Government funding accelerates shift toward battery-free electronics
Sweden is making a decisive move to advance next-generation solar technology that works under indoor lighting conditions — a breakthrough that could dramatically reduce reliance on disposable batteries. In December 2025, the Swedish Energy Agency awarded SEK 130 million ($13.8 million) to deep-tech innovator Exeger to scale its Powerfoyle solar cell technology from lab to mass production. The grant comes via Industriklivet, Sweden’s strategic program to achieve a climate-neutral economy by 2045.
Unlike traditional photovoltaics that rely on strong sunlight, Powerfoyle captures energy from both indoor and outdoor light — a capability poised to transform the design and operation of consumer electronics, IoT devices, and industrial sensors. According to Exeger’s CEO Giovanni Fili, the funding “is crucial for enabling the industrialization of the technology” and for replacing millions of disposable batteries while lowering demand for critical raw materials.
Powerfoyle’s technical edge
Powerfoyle is built on dye-sensitized solar cell architecture, but with a significant material innovation: a conducting layer with 1,000 times lower resistance than that of conventional flexible solar cells. This allows for larger, more efficient cells without the need for bulky current collectors. The technology is silicon-free, enabling a fully customizable format that can be embedded into products such as:
- Wireless headphones and headsets
- Smart home sensors
- Wearable health trackers
- Industrial IoT devices
Custom tuning of light-absorbing dyes and electrolytes means each cell can be optimized for the typical lighting environment of its host device — from dim office light to bright outdoor conditions. Exeger’s Stockholm facility can produce up to 2.5 million square meters of Powerfoyle annually, positioning Sweden as a leader in mass production of indoor solar cells.
Solving the disposable battery problem
Globally, billions of disposable batteries are manufactured and discarded each year, creating significant waste and driving demand for resource-intensive materials such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth metals. By embedding indoor solar cells directly into products, manufacturers can create devices that run indefinitely under ambient light — eliminating the need for periodic battery replacement.
As Klara Helstad of the Swedish Energy Agency explains, “Investments in new solar cell technologies open the door to innovative solutions that can support the transition to a sustainable energy system.” The environmental benefits include reduced e-waste, fewer emissions from battery production, and decreased extraction of critical raw materials.
Economic ripple effects
Beyond the environmental gains, scaling indoor solar cell production could stimulate Sweden’s clean-tech sector, create high-skilled jobs, and strengthen the European supply chain. Exeger’s manufacturing process is anchored in Swedish research and relies primarily on European suppliers, supporting energy security and regional competitiveness.
The SEK 130 million grant follows a separate SEK 160 million funding round secured in late 2025, underscoring investor confidence in the technology’s commercial potential. These combined resources will help Exeger expand capacity, improve efficiency, and enter new markets where maintenance-free electronics are in high demand.
Positioning Sweden in the global clean-tech race
Indoor solar cell technology aligns with broader trends in electronics and energy: the rise of the Internet of Things, the push for maintenance-free sensors, and the growing appeal of sustainable product design. Sweden’s support for Exeger mirrors initiatives by other domestic innovators such as Epishine, which is developing printed organic solar cells for low-power applications.
As demand for autonomous, battery-free devices grows, Sweden’s investment strategy could secure a competitive edge in a market expected to expand rapidly over the next decade. If Powerfoyle and similar technologies achieve widespread adoption, the environmental footprint of everyday electronics could shrink dramatically — and the concept of charging devices might become obsolete.
Key takeaways
- Sweden has invested SEK 130 million to accelerate commercialization of Exeger’s Powerfoyle indoor solar cell technology.
- Powerfoyle’s ultra-low-resistance material enables larger, more efficient, silicon-free flexible solar cells.
- Applications range from consumer electronics to industrial IoT, potentially replacing millions of disposable batteries.
- The technology supports sustainability goals by reducing e-waste and dependence on critical raw materials.
- Industrial-scale production in Stockholm and a European supply chain bolster Sweden’s position in clean tech innovation.
For battery enthusiasts and renewable energy stakeholders, Sweden’s bold funding move signals a future where electronics are powered perpetually by ambient light — a game-changer for device design, sustainability, and resource efficiency.
