"Tomato and energy production don’t have to compete"

Swiss greenhouse company Meier Gemüse and Voltiris have completed the first hectare scale solar project for a tomato greenhouse, using spectral-filtering technology. The project combines Meier Gemüse's expertise in high-tech cultivation with Voltiris' AgriPV solution. Nearly 1,800 lightweight solar modules convert unused infrared light into electricity—while allowing photosynthetically active light (PAR) to pass through and support crop growth.

"This is a perfect example of how food and energy production can go hand in hand," said Toni Suter, Managing Director of Meier Gemüse. "We're proud to work with Voltiris to lead the way toward low-emission, future-ready greenhouse horticulture."

"This is only the first step," said Ruedi Meier (right), vegetable grower and managing director of Meier Gemüse AG, based in Rütihof (canton of Aargau). "With Voltiris, we're showing that tomato and energy production don't have to compete—they can strengthen each other. It's a critical milestone toward truly integrated, carbon-neutral greenhouse production."

Energy-self-sufficient vegetable growing
"I want to become independent of external suppliers when it comes to energy," says Ruedi, outlining his company's strategy for the future. "We are seeing that the energy market is becoming more volatile, which in turn contributes to increased risks in cultivation. As a producer, you have little influence over this. The only alternative I see is to generate our own energy locally." According to Ruedi, however, the path to energy-self-sufficient vegetable cultivation is a lengthy process, "but we are already moving in this direction."

"The commitment and forward-thinking mindset of Meier Gemüse have been essential to making this vision a reality," added Nicolas Weber, Co-founder and CEO of Voltiris. "Ruedi's and Toni's trust made this milestone possible—and it sets a powerful example for the sector."

Integration
Installed in just four weeks within a fully operational greenhouse, the system was deployed without any interruption to operations. Voltiris' patented spectral-filtering modules were integrated directly into the existing structure—maintaining productivity while harvesting excess light for energy.

The installation now supplies a substantial share of the site's electricity needs and lays the foundation for future electrification, including battery storage.

© Meier Gemüse AG
Meier Gemüse AG grows cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce on around 6.5 hectares of greenhouse space. Its product range includes cherry and oxheart tomatoes.

Scaling through Energy-as-a-Service
The project also demonstrates the viability of Voltiris' Energy-as-a-Service model, which reduces the upfront investment for growers. Voltiris finances, installs, and operates the system—while Meier Gemüse pays only for the electricity consumed.

To make this possible, Voltiris partnered with Banque Alternative Suisse and Fondation Valery, with additional financial support from the Canton of Aargau. This collaborative approach lowers the barrier to adoption and accelerates the transition to low-carbon greenhouse agriculture.

"This collaboration sets a new benchmark for horticulture," said Nicolas Weber. "It's a replicable model we're ready to scale with other forward-looking growers."

Tomato market
It comes at a good time for the Meier Gemüse team as the Swiss tomato harvest is currently in full swing: "In terms of production, we are quite satisfied. Although the first quarter was relatively low in sunlight, the beautiful April weather allowed our tomatoes to catch up quickly. Overall, tomato yields are already above last year's level, so I would describe the current season as quite satisfactory," reports Ruedi.

The first cherry tomatoes of this year's season were harvested at the Aargau-based company at the beginning of April. Meier: "Cherry tomatoes account for around 40 percent of our tomato cultivation. We also grow vine tomatoes, oxheart tomatoes, and grape tomatoes, among others. There has been strong growth in cherry and grape tomatoes in recent years, at the expense of larger standard tomatoes. However, this consumer trend is now flattening out somewhat. Unlike in other European countries, inflation is not having a major impact on the marketing of our tomatoes. The situation was different during the coronavirus pandemic, when inexpensive, large tomatoes were particularly popular."

Season until November
Harvesting at the Meier farm usually continues into November. "Tomato sales are fairly stable throughout the season, especially since the product is a staple in many consumers' shopping baskets. Towards the end of the season, around October, import duties are lifted and cheap imports from Southern Europe flood the market, causing demand for Swiss tomatoes to gradually decline."

In the long term, Meier considers tomato consumption in Switzerland to be "encouraging." "An important factor is the continuing increase in the Swiss population, which automatically contributes to an increase in demand for tomatoes. In addition, smaller tomatoes, such as grape and cherry tomatoes, are becoming increasingly popular. Even if consumption is only increasing minimally in terms of volume, this makes a difference in terms of value."

Meet Voltiris at GreenTech Amsterdam
The Voltiris system will be formally presented during a dedicated launch event tomorrow. In parallel, Voltiris will showcase the project at GreenTech Amsterdam, the world's leading horticulture technology trade fair, from June 10 to 12. Site visits to a nearby installation in the Netherlands are scheduled for June 12 and 13.

For more information:
Voltiris
nicolas.weber@voltiris.com
www.voltiris.com

© Meier Gemüse AGRuedi Meier
Meier Gemüse AG
Steinstrasse 72
CH-5406 Rütihof
Tel. +49 (0) 56 493 11 12
info@meiergemuese.ch
www.meiergemuese.ch