Netherlands-based Moonwatt, a clean-tech startup focused on solar energy storage, has raised $8.3 million (€8M) in seed funding to develop and deploy sodium-ion battery solutions.
The round was co-led by Daphni and LEA Partners, with participation from Founders Future, AFI Ventures (by Ventech), and Kima Ventures, alongside strategic business angels and industry partners.
Revolutionizing Solar Energy Storage
Moonwatt is building a solar-optimized battery storage system that enables solar plants to:
- Store excess energy during peak sunlight hours and redistribute it when demand is higher.
- Increase energy sales efficiency, allowing solar plants to capitalize on fluctuating electricity prices.
- Reduce infrastructure costs by integrating battery systems directly into solar power plants.
CEO Zukui Hu and co-founders Guillaume Mancini and Valentin Rota developed the technology after working on battery innovations at Tesla and Freyr (now Ti Energy).
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Why Sodium-Ion Batteries?
Unlike lithium-ion, sodium-ion batteries offer:
- Lower costs due to more abundant raw materials.
- A smaller carbon footprint and easier sourcing.
- Better scalability for large-scale, stationary energy storage.
While sodium-ion technology isn’t ideal for electric vehicles due to its lower energy density, Moonwatt’s stationary solar energy storage application is a perfect fit.
Scaling Up with New Funding
The startup plans to use the $8.3M funding to:
- Develop its first pilot storage installation in Europe by 2026.
- Refine battery performance and expand software integration.
- Prepare for commercial deployments by 2027.
Investor Confidence in Renewable Energy Storage
Paul Bazin, Partner at Daphni, emphasized Moonwatt’s impact:
“The renewable sector is at a tipping point—without better storage solutions, growth will stall. Moonwatt’s solar-focused approach is the breakthrough the industry needs.”
With global solar installations increasing, Moonwatt’s dedicated energy storage system aims to become a cornerstone of the future power grid, making solar energy more efficient, cost-effective, and scalable.
