Re-Deploy · Project

Rent Solar Heat for Your Factory — No Equipment Purchase, No Long-Term Lock-In

energyPilotedTRL 7

Imagine renting a portable boiler that runs on sunlight instead of gas. Soltigua built large solar collector systems that can be shipped to a factory, set up to generate steam up to 250°C, and if the customer isn't happy after 3 years, the whole thing gets packed up and moved somewhere else. It's like leasing a car instead of buying one — except the car runs on free fuel. They proved it works with two real installations, each covering roughly the area of half a football pitch in solar mirrors.

By the numbers

26 billion €/year

Market size for solar process heat

<0.02%

Current market penetration of solar thermal in industrial heat

250°C

Maximum process temperature supported

1 MWt

Minimum thermal capacity per installation

2,285 m²

Pilot 1 collecting surface (28 parabolic collectors)

2,670 m²

Pilot 2 collecting surface (12 Fresnel collectors)

3 years

Minimum heat purchase commitment

Target market segments identified

The business problem

What needed solving

Most factories still burn gas or oil to generate process heat below 250°C, facing volatile fuel costs and growing carbon compliance pressure. Solar thermal could replace much of this, but traditional systems require large upfront capital investment and long-term commitment — a dealbreaker for most industrial buyers. The result: a 26 billion €/year market with less than 0.02% solar penetration.

The solution

What was built

Soltigua built and deployed two full-scale re-deployable solar boiler systems at real industrial sites: one using 28 parabolic collectors (2,285 m² collecting surface) and one using 12 linear Fresnel collectors (2,670 m²). Each system includes a fully containerized balance of plant with pumps, oil-to-steam heat exchanger, pressure vessel, control panel, re-usable foundations, and solar field piping.

Audience

Who needs this

Food and beverage processors using steam for pasteurization, cooking, or sterilizationChemical and pharmaceutical plants with batch heating below 250°CTextile dyeing and finishing operations with continuous steam demandPaper and pulp mills seeking to reduce fossil fuel dependencyMining and mineral processing operations in sun-rich regions

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Food & Beverage Processing

mid-size

Target: Dairy, brewery, or canning plant needing process steam below 250°C

If you are a food processor spending heavily on gas or oil to generate steam for pasteurization, cooking, or sterilization — this project built re-deployable solar boiler systems of over 1 MWt that sell you heat as a service. You pay for thermal energy, not equipment, with only a 3-year minimum commitment. Two pilot plants were shipped and commissioned with collecting surfaces of 2,285 m² and 2,670 m².

Chemical Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Specialty chemical or pharmaceutical plant with batch heating needs

If you are a chemical manufacturer facing volatile fuel costs and carbon compliance pressure for processes up to 250°C — Soltigua developed containerized solar thermal systems that plug into your existing heat infrastructure. The entire balance of plant (pumps, heat exchanger, vessel, controls) fits in containers. If your production moves or changes, the system can be re-deployed to a different site.

Textile & Paper Industry

mid-size

Target: Textile dyeing house or paper mill using low-to-medium temperature steam

If you are a textile or paper producer that relies on constant steam supply and wants to cut fuel bills without capital investment — this project demonstrated turn-key solar boiler installations using both parabolic and Fresnel collector technologies. The market for solar process heat is worth more than 26 billion € per year with less than 0.02% penetration, meaning early adopters gain a significant cost and branding advantage.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much does this solar heat cost compared to gas?

The project does not publish specific heat prices per kWh. However, the entire business model is built on selling heat competitively against fossil fuels, with the key advantage being zero fuel cost once installed. The 3-year minimum contract and re-deployability are designed to eliminate financial risk for the buyer.

Can this scale to large industrial plants?

Yes. Each pilot installation exceeded 1 MWt of thermal capacity, with collecting surfaces of 2,285 m² (parabolic) and 2,670 m² (Fresnel). These are industrial-scale systems, not lab prototypes. The company identified 7 target market segments for replication.

Who owns the intellectual property and can I license the technology?

Soltigua SRL, an Italian SME, is the sole consortium partner and likely holds all IP. The business model is heat-as-a-service (ESCO), meaning Soltigua owns and operates the equipment while you buy the energy output. Licensing questions should be directed to Soltigua.

What happens if I want to stop after the minimum contract period?

The system is specifically designed to be re-deployable. If you choose not to continue after the 3-year minimum commitment, Soltigua takes the equipment back and installs it at another customer's site. This eliminates stranded asset risk for both parties.

How does this integrate with my existing boiler room?

The system is delivered as a fully containerized balance of plant including pumps, oil-to-steam heat exchanger, pressure vessel, and control panel, plus re-usable foundations and solar field piping. Based on the deliverable descriptions, it is designed as a turn-key add-on to existing thermal infrastructure.

Is this proven under real industrial conditions?

Yes. Two full-scale pilot installations were shipped, commissioned, and started at real industrial sites — one using 28 parabolic collectors (2,285 m²) and one using 12 linear Fresnel collectors (2,670 m²). Both included complete operational manuals and commissioning.

Are there regulatory incentives for switching to solar heat?

The project objective references institutional communications and investor-ready business planning, suggesting alignment with energy transition policies. Specific regulatory incentives vary by country, but industrial solar heat typically qualifies for renewable energy subsidies and carbon reduction credits in most EU member states.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project by Soltigua SRL, an Italian SME that is both the technology developer and future commercial operator. The 100% industry composition with no university or research partners signals that the technology was already past the fundamental research stage when the project started. As a sole SME executing under the SME-2 instrument (close-to-market innovation), Soltigua retains full control over IP, commercialization strategy, and customer relationships. For potential buyers, this means a single point of contact and a company with direct skin in the game — they built it, they deploy it, they maintain it.

SOLTIGUA SRLCoordinator · IT

How to reach the team

Soltigua SRL (Italy) — visit soltigua.com or contact via SciTransfer for a warm introduction

Order a report on this consortium See SOLTIGUA SRL profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore solar process heat for your factory? SciTransfer can connect you with the Soltigua team and help evaluate fit for your specific thermal needs. Contact us for a one-page brief.

Order a report on this topic More in Energy & Climate