Soleolico: the world’s first wind turbine that integrates photovoltaic panels into its blades
Soleolico was presented on October 6th at the Palacio de la Magdalena in Santander (Spain) as a unique renewable energy generation technology in the world. It’s a pioneering and revolutionary solution in the field of renewable energy, combining wind and solar energy production, and it is destined to play a fundamental role in the global energy transition.
As Carlos Serrada, President, and Founder of Soleolico explained, “Soleolico is the result of the effort of many people, the ingenuity of many brilliant minds, many hours of work and effort, more than ten years of research, with over 5 million euros invested and more than 30 prototypes that have evolved over time”.
Soleolico is the world’s first wind turbine that integrates photovoltaic panels into its blades, or what they call “sails”: aerodynamic sails that are oriented to the wind through “blade guidance”, a patented magnetic system that calibrates the wind orientation of each sail to extract the maximum energy.
Soleolico presents a disruptive technology with international patents that combines wind, solar, and storage generation in a single system, providing “green” energy 24 hours a day. Additionally, Soleolico incorporates a unique coating with patented technology, composed of natural agents, that absorbs and transforms CO2, “cleaning” the air we breathe.
Serrada detailed that, as a vertical-axis wind turbine, it “offers many advantages: higher efficiency, harnesses different types of winds, has a lower visual and environmental impact, easier installation and maintenance, greater durability, land utilization… And moreover, Soleolico generates no noise or wildlife risk because it operates slowly, at about seven revolutions per minute”.
Soleolico is the world’s “First Technological Tree”, coexisting harmoniously with its surroundings, generating clean energy with minimal impact, and eliminating greenhouse gases.
Its wind capacity is distinctive, with performance up to 25% higher than current wind turbines, resulting in higher profitability with a similar investment. Additionally, when installed alongside other Soleolico units, the feedback effect between them can increase performance by around 15%.
Soleolico is presented as an optimal and versatile hybrid generation solution, suitable for use in both self-consumption and distributed generation or grid-connected generation parks. Serrada explained that “Soleolico integrates with any energy storage solution available in the market and also features a state-of-the-art battery recharge management system that provides higher performance and durability”.
Furthermore, as Serrada pointed out, “a custom coating can be designed for its tower, 3D-printed, to blend in more with the environment, or to have a specific appearance, as we are showing here today”.
The coating is 3D-printed by LaMáquina using Pure.Tech technology that absorbs CO2. As Aldo Sollazzo, Director of Pure.Tech, explains, “the installation of 1,000 units of Soleolico absorbs the same amount of CO2 as 287 trees in a year, according to our calculations, based on data from the European Environmental Agency and our certified laboratories”.
Soleolico combines science and nature, is environmentally friendly, and wildlife-friendly: it generates no noise, operates slowly, and its attractive aesthetics can be customized to blend with the environment and customer needs. Furthermore, as an important innovation with patented technology, Soleolico allows solar panels to be adapted to display desired images or corporate colors, or even advertisements.
ACCESSIBLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND STABLE ENERGY
Pablo Fernández de la Torre, CEO and partner of Soleolico, explained that “compared to the challenges that other renewable energy generation options may pose, Soleolico presents itself as an optimal and versatile hybrid generation solution”. He added, “Soleolico is the only technology that comprehensively meets the three requirements of future energy because it covers the basic energy needs of the population: accessibility, sustainability, and stability”.
Soleolico is accessible, he noted, because “thanks to its blade system devised by engineer Pedro Terrón and photovoltaic support, the performance of Soleolico is superior to that of other technologies, providing a highly competitive energy price. Also, because of its size and power (10 kW), Soleolico can be used in both generation parks and self-consumption solutions. Additionally, it can be located in areas with wind and solar resources, with fewer limitations related to environmental protection, safety, or aesthetics”.
Furthermore, it provides sustainable energy, “generated from natural resources, the sun, and wind, with a low environmental impact due to low speed and no noise, and Pure.Tech technology purifies the air”.
Finally, it offers stable energy because “it generates 24 hours a day, combining sun and wind, achieving an increase in energy generation quality due to continuous flow and peak demand, and it provides inertia to the grid, thanks to the synchronous movement of its motor”.
DEVELOPMENT PLANS
Regarding the company’s development plans, Fernández de la Torre stated, “We are convinced that we can achieve the ambitious challenge of covering 1% of the renewable energy market worldwide within ten to fifteen years. It would involve selling between 3 and 4 million Soleolico units during this period and generating between 75 and 100 billion euros in revenue. This represents achieving a robust and well-established global production capacity of more than 25,000 Soleolico per month”.
To achieve this growth, the company’s CEO explained, “we have a commercial and industrial development plan, in addition to constant investment in R&D+i in the product. Initially, our intention is to install a first factory in Spain, but we are looking for commercial, business, and/or industrial partners in each country or area”.
