SolOcean GmbH is an Austrian company engaged in the development and commercialization of an innovative disruptive system for generating photovoltaic electrical energy on water surfaces. The floating photovoltaic system was developed with the goal of 100 % emission-free energy production without having to use expensive land surfaces.

The founders of the company have been engaged in intensive research and development activities for years, which have been incorporated into the product redesign. Almost completely unburdened by day-to-day business, both have advanced the technology to a degree that has benefited the product in the form of a development lead of several years.

The company is the only supplier on the world market with technology that allows the system to be used without restriction even for photovoltaic systems on the sea (salt water). Products from other suppliers in the class of "PV systems on water" (floating photovoltaic FPV) are either only suitable for use on fresh water or are designed in such a way that they are only suitable for wind and waves to a limited extent.

One of the biggest advantages of floating solar panels is that the installations do not require valuable land space. Most floating systems also perform better than land-based solar panels because the underlying water surface keeps them cooler. The cooler temperature allows for more efficient operation. Through study, it has been found that the natural cooling effect of the water under the solar panels makes them up to 11 % more efficient than solar panels placed on land.

The technology consists of a floating photovoltaic with patented construction. This can be individually adapted to the existing conditions (wave/current/calm water) and is characterized by the high stability of the overall system. The SolOcean Floater withstands waves of up to 3 meters and water currents of up to 2 m/s and is also suitable for rivers. It is also salt water resistant and suitable for seawater. A patented glass coating prevents salt corrosion to a high degree, thus ensuring energy efficiency. The system is made of UV-resistant plastic (HDPE), is completely metal-free and easily recyclable. In addition, it offers little area exposed to wind, is more storm-resistant than existing systems, and is close to the water, which provides cooling for the module and thus increases the power yield.

The technology offers several unique selling points:

• Applicable up to 3 meters wave height
• Suitable for currents up to 2 m/s
• Patented technology in which the PV module is clamped directly into the floating body
• Patented glass coating that prevents salt corrosion
• 100 % prevention of moisture and salt crystal penetration
• No microplastic segregation
• Lowest area exposed to wind due to patented flat design
• Modular, flexible and scalable design
• Reduces warming of water bodies, in fresh water even reduces evaporation of water (e.g. drinking water reservoirs)

In addition, there are other aspects of sustainability:

• CO2 emissions are 100 % prevented
• No consumption of expensive land
• Symbiosis with existing hydropower plants possible
• Symbiosis with green hydrogen, as this can only be produced with wind or photovoltaics
• Drinking water evaporation is strongly reduced
• Local basic supply of the population reduces necessity of migration

The company operates internationally and segments its focal sales markets in a first stage according to geographical criteria and subsequently according to demand-related or company-related criteria.

The development solution incorporates not only outstanding technology, but also unique design features: The product communicates the aesthetics of this particular technology. Therefore, it makes sense to market the final product via niche marketing in the field of other technology companies.

Sales take place via several channels: direct sales by the management as well as external canvassers, vertical third-party sales via partners whose value creation receives an initial boost from the use of the key technology, and horizontal joint venture sales in cooperation with companies in the same product category.

In the first fiscal year in particular, sales opportunities for attractive projects will be developed via experienced external acquirers as well as energy suppliers. After initial references have strengthened confidence in the outstanding product features, the proportion of search purchases will increase sharply, for which the corresponding (media) visibility and reach of corporate communications must also be built up.

The market potential for floating photovoltaics is exorbitantly large. Overall, the market for photovoltaics is developing very dynamically. According to estimates, globally installed photovoltaic capacity will increase from the current 150 gigawatts (GW) to 4,600 GW by 2050. However, in order to realize this rapid growth in energy generation through PV, enormous areas are needed that are not available on land. The logical consequence of this is to use the water areas, especially the sea areas that are available in sufficient quantities, for PV plants. Floating PV plants therefore have the highest potential.

The SolOcean technology offers the possibility to use both fresh and salt water surfaces.

The investments are used for the final development, which can be accelerated rapidly. All expenditures will be used for final simulations, mold construction, patenting, and manufacturing of the product and its commercialization.

