As the world shifts toward cleaner and more resilient energy systems, companies like Skysun are leading the charge in making solar power more accessible. Founded in 2017, Skysun has rapidly expanded from Belgium to France, driven by a mission to empower businesses with energy autonomy. With a strong focus on solar innovation, financing models, and battery storage, the company is redefining how large real estate players and industries embrace renewable energy.

In this interview, we sat down with Léopold Coppieters to talk about Skysun’s journey, its expansion into Paris Region, and how its ZincLike technology is unlocking new opportunities for sustainable solar integration on historical Haussmannian buildings. We also explore the role of Choose Paris Region in facilitating Skysun’s growth in France and discuss the company’s ambitious vision for the future.
 

Can you tell us about Skysun’s journey? How did the company start, and what inspired its mission?

Skysun was founded in 2017 by two friends—one passionate about finance, the other about environmental sciences. Their goal was to make solar energy more accessible by offering a one-stop-shop for financing, installation, and operation. Since then, Skysun has grown rapidly, expanding into Belgium and France while remaining committed to sustainable energy solutions.

What is Skysun’s core vision, and how does it contribute to decentralizing energy production?

Skysun envisions a world where businesses can generate, store, and use their own clean energy without reliance on centralized grids. By developing innovative solar solutions and financing models, we empower companies to take control of their energy costs while contributing to a sustainable future.

How do your solutions promote energy autonomy, and what impact have they had so far?

Our solar and battery solutions enable companies to maximize self-consumption, reduce dependence on the grid, and lower energy costs. By leveraging onsite Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), businesses can achieve up to 30% energy savings, while reducing CO₂ emissions by thousands of tons annually.

Why did Skysun expand to France, specifically to Paris Region?

Expanding to Paris Region was a strategic move. France has ambitious renewable energy goals, and the region offers a dynamic ecosystem with strong incentives, innovation hubs, a deep talent pool, and industrial players eager to embrace clean energy. Paris is also a key market for historical building solarization. Our ZincLike technology is a game-changer, allowing the seamless integration of solar panels onto zinc rooftops, preserving the architectural heritage while enhancing energy efficiency.

What advantages does Paris Region offer regarding the business environment, innovation, and renewable energy opportunities?

Paris Region fosters innovation, with leading research centers, funding opportunities, and pro-climate policies. It’s a prime location for scaling clean energy solutions and forming strategic partnerships with key industry players, including real estate developers and public infrastructure projects. One of our key offers is a joint venture scheme by which large real estate players can hold equity on the solar assets we develop on their surfaces (roofs/parkings/ground). Most of these large players have their headquarters in Paris. This makes it a place to be for Skysun.

How does the French market align with your long-term growth strategy?

The French market is key to Skysun’s growth due to France’s ambitious solar targets (100 GW by 2050 - Multi-Year Energy Plan) and strong incentives like CRE tenders and self-consumption subsidies. We focus on solarizing large real estate assets, including train stations, logistics hubs, and industrial sites, to accelerate the energy transition. Our ZincLike technology enables seamless solar integration on Haussmannian buildings, unlocking new urban opportunities. We are also present in Strasbourg and Lyon, key cities with major industry players in real estate, logistics, and manufacturing, making them strategic hubs for solar expansion. By 2028, our goal is to reach 180MW in signed deals (PV + batteries), reinforcing our leadership in the French market. Our joint venture model allows large real estate groups to co-invest in solar assets on their properties.

What role did Choose Paris Region play in facilitating your expansion?

Choose Paris Region played a crucial role by providing market insights, strategic guidance, and key business connections. Their support enabled us to participate in major industry events like MIPIM, helping us navigate the French renewable energy ecosystem and identify high-impact opportunities for large-scale deployment.

Were there any specific resources, connections, or insights that were particularly valuable in your transition to the French market?

We have appreciated the welcoming community within the ClimateHouse, our shared offices with impact businesses. The CH is well connected and has organised many pitch sessions with public entities and large private players.

What are Skysun’s goals for the next few years in Paris Region and beyond?

Skysun aims to expand solar adoption across historical and industrial sites, with a strong focus on battery storage to enhance energy autonomy. A key part of this strategy is our ZincLike solution, which enables seamless integration of solar panels onto zinc rooftops, preserving architectural heritage while optimizing energy efficiency. We are currently in the process of obtaining technical certification for the French market, with the ambition of deploying large-scale projects on classified Haussmannian buildings, such as train stations and public monuments. A first pilot project is already in development, marking an important step toward scaling this solution across France. We also plan to deepen our collaborations with policymakers and industry leaders to drive new energy solutions at scale.

Are there any upcoming projects, partnerships, or innovations that you’re particularly excited about?

We’re excited about upcoming projects, including solarizing Parisian landmarks and deploying aesthetic solar solutions for heritage Haussmanian buildings. Exploring opportunities to equip major train stations with solar would be a game-changer for urban solar expansion, and we would be extremely proud to contribute to such initiatives!