Solar energy’s rapid growth is boosting Norwegian SaaS startup Glint Solar, whose platform helps major solar developers like E.ON, Recurrent Energy, and Statkraft streamline the planning and pre-design of solar projects. This innovation accelerates renewable energy development.
Glint’s software integrates data from various sources to speed up project assessments, offering adaptable layout designs, yield estimates, GIS data, and topographic analysis. These features help developers efficiently evaluate potential sites. Cloud-based collaboration allows teams to access and share project data, with 3D-rendered layouts available in seconds.
Since raising $3 million in seed funding in June 2022, Glint’s customer base has grown nearly 10x. The startup now announces an $8 million Series A to expand into more European markets, including Italy and Spain.
Initially supporting both land-based and floating solar, Glint has since focused on land installations due to higher demand. While some customers use the tool for large rooftop projects, Glint targets the utility-scale market, which makes up 60% of the solar industry.
The Series A funding will also fuel product development, including features for battery siting to optimize energy storage. The platform will consider factors like grid capacity and noise levels, aiding smoother permitting processes.
CEO Harald Olderheim highlights that while solar costs have dropped by 90% over the past decade, project timelines remain long due to complex agreements and permits. Glint’s user-friendly design helps teams share information and speed up approvals, supporting faster, lower-risk decision-making.
Glint’s SaaS reportedly enables developers to triple their project pipeline and evaluate sites 10x faster. However, Olderheim notes that investment in infrastructure and regulatory reform is essential to further accelerate solar expansion.
The Series A was led by Smedvig Ventures, with contributions from Antler Nordic, Antler Elevate, Futurum Ventures, and Momentum. Smedvig’s Jonathan Lerner praised Glint for providing a unified product that saves resources and improves green energy project efficiency.