• All patents of Guger Forschungs GmbH were contributed to SolOcean GmbH in April 2019 (patent valuation of InTraCom-Bonn over € 4.7 million).
• At the Riz Genius Award 2019, which was presented in Wiener Neustadt at the end of May, Guger and Aichinger won second prize in the category "Ingenious Start Ups".
• Funding from the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund "greenstart": as one of the 10 best business models, SolOcean GmbH received professional support as well as 6000 euros in start-up capital for the further development of its CO2-saving, wind- and wave-resistant, floating photovoltaic systems. Reason: "The new TOP 10 greenstarters want to and can make an important contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with their innovative ideas and creative approaches. In addition, they create sustainable jobs in Austria. We look forward to accompanying them on their way." (Ingmar Höbarth, Managing Director of the Climate and Energy Fund)  https://wirtschaftszeit.at/startseite-detail/article/greenstart-kick-off-die-top-10-der-klimaschonenden-business-ideen-starten-jetzt-durch
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FknNIQ_iV4M&feature=youtu.be
• In May 2020, the SolOcean team presented their business idea at riz up GENIUS. In the meantime, the prototype was realized with 3D printing.https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20190930_OTS0078/das-start-up-solocean-praesentierte-den-ersten-3-d-prototypen-im-gruenderzentrum-amstetten

SolOcean was awarded with the GreenTech Award 2020/21!

This "Top Innovator" award was made through a global patent search in 2017 - 2020, in which the inventiveness of the patents was recorded in a score value.

SolOcean's disruptive technology has the potential to significantly slow climate change through 100 % emission-free energy generation on all water surfaces on the planet.

• http://www.solocean.energy/
• https://wirtschaftszeit.at/startseite-detail/article/greenstart-kick-off-die-top-10-der-klimaschonenden-business-ideen-starten-jetzt-durch
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FknNIQ_iV4M&feature=youtu.be
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyjLbJEKEZY&feature=youtu.be
• https://www.derbrutkasten.com/solocean-greenstart-portrat/?ref=share
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1FkqzWqOE0&feature=youtu.be
• https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=451183305415811&ref=watch_permalink
• https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20190930_OTS0078/das-start-up-solocean-praesentierte-den-ersten-3-d-prototypen-im-gruenderzentrum-amstetten
• https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://www.tips.at/image/thumb/news/738971/469186/800x800x0/1559565341.2315-startup-solocean-strebt-marktfuehrerschaft-mit-innovativen-photovoltaik-anlagen-an.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.tips.at/news/amstetten/wirtschaft-politik/469186-startup-solocean-strebt-marktfuehrerschaft-mit-innovativen-photovoltaik-anlagen-an&tbnid=S5EOE1wollWO_M&vet=1&docid=_uJNvICW_trMEM&w=800&h=533&source=sh/x/im
• https://www.klimaundenergiemodellregionen.at/service/newsletter/newsletter-052020/das-kraftwerk-das-auf-wellen-tanzt/
• https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://www.tips.at/image/thumb/news/564060/506306/800x800x0/1588570979.1988-business-idee-aus-amstetten-schwimmende-photovoltaikanlage.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.tips.at/nachrichten/amstetten/wirtschaft-politik/506306-business-idee-aus-amstetten-schwimmende-photovoltaikanlage&tbnid=zKrytZ78LPqNGM&vet=1&docid=6rFXEjUhVgXfhM&w=800&h=600&source=sh/x/im
• https://bauernladen.at/artikel/klimaschutz/greenstart-pusht-vorbildliche-geschaftskonzepte/
• https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://www.tips.at/image/thumb/news/738971/469186/800x800x0/1559565351.7307-startup-solocean-strebt-marktfuehrerschaft-mit-innovativen-photovoltaik-anlagen-an.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.tips.at/news/amstetten/wirtschaft-politik/469186-startup-solocean-strebt-marktfuehrerschaft-mit-innovativen-photovoltaik-anlagen-an&tbnid=s8npUpd5DvnCGM&vet=1&docid=_uJNvICW_trMEM&w=800&h=600&itg=1&source=sh/x/im
• https://greenstart.at/top-10/top-10-greenstart-5/
• https://www.puls4.com/KLIMAHELDiNNEN/Videos/KlimaheldIn-der-Woche/SolOcean-Sonne-kann-Meer

• Most of the technological development has already been done and financed
• Technology is patented several times
• SolOcean is about to enter the market
• Existing customer inquiries without major sales and marketing effort
• Possibility of licensing
• Products are insured by a product liability insurance policy
• Take responsibility, for 100 % emission-free energy production

• Frequently asked questions