AI-powered software on a mission to bring solar power to everyone showcased at world’s biggest tech show

Revolutionary tech that can identify every building in a city suitable for solar panels and optimises their placement is being unveiled at CES 2021, the world’s largest and most influential technology exhibition.

Absolar has developed computer software using remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies to simulate solar resource on buildings. Based on the research of Founder and Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellow Dr Phil Wu, Absolar’s technology is able to identify all buildings in a city that are suitable for installing solar power systems, along with providing multi-layered estimates for individual buildings, including optimal configuration, potential of power generation, and return on investment.

Absolar’s technology produces highly detailed 3D models of entire cities, buildings, the construction context and trees in a virtual environment. “Absolar is committed to helping spark the next energy revolution by powering the world with renewable energy and reducing energy waste,” Dr Phil Wu explains.

“At Absolar, we combine advanced energy science with data analytics to produce detailed computer simulations of entire cities. This allows us to instantly replace labour-intensive physical surveys, assessing the feasibility of renewable energy systems and identifying energy waste across entire cities and individual households.”

CES usually takes place in Las Vegas and attracts over 170,000 visitors who flock to see the newest technology being showcased by the 4,000+ tech firms in attendance. 2021 sees the event go all-digital from 11th-14th January, taking the global reach of CES wider than ever before.

Absolar was selected to exhibit at CES with Future Worlds, the on-campus startup accelerator at the University of Southampton.

Future Worlds will return to CES for a sixth consecutive year as the UK’s only exhibiting university. Eight startups from the University will be interacting with potential customers, investors and tech leaders across the world during the four-day show.

NOTES TO EDITORS

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For further information and interview request, please contact Steve Bates, Media Relations Officer, University of Southampton. s.d.bates@soton.ac.uk; 07342 060429.

Future Worlds supports University of Southampton students and researchers to change the world with their ideas. From first year undergraduates to professors nearing retirement, aspiring university founders benefit from events, workshops, dedicated space on campus, one to one support and connection to a global network of mentors and investors. Since 2015, over five hundred aspiring founders have been supported to explore their own journeys, leading to the incorporation of over 50 startups in locations from Sub-Saharan Africa to Silicon Valley and collectively raising over £20m investment in the last two years.