DualSun

DualSun is a French manufacturer of solar panels, established in 2010 by engineers Jérôme Mouterde and Laetitia Brottier. The co-founders, who met as students at École Centrale Paris, started the project in 2008 and officially created the company two years later, driven by a shared vision to enhance building energy autonomy. Brottier, with a PhD focused on PV/T collectors, and Mouterde, with a background in renewable energy and project management, combined their expertise to address the inefficiencies of standard photovoltaic panels. Their journey began in Paris and soon moved to Marseille to collaborate with a CNRS research laboratory specializing in energy.

The company's core business revolves around designing and producing advanced solar solutions for building owners, including residential and commercial clients. Its business model encompasses the entire value chain, from panel design and manufacturing to providing a digital service platform, MyDualSun, which assists customers and installers with project simulations and sizing. DualSun operates in a competitive market, with its products manufactured at a dedicated facility in Jujurieux, France, which has been recognized as a "Vitrine Industrie du Futur" (Future Industry Showcase).

DualSun's flagship product is the SPRING panel, a 2-in-1 hybrid solar panel that generates both electricity (photovoltaic) and hot water (thermal) from a single unit. This dual-production capability allows it to produce significantly more energy on the same surface area compared to a standard photovoltaic panel. A key feature is the integrated heat exchanger on the back, which cools the photovoltaic cells with water circulation. This cooling effect increases the cells' electricity production efficiency while the captured heat can be used for domestic hot water, swimming pools, or to supplement heat pump systems. The company also offers the FLASH range of high-efficiency conventional photovoltaic panels. DualSun's panels are designed for durability and are 94.7% recyclable.

Significant milestones for DualSun include obtaining the world's first Solar Keymark certification for a hybrid panel in 2013 after extensive testing. The commercial launch followed in 2014, securing a major installation at Bouygues Construction headquarters. The company has secured multiple funding rounds, including a €10 million raise in 2022 to support international expansion and R&D. Its growth trajectory has been notable, with sales increasing sevenfold between 2020 and 2022. DualSun has also received the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution label and has been named a Top Brand PV by installers for multiple consecutive years.

Keywords: hybrid solar panels, PVT, solar water heating, photovoltaic thermal, solar panel manufacturer, renewable energy, cleantech, energy efficiency, solar electricity, building integrated photovoltaics, Made in France, energy transition, decarbonization, MyDualSun, SPRING panel, FLASH panel, solar power, sustainable building, energy self-sufficiency, solar project simulation