem solar device research that achieved 30.2% equivalent efficiency.
• ECN (Energy research Centre of the Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2017National energy research center contributing to Solliance with expertise in bifacial silicon technology, now integrated into TNO. Contributed to achieving 30.2% bifacial tandem efficiency.
• Hanergy Thin Film PowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2017Chinese solar manufacturer collaborating on integrated solar solutions for buildings and infrastructure. Partnership focused on SolaRoad solar pavement development and flexible thin film solar products including CIGS technology from Global Solar.
• BOM (Brabantse Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij)minorOthers · 1 January 2017Regional development organization for Noord-Brabant supporting economic development and innovation in the region.
• DynniqminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Dutch company partner in SolaRoad consortium for solar road pavement development.
• Strukton CivielminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Civil engineering company partner in SolaRoad consortium for solar road pavement development.
• ADPV LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2016Company signing joint development contract with Solliance for development of two-step electroplated CIGS modules at Solliance pilot facilities.
• Panasonic CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2016Japanese electronics company joined as industrial partner for development of roll-to-roll manufacturing processes for flexible perovskite solar cells at Solliance pilot facilities.
• Holst CentreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2015Research institute partner providing roll-to-roll coating equipment and pilot production facilities for flexible solar modules at High Tech Campus Eindhoven.
• Dyesol LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2015Australian perovskite solar cell technology company joined as industrial partner, bringing PSC expertise to the Solliance network.
• TNOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Lead partner in Solliance Solar Research, providing research facilities at High Tech Campus in Eindhoven. TNO contributes expertise in bifacial silicon technology, perovskite-silicon tandem development, and leads the Spatial ALD research program.
• imeccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Core research partner leading thin-film PV technology development. Hosts research at Energyville in Genk, Belgium. Contributed world-first semi-transparent perovskite PV module (12% efficiency) and perovskite module efficiencies up to 12.4%.
• Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Academic partner contributing Molecular Materials and Nanosystems research group led by Prof. R.A.J. Janssen, focusing on organic and perovskite solar cells, and multi-junction devices.
• Hasselt UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Academic partner through imomec (associated imec laboratory), focusing on BIPV solutions, thin film PV technology development, and reliability research.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Caelux (First Solar): First Solar's perovskite tandem subsidiary focused on commercializing perovskite-silicon tandem cells, a direct competitor pursuing the same technology class as Solliance with significantly more commercialization resources.
• Oxford PV: UK-headquartered perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell company pursuing the same commercial pathway as Solliance's perovskite/silicon tandem research, with world-record efficiencies and a clear commercialization roadmap.
• Swift Solar: US-based startup developing perovskite tandem solar cells with industry partnerships, directly overlapping with Solliance's tandem technology focus and targeting similar BIPV and utility-scale applications.

Broad incumbents

• CSEM: Swiss research and technology organization with significant PV and thin-film R&D capabilities, broadly comparable to Solliance in scope and research mandate but operating under a single institutional structure.
• Forschungszentrum Jülich: German national research institute and Solliance core partner with deep expertise in device engineering and laser technologies for solar cells; comparable as a research performer though operating at broader institutional scale.
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB): German research center collaborating with Solliance on the SUCCESS CIGS project; operates a broader PV research portfolio including perovskite and silicon and is a comparable European PV research institute.
• Hanwha Qcells: One of the world's largest solar manufacturers with growing tandem cell R&D ambitions, representing a well-capitalized commercial counterpart whose scale and IP resources Solliance's consortium model must leverage rather than compete with.

Emerging players

• Heliatek: Germany-based organic thin-film PV company developing flexible BIPV solutions; overlaps with Solliance's thin-film/flexible BIPV focus but uses organic rather than perovskite absorber materials.
• Saule Technologies: Polish startup developing inkjet-printed perovskite solar cells for BIPV applications, addressing the same integrated PV market Solliance's MC2.0 mass-customization program targets.
• MiaSolé Hi-Tech Corp: US-based flexible CIGS solar manufacturer and existing Solliance partner that co-developed the 26.5% flexible perovskite/CIGS tandem record; a commercialization channel for Solliance's flexible tandem IP.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/solliancesolar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Solliance Solar Research