Sault solar panel manufacturer branching out: Heliene Inc. developing car chargers, greenhouse panels.

• Date: 01 November 2019
• Author: Kelly, Lindsay

Since its launch in 2010, Heliene Inc.'s bread and butter has been the manufacture of solar photovoltaic modules for commercial and residential power generation. But behind the scenes, the Sault Ste. Marie company's applied research is adapting the technology to help grow vegetables, power cars, and even generate energy from space.

Sales of Heliene's solar panels are still going strong, particularly outside Canada, where 98 per cent of its product is sold, said president Martin Pochtaruk, who launched the company following a 20-year career in the steel industry.

But he views diversification as the key to long-term stability.

"We dedicate a good amount of time and resources to applied research, whether it is to improve our processes, or to find other applications for the product," Pochtaruk said.

Of the applied research projects currently underway, the one furthest along in development is a greenhouse that's been refurbished to use adapted solar panel technology to help grow crops faster.

Installed at an existing Whitby...