Taylor.

Taylor Technologies B.V. is a Dutch high-tech company that develops and supplies a comprehensive solar energy system designed to increase power output and provide advanced system insights. The company originated in 2017 as a spin-off from the Eindhoven University of Technology. It was co-founded by Michiel Roelofs (CEO) and Rein Westerdijk, who, as students, commercialized a patented university technology for optimizing solar cells. Roelofs's background is in Mechanical Engineering, and his graduation project on micro-electronics to compensate for yield loss in solar arrays formed the foundation of the company's technology.

Taylor's core product is the Cell String Optimizer (CSO), a micro-electronic device integrated directly into solar panels. This technology, branded as Nano Optimizers, optimizes energy production at the sub-panel level, dividing a panel into six parts. This granular approach mitigates power loss from partial shading or soiling, which can block the current for an entire system in traditional setups. The company claims this can result in up to 20% higher energy yields compared to systems with conventional inverters or even micro-inverters. The complete Taylor system includes these optimized solar panels, inverters, batteries, and a proprietary energy management system called 'Open'. This hardware is complemented by a software dashboard that provides real-time monitoring of system performance down to the cell-string level, with data updated every five minutes, enabling remote diagnostics for installers.

The company's business model targets both solar module manufacturers, to whom it provides the optimizer electronics for integration, and solar system installers, who receive gateways and software. This strategy allows Taylor to offer an advanced, integrated system without requiring installers to handle extra components, keeping installation faster and costs lower. For end-users (residential homeowners), the system provides higher energy generation and an open platform that is compatible with third-party devices like EV chargers and heat pumps. In early 2024, Taylor secured €8 million in a funding round from investors including Pension Fund ABP, Rubio Impact Ventures, and the Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM). This capital is aimed at international expansion into markets like Belgium, France, and Germany, in addition to further product development.

Keywords: solar energy optimization, cell string optimizer, Nano Optimizers, solar panel electronics, energy management software, residential solar, high-yield solar systems, TU Eindhoven spin-off, Rein Westerdijk, Michiel Roelofs, solar monitoring, smart energy management, solar hardware, integrated solar solutions, renewable energy technology, Brainport Eindhoven, solar system performance, shade mitigation, advanced solar insights, energy storage solutions