SOLIS · Project

Solar Lighting System That Pipes Free Sunlight Into Buildings, Cutting Electricity Bills

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Imagine taking sunlight from your rooftop and piping it through fibre optics straight into rooms that never see a window. That's exactly what SOLIS does — it collects sunlight outside the building and distributes it indoors through a special lamp unit. When the sun goes down, the same lamp automatically switches to energy-efficient LEDs, so you never notice the transition. The result: free lighting during the day, lower electricity bills, and less heat from artificial lights — which also means lower air conditioning costs.

By the numbers

SOLIS units successfully manufactured

First SOLIS systems produced

SME partner (SOLIGHT LTD, Israel)

The business problem

What needed solving

Large commercial buildings — offices, warehouses, shopping centres, factories — burn electricity on artificial lighting all day long, even when the sun is shining outside. This drives up energy bills directly through lighting electricity costs, and indirectly because artificial lights generate heat that air conditioning systems must remove. Building owners are paying twice for a problem that free sunlight could solve.

The solution

What was built

SOLIS is a complete solar lighting system: rooftop or wall-mounted sunlight collectors, fibre optic distribution, and a patent-pending dual-source lamp that automatically switches between natural sunlight and LED. The team manufactured 20 units and completed in-field installations in real buildings.

Audience

Who needs this

Commercial office building owners with deep interior floors that rely on artificial lightingWarehouse and distribution centre operators with large roof areas and high lighting costsShopping mall and retail property managers seeking energy cost reductionIndustrial facility managers looking to cut lighting and cooling electricity billsGreen building developers targeting sustainability certifications

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Commercial Real Estate & Office Management

enterprise

Target: Office building owners and facility managers operating large multi-storey buildings

If you are a facility manager dealing with massive electricity bills from lighting floors that never get natural light — this project developed a rooftop-to-indoor solar lighting system that was manufactured in a batch of 20 units and field-installed. It collects sunlight and distributes it through fibre optics to interior spaces, automatically switching to LED when sunlight fades. You cut lighting electricity during daytime hours and reduce cooling costs from heat-emitting artificial lights.

Warehousing & Logistics

mid-size

Target: Warehouse operators and distribution centre managers with large indoor floor areas

If you are a warehouse operator running artificial lights across thousands of square metres around the clock — this project built a dual-source lamp system that brings free sunlight indoors from rooftops. First 5 systems were manufactured and tested, then scaled to 20 units with in-field installation. Your lighting runs on sunlight during the day at zero energy cost, and the reduced heat output means your cooling systems work less too.

Retail & Shopping Centres

enterprise

Target: Shopping mall operators and large retail store chains with deep interior spaces

If you are a retail property manager spending heavily on interior lighting to create appealing shopping environments — this project developed a practical solar collection and distribution system installed on rooftops or southern walls. With 20 units manufactured and field-tested, the system delivers natural light quality that improves the customer experience while cutting energy costs in two ways: less electricity for lighting and lower cooling loads from reduced heat.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much does the SOLIS system cost per unit?

The project data does not include pricing information. As an SME Phase 2 project that manufactured 20 units and completed in-field installations, the system reached a commercial-readiness stage. Contact the developer for current pricing and volume discounts.

Can this scale to large buildings with hundreds of light points?

The project demonstrated manufacturing of 20 SOLIS units and in-field installation, showing production scalability beyond initial prototypes. The system is designed for big indoor spaces like office blocks and warehouses. Based on available project data, scaling to larger deployments would depend on rooftop or southern wall collection area available.

What is the intellectual property situation — can I license this technology?

The SOLIS light dispersing unit is described as a patent-pending dual source lamp. The IP is held by SOLIGHT LTD, the sole SME partner. Licensing or purchasing arrangements would need to be discussed directly with the company.

Does it work in climates with limited sunshine or cloudy weather?

The system includes automatic switching from sunlight to energy-efficient LEDs when light levels fall. This means it functions in any weather — you get free sunlight when available and seamless LED backup otherwise. Energy savings will naturally be higher in sunnier regions.

How long does installation take and does it disrupt building operations?

The project completed in-field installation of SOLIS systems as a key deliverable. The units collect light from rooftops or southern walls and distribute it indoors through fibre optics. Based on available project data, specific installation timelines are not disclosed, but the system was designed to be practical for existing buildings.

Does this meet building and electrical safety regulations?

As an EU-funded SME Phase 2 project that reached in-field installation, the system would have needed to comply with applicable standards. The dual-source lamp switches automatically between sunlight and LED, integrating with existing building electrical systems. Specific certifications achieved are not detailed in the project data.

What maintenance does the system require?

Based on available project data, specific maintenance requirements are not detailed. The system uses fibre optics for light transmission and LEDs as backup, both of which are generally low-maintenance technologies. The company website may provide operational specifications.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project: SOLIGHT LTD, an Israeli SME that was the sole partner and coordinator. With 100% industry composition and no university or research institute involvement, the project was purely commercially driven — focused on manufacturing and deploying a market-ready product rather than basic research. The SME Phase 2 funding scheme confirms this was about scaling an existing innovation. For a potential buyer, this means you are dealing directly with the product developer and IP holder, with no complex multi-partner licensing to navigate.

SOLIGHT LTDCoordinator · IL

How to reach the team

SOLIGHT LTD (Israel) — the sole developer and IP holder. SciTransfer can facilitate a direct introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See SOLIGHT LTD profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore whether SOLIS fits your building? SciTransfer can arrange a direct conversation with the developer and help assess feasibility for your specific site.

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