In 2019, Volta Energy began their journey with Innofest at Oerol. With innovative solar-powered and hydrogen generators, they offer a sustainable alternative to diesel generators. Since that first test, they have tested at various events with Innofest, such as Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) and the FBK Games. Each test provided valuable insights, from managing permits to optimizing their Energy Management System.

This approach has paid off for Volta Energy. In 2024, they reached a major milestone by securing a prestigious pitch at Deutsche Bahn’s DB Mindbox: they won a 100-day Challenge to test their generators at a large emissions-free construction site. How has the collaboration with Innofest helped Volta Energy reach this point? And what valuable lessons do they take forward for the future? We spoke with Bianca Wijnholds, Scaleup CCO at Volta Energy, about the company’s growth, challenges, and ambitions.

“Testing is crucial,” says Bianca. “You want to discover problems before large-scale deployment. Festivals are ideal test locations because we can directly monitor, adjust, and learn.” The dynamics of festivals, where large amounts of power are needed and quick adjustments must be made, provided Volta Energy with the perfect learning environment.

The collaboration with Innofest revealed several technical and logistical challenges. For example, during ESNS, it became clear how complex the permit processes for hydrogen can be. “That was a valuable lesson,” says Bianca. “We learned how to better manage permits.”

Thanks to the tests, Volta Energy was able to further refine their product and position it better in the market. “We’ve grown from a startup to a professional scale-up,” Bianca shares. “Through Innofest, we’ve also made important connections, such as during the Future of Festivals trade show in Berlin, which led to requests from major festivals.”

Volta’s generators combine solar power, battery storage, and a smart generator, resulting in a CO2 reduction of up to 90%. But the innovators wanted to go further. During the tests at festivals, they discovered that odorlessness and noise reduction were essential. “You definitely don’t want to be next to a smelly and loud generator at the campsite,” Bianca laughs. Thanks to the Clean and Emission-Free Construction Equipment (SSEB) subsidy, they can accelerate their fuel cell technology. The latest generation of generators now uses fuel cells powered by methanol instead of combustion engines. This ensures no nitrogen oxides are released—a crucial step given the nitrogen issues in the construction industry.

The experience gained helped Volta Energy secure a prestigious contract with Deutsche Bahn. They were given the opportunity to test their Voltas on an emissions-free construction site. “A huge milestone,” says Bianca. “Deutsche Bahn wants to develop emissions-free construction sites, and our Voltas play a key role in that.”

The demand for Volta’s sustainable energy solutions is greater than ever. “Last year, we had 380 generators in circulation, and this year, we plan to double our fleet,” says Bianca. Their markets are now expanding to include the UK, Germany, and France.

The company has big plans for the future. “In two to three years, we want our Voltas to be the standard for construction projects, infrastructure, and festivals,” says Bianca. “In five years, we aim to be active across all of Western Europe.”

Currently, Volta Energy is working on a monitoring system that will allow customers to see exactly how much CO2 emissions they are saving per project. “We want to literally show the CO2 savings in tree symbols on our website,” Bianca explains. “By making our impact visible, we hope to convince more businesses and governments to choose our sustainable energy solutions.”

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