RABLE secures €2.5 million to accelerate European rollout of self-supporting solar system

DELFT, 27 August 2025 – Delft-based solar scale-up RABLE is taking its breakthrough mounting system for solar panels to Europe, launching in France, Belgium and Sweden. The company’s self-supporting solution makes weak rooftops suitable for solar installations, unlocking a huge untapped potential for clean energy. After proving its success in the Netherlands – with more than fifty projects already delivered on previously unsuitable rooftops – RABLE is now ready to scale internationally.

Impact investors SHIFT Invest, Rubio and the Rotterdam Energy Transition Fund (managed by InnovationQuarter) are investing €2.5 million to support this next growth phase, recognising RABLE’s innovative technology, CO₂ reduction potential and strong business plan.

A pressing European challenge
Over half of all commercial rooftops in the Netherlands are too weak to support solar panels, according to research by SystemIQ commissioned by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). The same problem affects rooftops across Europe. Buildings constructed before 2015 were designed to handle snow and rain, but not the additional weight of solar systems. Renovations – costing up to €75 per m² – are often required, making projects financially unviable. In the Netherlands alone, this represents at least 295 km² of restricted rooftop area.

Smart solar innovation unlocking new potential
RABLE’s self-supporting mounting system allows solar panels to be installed directly on weak rooftops without the need for structural renovation. This opens the door for solar energy generation where it was previously impossible. In the Netherlands, this innovation alone could contribute an additional 1.1 TWh annually towards the country’s 2030 climate targets. Including heavily restricted rooftops would boost this potential by another 16%.

Erik Valks, CEO of RABLE Group BV: “Our technology unlocks an enormous solar potential that has been left untapped until now. This investment allows us to accelerate our expansion into France, Belgium and Sweden, with more countries to follow. The trust placed in us by our investors gives us the momentum to scale faster and play a structural role in speeding up the energy transition.”

Koen Hooning, Associate Partner at SHIFT Invest: “Solar energy has become the cheapest source of electricity worldwide. RABLE’s system significantly broadens its applicability. Together with Rubio and the Rotterdam Energy Transition Fund, we are proud to help bring this Dutch innovation to an international stage.”