A remarkable achievement for African innovation; 7SecondSolar has been nominated as a finalist in the Smarter E Awards for their solar design automation software, AUTOPV™. Recognised as a global accolade in the energy and mobility sector, the Smarter E Awards spotlight companies shaping the future of sustainable energy. What sets 7SecondSolar apart is its distinction as the only African finalist, and uniquely, as a software company rather than a traditional solar panel manufacturer or energy developer.
“To be nominated as a finalist in the Smarter E Awards reinforces our mission to drive solar as the leading contender in the global energy race,” says Paul Nel, Chief Executive Officer at 7SecondSolar. “With equipment and production expenses dropping, the time and cost of solar design should follow suit. We designed this software to enable engineers to evaluate multiple, construction-ready designs, allowing them to find the lowest cost or highest yield configuration in minutes, not months.”
7SecondSolar’s computational design software, AUTOPV™ delivers outputs such as design reports, schedules, accurate bills of quantity, and detailed engineering-quality AutoCAD drawings. Equipping energy engineers with these outputs allows them to focus on optimisation and value engineering, something that is very time-consuming with current design methods.. For developers and investors, this level of precision means greater control over project costs and efficiency from the outset. It also reduces design risk since AUTOPV™ is built around proven design methodologies.
“To date, our software has been used to deliver 669 MW of design-stage projects, saving more than 150,000 traditional engineering hours, which is approximately 210 hours per MW. Additionally, we have delivered 1.2 GW of early-stage development projects, saving over 4,000 engineering hours,” says Nel. “This ability for optimization not only accelerates development timelines but also contributes to reducing costs, which is key in making solar energy more accessible and affordable.”
The winners will be announced on the evening of The Smarter E Europe on 06 May 2025, a day before Intersolar Europe in Munich. As the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry, Intersolar brings together top innovators, decision-makers, and industry leaders shaping the future of energy.
7SecondSolar will be exhibiting AUTOPV™ at Intersolar, joining the global conversation on solar innovation. Attendees can visit their booth to demo AUTOPV™, connect with the team, and explore how design automation is transforming the speed and efficiency of utility-scale solar projects.
For more information on 7 Second Solar and AUTOPV™, please visit their website: https://www.7secondsolar.com/