UK solar thermal scale-up expands into Spain and Portugal
British solar heat tech disrupter Naked Energy announces its expansion into Spain and Portugal.
Naked Energy’s solar technology converts solar energy into heat and electricity, as opposed to conventional solar photovoltaic (PV) panels used to solely generate electricity. The Virtu collectors can be up to ten times more efficient than traditional solar PV.
Its VirtuHOT collectors generate clean heat up to 120 °C , while its VirtuPVT collectors combine PV and solar thermal to generate electricity and heat up to 75 °C. Both have received TUV Rheinland certification, with the latter being the world’s first evacuated PVT collector to receive the highly regarded certification, solidifying its status as a game changer in the solar industry. Naked Energy’s Virtu product range can be up to ten times more efficient than regular PV panels.
Naked Energy has hired Luis Guajardo as head of business development for Iberia to lead the expansion. Guajardo is an industrial engineer with more than 15 years of experience in the water, industrial and energy sectors. He has a track record of successfully expanding businesses into the region, which he did most recently with Rädlinger Primus Line, a German hydraulic infrastructure company.
This launch comes at a crucial time for the Iberian peninsula, which dealt with widespread power blackouts earlier this year. Naked Energy’s solar thermal collectors generate energy independently of the grid, helping Iberian businesses hit net zero targets while reducing the risk of grid congestion. It also helps to further Iberia’s efforts to decarbonise its heat, which represents the largest share of energy use in Spain.
The business is backed by £17m from Barclays and E.ON Energy Infrastructure solutions, and has several successful projects across twenty countries, including landmark projects such as with the British Library and Mandarin Oriental hotel.
Businesses interested in seeing the Virtu product range in person and learn more about Naked Energy Iberia can do so during the Genera & Matelec 2025 trade show at IFEMA Madrid, at stand 6A06 in the Anese Area.
Christope Williams, CEO of Naked Energy said:“Expanding into Spain and Portugal represents a natural next step for Naked Energy as we continue our mission to decarbonise heat globally. The ongoing energy transition across both countries offers a unique opportunity to demonstrate the value of our high-performance solar thermal and PVT technologies.
Our growth strategy is built on three key pillars: driving continuous technological innovation, building strong partnerships with leading industry players, and delivering flagship projects that showcase the financial and environmental impact our solutions have.
Luis is already getting started with these priorities, identifying strategic collaborations and developing reference installations that will establish Naked Energy as a trusted leader in the Iberian market.”
Luis Guajardo, Head of Business Development for Iberia said: “It is an exciting time to join Naked as the company expands internationally and contributes to the energy transition. Naked Energy offers the world’s highest energy-density solar technology - with flexible financing models which enable clients to maximise energy generation with minimal upfront investment, even where space is limited.”
This approach aligns perfectly with the growing focus on energy efficiency, supporting the decarbonisation process in a cost-effective way. In Spain, we have the opportunity to leverage Energy Savings Certificates (CAEs) within that process.
With Spain’s exceptional solar resource, our products have the enormous potential to deliver high-impact reference projects, allowing us to replicate the success of installations in the UK such as the British Library and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.”
