With Solaxess, Sébastien Eberhard makes photovoltaics invisible
To celebrate 15 years of commitment to sustainable innovation, CleantechAlps is launching the “15 years – 15 faces” initiative, highlighting personalities who are shaping the cleantech ecosystem in Western Switzerland. Among these visionaries is Sébastien Eberhard, founder of Solaxess in Marin (NE), a pioneering company that transforms solar panels into attractive architectural elements. His career perfectly illustrates the importance of innovation in Switzerland’s energy transition.
The story of Solaxess began with a bold proposal at the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM). “When we presented our first white photovoltaic panels in 2014, we were pioneers and it seemed unreal to most of our contacts,” recalls Sébastien Eberhard. “Making a solar panel into a fully-fledged building component with perfect aesthetics and the ability to produce energy was an incredible challenge. It was probably this slightly crazy idea that motivated me.”
Solaxess’ technology is based on nanotechnology films that transform the appearance of traditional solar panels into white or colored surfaces, while maintaining their ability to generate electricity. This innovation allows photovoltaics to be harmoniously integrated into architecture, addressing one of the main aesthetic objections to solar energy.
The challenges of industrialization
The road to success has not been without its pitfalls. “The biggest challenge is time” explains Sébastien Eberhard. “When you have a new and good idea, you have to move fast, and you don’t always make the right decisions in a hurry.” Solaxess has had to overcome many obstacles, including finding the right balance between quality and production costs. “After four years, we realized that large-scale manufacturing of our first technology was too expensive and that the market would never accept such a price. Still in collaboration with CSEM, we worked day and night to find a new solution that would allow us to produce at a lower cost with the same result.”
There were many lessons learned, particularly during an attempt to set up operations in China, which proved premature, especially in the midst of the health crisis. “I underestimated the need for experience. As a self-made man, I always thought I could do everything on my own. With our return to Europe, we were able to benefit from the experience of industrialists and understood that the first challenge was related to the quality of the production tool.”
Recognition that boosts motivation
Solaxess’ efforts have been rewarded with several prestigious awards, including the Prix SUD in 2018 and and a Watt d’Or in 2021. For Sébastien Eberhard, these accolades are crucial: “When you innovate, it takes time to achieve commercial success, and during that time, these awards motivate you and show that you are on the right track.”
Despite its international expansion, Solaxess remains firmly rootedin the region. « As long as I can demonstrate the benefits of staying in Neuchâtel, the birthplace of photovoltaic innovation thanks in particular to the strong involvement of CSEM, we will capitalize on the quality of ‘swiss made’ ». This strategy is particularly relevant in a context where many panel manufacturers are experiencing quality and reliability issues.
A look at the future of photovoltaics
For Sébastien Eberhard, the future of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is promising. “When the whole world understands that photovoltaic energy can be produced without altering existing buildings, that new buildings can be constructed that are aesthetically pleasing, and that millions of kWh can be produced without exploiting natural spaces, we will have reached a turning point, and this market will be one of the largest in the global energy sector.”
Additional information : www.solaxess.ch
Sébastien Eberhard's favorite quote
« Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day after day »
As advice to future cleantech entrepreneurs, Sébastien Eberhard quotes his favorite maxim: “Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day after day.” For him, this maxim sums up what resilience is all about. It doesn’t take great strength, but the strength to get back up every time you fall.
This philosophy perfectly sums up Sébastien Eberhard’s career, which has been marked by perseverance and innovation, helping to shape a more sustainable and aesthetically pleasing energy future.
One of Switzerland's leading SMEs in solar photovoltaics
Solaxess is one of the economic pride and joys of the photovoltaic sector, one of our priority industries. Since its creation in 2015, CleantechAlps has contributed to the growth of this SME by connecting it with other companies and players in the ecosystem, promoting it to decision-makers and supporting its actions when necessary.
“I hope that CleantechAlps will strengthen its position as a pioneer in accelerating the energy and ecological transition and that it will enable or organize more and more synergies between start-ups and industrial players,” says Sébastien Eberhard, founder of Solaxess.
The 15-year anniversary concept
For the past 15 years, CleantechAlps has been committed to advancing its vision and connecting talents, stakeholders and solutions that drive the transition toward a more sustainable future in Western Switzerland. To mark this anniversary, we wish to highlight the individuals who bring our ecosystem to life every day — through their projects, their dedication and their vision.
“15 Years – 15 Faces” features fifteen personalities, fifteen journeys, fifteen voices that embody cleantech. From technology to policy, from research to industry, from local to international — these women and men are building, each in their own way, the cleantech solutions of today and tomorrow. Through their stories, we share with you the successes to which CleantechAlps has contributed — notably by serving as a facilitator of connections, dialogue, and collaboration. Discover their passion. Their inspiration. And their vision for a more sustainable future.
