Exeger’s paper-thin solar cells could replace over one billion batteries
After several difficult years, Swedish solar technology company Exeger is now in a strong position. If their entire Kista production facility focused solely on solar-powered remote controls, it could replace more than one billion disposable batteries every year. “Here in Kista, we can scale up significantly”.
After several difficult years, Swedish solar technology company Exeger is now in a strong position to scale up. The company can now handle orders from global giants seeking its ultra-thin solar cells for home electronics, outdoor products, retail technology, and defense applications.
“If we maximize production in Kista, we could become one of Europe’s largest solar cell manufacturers,” says CEO and founder Giovanni Fili.
The core idea already seemed compelling 15 years ago: thin solar cells capable of powering electronic devices such as sensors, headphones, and digital labels. Like many hardware startups, Exeger accelerated rapidly while market conditions looked promising.
But when the pandemic disrupted global supply chains, the company hit a wall, Fili recalls.
“China remained closed for almost three years. Then came war, inflation, and high energy prices. We’ve had to fight hard to survive. At the same time, building a deep-tech company can easily take 15 years.”
Today, one of Europe’s largest solar cell factories is located in Kista.
In total, the company has raised SEK 2.5 billion in funding, including investments from Japan’s SoftBank and Sweden’s Stena family. Most recently, Exeger received SEK 130 million from the Swedish Energy Agency to expand its factory in Kista. It has also secured a SEK 250 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB), signaling that the EU sees the company as part of Europe’s green industrial strategy.
Fili believes the company is finally well-positioned for a market recovery. Despite downsizing, Exeger still employs 85 people.
“When the major projects start rolling in, we can scale up the organization again. We now have ISO certifications, environmental permits, 250 approved patents, and a fantastic factory that is already operational. If we expand and maximize production in Kista, we could produce 2.5 million square meters annually. It truly feels like the stars are finally aligning.”
To put that into perspective: if the entire Kista production facility focused solely on solar-powered remote controls, it could replace more than one billion disposable batteries every year.
Global customers
Those who have followed Exeger since its early days likely associate its Powerfoyle technology with headphones. That proved to be a strong entry product, though not enough for rapid growth.
“We’ve worked with Urbanista, adidas, and Philips. These are excellent products with great reviews and a fantastic category overall. But growth was simply too slow. We needed to find additional applications.”
The next step was addressing business customers’ need for reliable energy without bulky batteries. One major customer is 3M, one of the world’s largest companies, with annual revenue of roughly SEK 350 billion.
“We collaborate with 3M on hearing protection products and are building that category from scratch. For consumer products, our solution is often a nice bonus. For B2B companies, it’s different. They can clearly calculate savings by reducing the need to charge or replace batteries in their devices.”
Another customer is French company Vusion, which specializes in retail technology. Its customer portfolio already includes hundreds of retail chains, including Walmart and Carrefour.
“These major customers take time, but the upside potential is enormous and allows us to pursue several tracks simultaneously. We recently completed a pilot project using Powerfoyle in digital shelf labels at 7-Eleven stores in Japan, which has 40,000 locations. Vusion supplies virtually every retail chain worldwide, so hopefully we’ve only scratched the surface.”
Smart preparedness and defense
The outdoor market is also becoming important for Exeger. From there, the leap into defense technology is relatively small. So-called “dual-use” technology is increasingly common.
Modern defense and emergency preparedness systems rely heavily on sensors, cameras, and navigation tools integrated into uniforms and helmets. Exeger’s solution can reduce weight, battery requirements, and dependence on critical raw materials.
This has led to the company being accepted into NATO’s startup program DIANA (Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic). An initiative designed to strengthen innovation and resilience within the alliance.
“The defense industry is investing heavily in lightweight materials and connected uniforms. We are currently developing self-charging communication products together with one of Europe’s largest defense forces. And we’re proud to contribute to the alliance’s resilience.”
Strategic location in Kista
Exeger is far from alone in choosing Kista as its base. Companies like Climeon, Mycronic, TERASi, and OHB Sweden are all part of a growing deeptech cluster in the area.
These companies share similar needs: specialized production facilities, efficient logistics, and fast access to market.
For Exeger, establishing the factory in Kista required years of hard work. Fili is pleased that the facilities are large enough to support significant future expansion.
“The building used to be a vocational school that has now been adapted to our needs. Kista is a perfect location for us thanks to transportation links and advanced technical expertise. Both the municipality and the property owner have also been fantastic to work with. We developed every machine and component ourselves, which took a great deal of time. Now we’re ready for the market’s needs. Here in Kista, we can scale up substantially.”
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