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#FRENCHTECHFRIDAY: Zephyr Solar met de l’électricité dans l’air

Eirwen WilliamsEirwen WilliamsSeptember 15, 2017 at 5:20 AM0
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Julie Dautel et Cédric Tomissi
Julie Dautel et Cédric Tomissi
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Julie Dautel et Cédric Tomissi

[mise à jour du 21/02/2018: Zephyr Solar vient de terminer une levée de fond de 450 000 € qui leur permettra, en autre, d’agrandir l’équipe et de leur premier produit]
Actuellement l’équipe de Zephyr Solar est en train de lever des fonds déployer son projet: une solution de génération électrique mobile inédite. Au même instant, deux îles françaises sont ravagées par un ouragan et privées de leurs sources d’électricité. Mais l’équipe de 5 startupers engagés travaille d’arrache pied pour proposer une solution.
 

Comment fait-on en cas de catastrophe?

Dans la plupart des catastrophes naturelles, la génération électrique est touchée. Transports, hôpitaux, organisation des secours, tout est ralenti par cette perte. La solution actuelle consiste à brancher des groupes électrogènes pour palier au manque. Mais ces groupes sont volumineux, bruyants, grands consommateurs de carburant (difficile à trouver et à stocker). Implantés dans un camp de fortune, ils priveront ceux à proximité d’un sommeil pourtant vital. Lourds, ils monopolisent des bras pour être acheminés et installés.
 

La naissance de Zephyr Solar

Né de la collaboration de deux amis d’école Julie Dautel et Cédric Tomissi, Zephyr Solar a pour ambition d’électrifier les lieux coupés du réseau. L’idée est née en 2014 après avoir identifié un manque dans la réponse humanitaire lors des catastrophes. La problématique énergétique est majeure et compliquée à résoudre. Plutôt que de proposer de but en blanc une solution, Cédric et Julie ont pris le temps de consulter les ONG (Organisations Non Gouvernementales) et de dresser un cahier des charges précis pour relever ce défi énergétique. La société a été lancée en 2016 et présente la particularité d’être une entreprise sociale et solidaire. Et ce ne sont pas des mots en l’air car ces attributs figurent dans les statuts juridiques de Zephyr Solar. Puis la partie recherche et développement a commencé.
 

Des ballons photovoltaïques

La solution proposée par Zephyr Solar sont des ballons photovoltaïques. De tailles différentes, pour des besoins variables, ils peuvent fournir entre 1 et 10 kW/h. A titre indicatif, une maisonnée de 3 à 4 personnes consomme environ 3kW/h. Le challenge a été, d’une part, de concevoir des panneaux photovoltaïques assez légers pour pouvoir être embarqués sur les ballons. Ensuite, dans un soucis de praticité, il a fallu réfléchir au conditionnement et transport du/des ballon(s). Mission réussie: le Zephyr est transportable en plusieurs paquets, par deux personnes et rentre dans un véhicule 4×4. La simplicité de son installation et sa mise en route exclut le besoin de formation.
 
Contrairement au groupe électrogène, le Zephyr n’a pas d’impact négatif au sol. Pas de bruit, pas de fumée, une énergie propre et renouvelable. Pas de risque de gêne par l’ombre du ballon, on peut le lever suffisamment pour qu’il ne soit pas une nuisance tout en profitant de l’air plus frais pour rafraichir les panneaux solaires.
Ballons Zephyr Solar
Simulation des Ballons Zephyr Solar dans un camp de réfugiés
 

On n’attend pas les catastrophes

Non, Zephyr Solar n’attend pas les catastrophes pour valider son modèle commercial. Bien d’autres cas de figure existent où l’électricité est nécessaire et le réseau inexistant. Pensez aux festivals excentrés, aux rassemblements hors des villes, aux manifestations sportives loin de tout. Un ballon photovoltaïque lors d’un concert, c’est quand même bien mieux qu’un groupe électrogène qui pétarade en coulisses.
 
Un autre modèle de ballon est aussi disponible lors qu’il n’est pas nécessaire d’acheminer l’énergie fournie jusqu’au sol. C’est le cas de la surveillance des feux de forêts par exemple. On peut laisser une caméra accrochée au ballon, elle sera alimentée en continu et transmettra les images des éventuels départ de feu. En cas de fumée, un avion ou drone pourra être dépêché pour évaluer plus précisément la menace.
 

L’avenir de Zephyr Solar

L’entreprise a déjà reçu plusieurs prix pour cette solution inédite. Le prototype a volé et s’est parfaitement comporté. Des ONG comme la Croix Rouge Française ont déjà manifesté leur intérêt pour ces ballons tout comme Nokia et la Sécurité Civile. L’équipe de Zephyr, attachée aux enjeux environnementaux, aimerait voir le solaire supplanter à terme les autres formes d’énergies. De manière plus pragmatique, elle vise à être le leader du déploiement rapide en terrain contraint d’une solution énergétique propre. Mais tout le monde a ses héros et même Julie qui nous glisse, amusée, qu’elle aimerait beaucoup rencontrer Elon Musk.
D’ailleurs, l’étape de la levée de fonds est en cours jusqu’à mi-octobre auprès de SoWeFund. Donc, Elon, si tu nous lis…

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