Technology

At HELIOVIS, technology is at the heart of our mission. We have developed a cutting-edge solution that is changing how industries operate, offering an affordable and sustainable alternative for process heat. Discover how our innovative solar thermal collector harnesses the sun’s energy to provide your industry with reliable, carbon-free heat.

Cutting-Edge Solar Collector

The HELIOtube® Advantage

Move beyond costly glass-mirror parabolic troughs to experience the innovation of the HELIOtube® technology. Our inflatable solar collector offers a cost-effective solution thanks to its robust, lightweight, and recyclable plastic construction.

Comprising three industry-proven plastic films – a base film, transparent film, and mirror film – the HELIOtube® operates as an inflatable cylindrical concentrator.

The mirror film runs along the length of the collector, dividing it into two chambers. A small pressure difference between the upper and the lower chamber causes the mirror film to arch downwards, creating a circular trough, which concentrates the reflected light.

Light enters the collector through the transparent film in the upper chamber, is reflected by the mirror film and concentrated onto a standard thermal receiver, which runs along the focal line of the system. A secondary mirror installed above/behind the thermal receiver ensures that any stray light is not lost but re-focused, which increases overall optical efficiency.

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The HELIOtube® provides a dependable solution for industrial decarbonisation.

We focus on the substantial mid-temperature (90°C to 400°C) process heat market, addressing a global industrial demand of 10,400 TWh_th annually.

Our technology shines in sunbelt regions, offering a 3,150 TWh_th serviceable available market and the potential to reduce 1.2 billion tons of CO₂e emissions yearly.

Manufacturing and Implementation

Taking Cost Off-Site
and Into an Industrial Environment

We recognise that traditional on-site manufacturing processes are costly, time-consuming, and often constrained by logistical challenges. That is why we produce our products off-site in a roll-to-roll process and controlled industrial environment. This centralised serial production unlocks multiple advantages:

technology

Precision and Efficiency

Off-site production allows us to control every aspect of the manufacturing process, achieving unparalleled precision and efficiency

Cost Savings

By moving the production into industrial facilities, we minimise overhead costs associated with onsite construction, labour, and material handling.

Reduced Environmental Impact

Our off-site production reduces the carbon footprint of our manufacturing processes, contributing to a greener, more eco-friendly future.

Accelerated Timelines

Centralised roll-to-roll production ensures prompt delivery, meeting the needs of our customers and contributing to their operational efficiency.

Quality Assurance

Centralised production provides the ideal setting for rigorous testing and quality assurance, so our product always meets the highest industry standards.

2024

Latest Industrial Application of the HELIOtube® Technology at Qarat al Milh, Oman

In August 2024, we were pleased to announce the mechanical completion and the beginning of the commissioning process of the first Solar Water Treatment Plant (SWTP) at Qarat al Milh, Oman.

This showcase project for a customer from the oil & gas industry addresses a difficult and, in many cases, unsolved problem, namely, how to deal with the large quantities of environmentally harmful produced water on an oilfield. This water needs to be disposed of in a safe manner. At the same time, fresh water is required for oil field production. In this unique project, HELIOVIS’ innovative solar thermal technology is used to power a forward osmosis-based desalination unit capable of treating the hypersaline produced water.

The emission free process delivers two valuable product streams – high quality freshwater for use on site (in the desert!) and concentrated brine for potential further use in brine mining – while significantly reducing the cost and CO₂ emissions associated with oilfield water supply.

2017

First Industrial Application of the HELIOtube® Technology

HELIOVIS built, commissioned, and operates the first industrial application of the HELIOtube® in the maximum size of 220m length, 9m diameter and 8m aperture for a Food & Beverage company in southern Spain.

Co-funded by the highly competitive EU scheme HORIZON 2020 SME Phase II and successfully commissioned in 06/2017 with all technical and commercial milestones fully met
Showcase project of the EU Commission and published in the leading US scientific magazine “Science”
Operation under harsh conditions proven, power of up to 0.9 MWpth
Two different windshield systems successfully demonstrated: conventional and PV-based for maximum use of space and supply of both electricity and process heat in a solar hybrid approach
Clean mid-temperature process heat (90°C to 400°C)
Serving as clean energy supplier to food processing off-taker