"We didn't have youth camps on our radar at the beginning"

Thomas Würms is the owner of Valoya power systems, a Winterthur-based company that develops and rents out mobile solar generators - as a clean alternative to noisy petrol generators. In this interview, he explains how the idea for the company came about and why youth camps play an unexpectedly important role.

Thomas Würms is the owner of Valoya power systems, which is based in Winterthur.

A mobile solar system from Valoya power systems in use on a construction site.

How did you come up with the idea of offering mobile energy solutions?
Thomas Würms: I've been working in the field of energy technology for some time and the idea of being able to offer a solution with solar technology and batteries that is better than smoking and noisy petrol generators was floating around. It soon became apparent that the components were actually all available on the market. However, we saw our chance in providing solid devices that could also be used on a construction site for years.

You rent out your products throughout Switzerland, is this worthwhile for you?
It has become clear, especially in the beginning, that renting is much more exciting for us than selling our solutions. The investment costs for our mobile solar generators are still higher than those of a gasoline generator. This makes renting them out a good option for customers and has enabled us to continuously expand our range. Our customers in Winterthur and Bern can now pick up solutions for the Internet, energy supply and emission reduction, or we can deliver them to the site anywhere in Switzerland.

Where are your mobile solar systems already being used today - and where would you like to see them more often?
Mainly in the areas of construction, events, youth camps, festivals, wind measurements or sporting events. We didn't initially have youth camps on our radar, but they are important and loyal customers for us. We still see the greatest potential in the area of construction sites, where we would like to expand further.

What do your customers value most about your solutions?
The "obvious advantages" such as silent operation and no need for petrol are particularly appreciated. The ease of use and the option to conveniently control the solar generator via an app are also very appealing.

How important is the Winterthur location for Valoya power systems?
I am always surprised myself at how many regions of German-speaking Switzerland can be easily covered from Winterthur and how easily we can reach our customers. And of course we benefit from the numerous networks and organizations in the Winterthur area and the short distances.

Interview: Linda Stratacò, April 2025