SolarEdge And HELIOPLANT® Team Up For 6.3MWp Alpine Solar Plant In Sölden, Austria, Powering Three Ski Resorts With 28 GWh Annually

SolarEdge, a global leader in smart energy technology, has announced a collaboration with HELIOPLANT®, an Austrian developer of innovative solar systems designed for mountainous and high-altitude regions. The partnership combines HELIOPLANT®’s unique cross-shaped bifacial solar system with SolarEdge’s inverter and Power Optimizer technology to address the challenges faced by conventional photovoltaic systems in alpine environments. The collaboration represents a significant new market opportunity, particularly for the thousands of ski resorts worldwide. The first installation, a 6.3 MWp plant, is currently under construction and will provide clean energy to three ski resorts in Sölden, Austria.

Solar energy in mountain regions has substantial potential, particularly in winter, when ski resorts experience high energy demand. Conventional linear PV systems are often unsuitable for extreme alpine conditions, struggling with snow accumulation caused by wind and requiring costly construction while delivering lower energy productivity. HELIOPLANT®’s patented cross-design for bifacial solar modules overcomes these issues.

Its tree-like structure consists of four independent “wings” mounted on a central column, each holding 15 to 16 bifacial PV modules depending on the slope. The cross-shaped configuration generates air turbulence, reducing snow accumulation, while a natural snow crater around the structure reflects light to the underside of the panels, boosting energy yields through the albedo effect. The design is also aesthetically suited to mountain landscapes.

Florian Jamschek, Co-Founder of HELIOPLANT®, explained that bifacial PV systems are ideal for alpine regions because they capture both direct sunlight and reflected light from snow, increasing energy yields. He noted that with approximately 6,000 ski resorts worldwide, the market potential for such technology is significant.

Patrick Janak, Head of C&I DACH at SolarEdge, said the collaboration demonstrates how combining HELIOPLANT®’s innovative bifacial structures with SolarEdge technology can unlock the untapped potential of alpine solar energy, delivering reliable, high-yield clean electricity that would not be feasible with conventional PV systems.

Under the agreement with SolarEdge, the tree-like PV structures will be powered by SolarEdge inverters and Power Optimizers. Unlike traditional string inverters, which reduce the output of the entire system to match the lowest-performing panel, SolarEdge technology allows each panel to operate independently. This ensures that shading or variations in rear-side power gain do not affect the overall energy production, making it particularly suitable for bifacial panels in mountainous regions where snow reflection varies across modules.

The collaboration builds on a successful pilot project launched in 2023, where 12 bifacial tree-like PV structures were installed at 2,850 meters in Sölden under the Tiefenbach glacier. Powered by SolarEdge technology, the pilot system powered a ski lift for an entire season, significantly reducing reliance on grid electricity. Following this success, construction is underway for a large-scale 6.3 MWp plant featuring approximately 800 HELIOPLANT® structures combined with SolarEdge inverters and Power Optimizers. Scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026, the project is expected to provide around 28 GWh of clean energy annually, covering roughly one-third of the energy needs of three ski resorts in the area, including cable car operations, hospitality facilities, and snow production.