SolarMente is a Spanish start-up founded in 2020 by Wouter Draijer and Victor Gardrinier, which offers an innovative subscription model for photovoltaic self-consumption. The company provides a comprehensive package including installation, maintenance and insurance, allowing users to produce, store and market their own energy without the need for an initial outlay.
The SolarMente story began when Draijer, originally from the Netherlands, came to Spain to study for a master’s degree and noticed the low adoption of solar panels in a country with abundant sunlight. In his home country, one in three houses has solar panels, while in Spain only one in a hundred has them. This context inspired Draijer to explore the market and found a company that would simplify the transition to sustainable energy.
Together with Gardrinier and with his own savings, Draijer launched SolarMente with the aim of facilitating access to solar energy for Spanish consumers. The energy transition in Spain is notoriously slow and complex, with an average of four to six months of paperwork and more than 30 interactions between users and service providers. SolarMente seeks to simplify this process so that more people can adopt solar self-consumption.
With 50 employees and a turnover of three million euros in the last financial year, SolarMente offers not only the subscription system, but also batteries, charging points for electric vehicles and heat pump systems. Recently, the company has launched a virtual battery service that allows users to store excess solar energy for later use or to share with other households or businesses.
SolarMente carries out around 120 installations per month, mainly in Catalonia, Valencia and Madrid, and has ambitious expansion plans. Over the next two and a half years, they expect to carry out more than 10,000 additional installations and open offices in Madrid and Malaga, adding to their existing offices in Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante. In addition, the company plans to launch its international operation in 2025, with Portugal and France as the first European destinations and a special plan for Latin America by the end of next year.
In its search for an investor committed to the environment, SolarMente found an ally in Leonardo DiCaprio. Known for his environmental activism and his foundation dedicated to promoting sustainable projects, DiCaprio became an investor and brand ambassador. The initial one-year agreement has been extended to three years, and DiCaprio is actively involved in monitoring the company’s growth, meeting every six months to assess its progress.
With this investment and the backing of such a recognised name, SolarMente is well positioned to lead the transition to solar self-consumption in Spain and expand internationally, offering innovative and affordable solutions for a more sustainable energy future.
