Founded in 2021, Milan-based start-up Levante aims to revolutionize the fixed design of solar panels with the world’s first origami-inspired solar panels for off-grid power, making them lighter and easier to transport for campers and sailors.
Levante Co-Founder Sara Plaga explains that despite the widespread use of renewable energy in mobility, current solar panel solutions have limitations.
“Rigid solar panels, whilst powerful, are bulky, heavy, and constrained to a permanent installation. This greatly reduces the number of applications where a rigid panel is a suitable solution, especially in a mobile context,” Plaga said.
Plaga continues, “Portable solar panels, on the other hand, are too flimsy, still bulky, and just not powerful enough to make a meaningful contribution to covering the energy requirements needed when traveling.”

As a result, many people resort to alternative solutions to meet their energy needs, such as connecting to the grid, starting the engine, or using a generator, as reported by Camping Trade World. However, these options are limiting, create both noise and air pollution, and require additional fuel costs.
Levante’s innovative solar panels are inspired by the origami solar panels used on satellites and the modularity of Lego bricks. The patented, compact, and collapsible design makes the panels more than eight times smaller when closed, and they are 100% made in Italy.
Each panel can be opened up into a rigid structure, offering up to 500 watts of power – currently the highest on the market – and can be folded away easily when the batteries are fully charged or when on the move.
The idea for Levante originated from the founders’ own experiences traveling by sailboat and RV, where they often faced the challenge of having clean energy anytime, anywhere.
In February 2020, the first prototype was born, inspired by the origami technique that allows a rigid surface to be folded efficiently, making it compact and portable. Levante was officially founded in 2021 after a validation phase, and the team began working on product concepts and prototypes.
Levante has partnered with Sailing Uma, a well-known brand led by Dan and Kika, international design consultants with significant experience in the sailing industry, who are also known for their global YouTube channel.
The solar panel has been developed and tested in collaboration with nautical experts Dan and Kika, and has been optimized and engineered with the help of automotive engineering studio ManEvotech in Italy.
The Kickstarter campaign for Levante’s origami-inspired solar panels is set to go live on 13 June. Readers are encouraged to visit the Kickstarter page for more information or to support the campaign.
For RV industry suppliers, the introduction of these innovative origami-inspired solar panels could represent a significant opportunity to enhance the appeal and functionality of their products.
By incorporating Levante’s compact and powerful solar panels into RV designs, suppliers can offer customers a more sustainable and convenient energy solution for their off-grid adventures.
Furthermore, the lightweight and easy-to-transport nature of these solar panels could lead to improvements in overall fuel efficiency and vehicle performance, making RVs more attractive to environmentally-conscious consumers.
Ultimately, staying informed about advancements in renewable energy technology, such as Levante’s solar panels, can help RV industry suppliers remain competitive and better cater to the evolving needs and preferences of their clientele.
Featured image from Levante.