British startup Volter has raised €3 million in pre-seed funding to advance its mission of enabling real estate owners to monetise rooftop solar installations. The funding will be used to enhance Volter’s platform, expand its customer base, and enter new European markets.
The funding round was led by Transition, with participation from Seedcamp and real estate investor Neptunia, alongside angel investors such as Johannes Schildt of Kry and serial climate tech founder Eamon Jubbawy.
Volter’s software provides an end-to-end solution for commercial and industrial (C&I) property owners, helping them deploy, manage, and optimise solar portfolios. The platform includes features such as automated billing, real-time performance monitoring, streamlined installation proposals, and ESG reporting. By bridging the gap between solar deployment and operational efficiency, Volter aims to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy in real estate, transforming buildings into revenue-generating power plants.
Volter was co-founded by Luke Buhl-Nielsen and Alex Joss in 2024, both with experience in startups and the energy sector. Volter plans to expand its offerings into broader energy services, including battery storage and virtual power plants.
Co-founder Luke Buhl-Nielsen explained: “C&I properties are merging with energy to become revenue-generating power plants – this is the creation of an entirely new asset class. Forward-thinking real estate owners are rapidly recognising the immense potential of integrating renewable energy sources – such as solar – into their buildings.”
He continued: “However, there is a critical gap in the market: the lack of robust software solutions to help real estate owners effectively manage and monetise their renewable energy output. Volter fills this void and capitalises on the growing trend to incorporate solar production into C&I real estate, by empowering asset owners, managers and solar installers to seamlessly manage, optimise, and scale onsite renewables across diverse portfolios.”
According to Volter, the European solar market has seen rapid growth, with rooftop installations capable of fulfilling up to 25% of electricity demand. Volter’s platform capitalises on this trend, offering tools to help real estate stakeholders navigate the complexities of scaling solar portfolios across multiple sites.
Ari Helgason, Partner at Transition, commented: “At Transition, we’re committed to backing innovations that drive the decarbonisation of our economy. By allowing C&I real estate owners to offer clean energy options to their tenants, Volter’s operating system will accelerate the adoption of renewable energy sources and help to create a more sustainable grid. Given that nearly 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions come from the real estate sector, this shift not only makes economic sense for landlords and tenants, but also plays a crucial role in building a more sustainable and resilient energy future for our planet.”
Seedcamp’s Tom Wilson added: “As electricity prices rise while solar hardware costs decline, rooftop solar has become an increasingly attractive investment for C&I property owners. The Volter platform will be pivotal in advancing sustainable energy infrastructure within the C&I sector by enabling real estate owners to efficiently scale their solar investments and optimise financial returns. We’re excited to support Volter as they meet the increasing demand for sophisticated software solutions in the growing asset class of onsite renewables.“
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/11/london-based-volter-secures-e3-million-to-monetise-rooftop-solar-installations/
