“Green energy is the future for our planet”
French Tech Moscow is really interested in green tech startups and had an interview with Polina Vasilenko, Founder and CEO of the French startup HelioRec, a floating solar power plant.
- Polina, tell us about yourself, where did you grow up and where did you get your education? How did you get the idea to found a startup in green tech?
- I was born in Moscow and finished my studies at the Russian Chemical Technology University by Mendeleev, where I got Master’s degree in Chemical Technology and Bio-Technology. Then I worked for 14 years in oil and gas industry, mainly I worked in a big engineering company, Schlumberger, I was a cementing engineer, I performed cementing operations at on-shore and off-shore wells
After sometime I decided to change my career path and move from fossil fuel industry to renewables. I went to study renewable energy in Oldenburgy University, Germany and I got my specialization — Ocean energy in Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal.
I wanted to live in Europe and to continue my research in the sphere of energy and make living in the world ecologically better. I knew that France was a very innovative country and supportive of startups, so I applied for a “talent passport” in France, got it, and in 2019 created my project — a startup called HelioRec (www.heliorec.com). We are developing the cost-effective floating solar power plant with a circular economy approach. To describe how it looks like in two words — it’s a number of floaters with the solar panels on top of it and it all connected in one big power plant. For example, a float the size of a football field, provides energy to 3 000 people in India. The reasoning behind a floating solar power plant is explained by the economy of space on the ground, to raise wheat, for example, also it helps reduce water evaporation and it generates a “green” electricity.
- That’s sounds very interesting to me! Tell us, please, are these amazing floats working somewhere already?
-Yes, recently we had the real possibility to test our floating platforms in natural conditions. In September, in the Dagestan Republic, lake Ak-Gel we built our first project. It is a first in the world hybrid system: floating power plant and aeration system. The idea is to bring more oxygen to the water, because oxygen concentration is 3 times less than normal. How it works — electricity generated by solar panels flows to the aeration system and it brings air in to the water. We build it together with engineers from “EcoEnergy”. This unique hybrid platform is going to revive the lake Ak-Gel in 2 years.
- Did you collaborate with some accelerators and did you receive any investments?
- Yes, I should say that Europe is a comfortable place for those who want to build the ecosystem around a startup. And it’s much easier to get investments and all support necessary for startups. I was a resident for two accelerators in Paris — Schoolab and Entrepreneur First. They helped me with mentoring and administrative questions related to obtaining a visa for a foreign entrepreneur.
We also could get pre-seed investment from business angel and we won number of European grants.
- What are your next steps?
- For now, we’re planning to get more investments in Europe (1.3 M EUR) and use this recourse for team growth, equipment purchasing and active marketing and sells.
We are always improving our technology and the next step is to test the system in the wave tank in Ecole Centrale Nantes. We’re also willing to start to build our business model in BtoB mode in order to get clients in private sectors such as agriculture, ports, solar panels producers, for example. Globally I should say that modern countries are willing to combine different ways to get energy — as from fossil fuel and from renewables. For example, Germany is really focused on this: 50% of the country uses renewables in their energy mix. I want to be part of this process.
- What do you do apart from Heliorec, I mean professionally?
I am an active member of the WomenInTech organisation. I was a winner of the GreenTech Award in 2018 and became a friend with the founder Ayumi Moore Aoki.
Women in Tech® is an international organisation with a double mission: to close the gender gap and to help women embrace technology. The organisation focuses on 4 primary areas that are a call for action: Education, Entrepreneurialism, Social Inclusion, Science & Research. The aim is to educate, equip and empower women and girls with the necessary skills and confidence to succeed in STEM career fields.
In December 2019 we launched the chapter in Russia.