Regarding potential customers, he said, “we have an initial project in Sicily, with a park of 100 Soleolico units, and various institutions and companies have already shown interest, such as IKEA, and from places like the Greek islands, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and the Middle East”.
To develop its project, Soleolico is collaborating with local companies such as Talleres J. M. López (Maliaño, Cantabria), and national companies such as Imedexa (Cáceres) or Alener (Seville).
USE CASES
Roberto de Arquer, Marketing Manager and partner of Soleolico, explained that the operation of this solar wind turbine, due to better utilization of wind and solar energy, “would be optimal in places with constant wind, high solar irradiation, non-extreme temperatures, and little shade. Therefore, ideal geographic areas for installing Soleolico are those with low energy access (islands, remote areas, and developing areas), areas with optimal resources (coastal, mountainous, or desert areas), areas with limited space (urban, industrial, communities…), or areas with high visual sensitivity (tourist areas, parks, residential areas…)”.
Furthermore, the design of Soleolico can be adapted to the aesthetic requirements of the customer or the environment where it will be placed: dimensions, finishes, exterior appearance… The Bespoke model of Soleolico has been designed by Firàs Safieddine, a visionary and innovative architect with numerous international awards.
Even the photovoltaic sails of Soleolico can be personalized in colors and corporate or advertising images thanks to collaboration with the renewable project engineering firm SGP Energy, based in Santander, and the company Izpitek Solar, with its factory for photovoltaic modules adaptable to any structure, located in Bizkaia.
Rafael González Alonso, CEO of Izpitek Solar, the company responsible for manufacturing the composite photovoltaic panels of Soleolico, explained that “the encapsulation of photovoltaic cells in the same fiberglass as the sail, with our own patents, and innovative options for applying vinyl to solar panels, will allow many possibilities for blending in or customizing Soleolico”.
Finally, artificial intelligence will be used in the progressive optimization of Soleolico and will continue to improve its efficiency.
EVENT AGENDA AND PARTICIPANTS
In the media presentation, held in the Gala Dining Room of the Palacio de la Magdalena, one of the afternoon speakers, Alicia Carrasco, Director of the European energy strategy consultancy olivoENERGY, and an expert in renewables who has previously worked at companies like Tesla, also participated. Carrasco, who spoke in the afternoon on “New business models and innovation for the energy transition, “congratulated the company on this innovative project and commented. “With Soleolico, you are providing solutions to the problems currently facing the European Union”.
On the occasion of this presentation, a Soleolico prototype was installed in the outdoor area of the Palacio de la Magdalena (until October 9th). As Gema Igual Ortiz, Mayor of Santander, who presided over the presentation, explained, “Santander, a city committed to the environment, is aware that the world needs sustainable technologies and renewable energies like those proposed by Soleolico. I thank the company for choosing Santander to present itself to the world, in an event that aligns with our strategic commitment to sustainability, strengthens our active contribution to the energy transition, and projects us internationally as a city of events”.
PRESENTATIONS DURING THE EVENT
The afternoon presentation day, organized by Soleolico, was aimed at national and international institutional representatives, technology companies, energy sector consultants, and leaders in the energy transition who traveled to Santander from countries such as Sweden, India, China, the United States, Jordan, the Dominican Republic, Greece, or Saudi Arabia to learn about this new technology.
This series of presentations was hosted by Dustin Plantholt, a prestigious American journalist and editor, renowned in the world of technology and disruptive media for his significant contributions.
In addition to the presentation of Soleolico, the event featured other interesting presentations by experts in the sector. Betania Allo, a lawyer specializing in Emerging Technologies and Cybersecurity, spoke remotely from Saudi Arabia on “The challenges of cybersecurity in the future of energy”. Allo has worked for over a decade on public policies, held executive positions globally, and has extensive experience in technology projects at the United Nations.
To discuss “Steps towards a sustainable future”, the organizers had four internationally renowned experts. Adam Roosevelt, CEO of AR International Group of Companies, an expert in renewable energy and security, presented the perspective from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On the same panel, the perspective from Africa was discussed by Mark Lindsay, an advisor on energy, environment, and health issues at the Livingston Group (including Africa GreenTec), and a former assistant to President Clinton in the Office of Management and Administration (M&A). Steve Watkins, CEO of Access America Association, offered his view of the United States as a former congressman and business consultant in the energy sector (remotely). Max Zammit, Mayor of Ta’Xbiex and Vice President of the Eastern Region of Malta, a country where renewable energies play a fundamental role, discussed the perspective from Europe.
Photos: Xavier d’Arquer (Doblestudio)
For more information: prensa@soleolico.com
