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Recent News
Dear Solar Friends,
We have great news to share today! It’s all in this 1:33 minute clip:
In short: We reached goal 1 and goal 2 of our crowdfunding campaign! And with the 3rd goal now we want to give our educational material for free (yes!) to all the parents, schools, teachers and educators who can spread our important knowledge about energy to the next gen. It would mean a lot to us because change is urgently needed everywhere and Lytefire can support it.
Support the final goal:
– https://www.ulule.com/lytefire/ (English)
– https://fr.ulule.com/lytefire/ (French)
Journalists have started picking up our project (see press), and I even got to be on the Solardey podcast, hosted by solar engineer Prosper Arinze. We dove into the technical aspects of PV vs solar thermal, and we came out as friends, understanding that these technologies are complementary, not enemies. Listen on YT and Spotify.
Have a great weekend, stay fresh in this rising climate, and consider supporting! ☀️
Urs
-- Urs Riggenbach Co-Founder & Head of Ops Visit our website | Lytefire
You can also follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, and YouTube. This newsletter is meant to inform you about our company, the spread of Lytefire solar thermal solutions and the educational programs. If you do not wish to receive it, you can unsubscribe below. Your newsletter data is not used for anything other than receiving this newsletter. See our Privacy Policy and General Terms © 2026 Lytefire, Toimitilat Tampere CT - Pakkahuoneenaukio 2 - 33100 Tampere - Finland.
Dear solar friends,
There are still 48 Full Packages available on our Ulule Campaign, and today we’ve reached 68% of our goal. 12 days are left.
Everyone supporting the campaign with the Full Package receives:
The construction guides
Lytefire is the most powerful and versatile solar oven & cooker that you can build yourself. Actually, even if you want to buy one, there’s not much else in its category: 3.5kW of thermal power.
That means:
- Baking 10kg of bread an hour
- Cooking 10kg of rice an hour and 5 minutes
- And doing anything from popcorn to stirfry, cookies, pastries, bread, cooking a big pot of tomato sauce and canning it...
In short: you cook and bake with powerful solar, at the level of an electric oven or gas stove, but without the electricity or gas bill. And yes: you can build it yourself. Questions? Just answer me here.
The interviews
We’re interviewing some of the entrepreneurs who are using their Lytefire to earn money. The interviews are included in the Full Package and contain the knowledge around the Lytefire: How to generate income, how to structure the work with the sun, how much money do they save when avoiding electricity or gas. How they make a living with it.
Get to know people like Manon and Quentin of Conserverie FOURMI, canning organic local vegetables with solar heat. Or professional baker Denis Roisil, who bakes bread and cookies with the Lytefire. Or entrepreneurs like Joan Arwa in Kenya, running the Solar Fire Bakery. They are the ones implementing our vision of a direct solar economy, concretely.
Having access to this knowledge (or not) makes a real difference: Especially in this climate of rising temperatures and rising energy prices.
That’s why we’re offering a significant discount on the Full Package, which includes all of the above and more.
Budget limited? There are other options, too. Depending on what you need.
Everything is here: https://ulule.com/lytefire
Let’s build solar, or at least make sure you can..! Because that’s what we meant by “prepare for the future.”
Best regards,
Urs and Team
-- Urs Riggebach Co-Founder, Head of Ops & Board Chair Visit our website | Lytefire
You can also follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, and YouTube. This newsletter is meant to inform you about our company, the spread of Lytefire solar thermal solutions and the educational programs. If you do not wish to receive it, you can unsubscribe below. Your newsletter data is not used for anything other than receiving this newsletter. See our Privacy Policy and General Terms © 2026 Lytefire, Toimitilat Tampere CT - Pakkahuoneenaukio 2 - 33100 Tampere - Finland.
Bonjour !
Quand tu vis, comme moi en Europe et que l’état de destruction de l’environnement et les diverses oppressions humaines te révoltent, tu as plusieurs choix :
– tu vis avec comme si de rien n’était et que tu ne peux rien faire
– tu vis avec en signant des pétitions et en soutenant quelques associations
– tu fais tout ça tout en essayant de te trouver une vie où tu ne participeras pas aux ravages, et ce sera probablement une vie à la marge
– ou bien tu fais tout ça en essayant de te trouver une vie qui va réparer les dégâts, et ce sera probablement une vie associative
– ou encore, une vie pour limiter les dégâts, et ce sera probablement la politique.
Ne pas participer au massacre a un prix. Tout comme vouloir réparer ou limiter les dégâts.
Ce sont des vies pleines d’idéal mais souvent peu argentées, sans reconnaissance, avec beaucoup de jugements, de moqueries, de souffrances d’après ce que j’ai pu voir depuis 20 ans que je suis "dans les alternatives".
Dans des cultures où l’esprit de groupe, de communauté ou disons de voisinage est encore fort, c’est différent. En Inde par exemple, les travailleurs sociaux sont souvent très soutenus par leurs proches, leurs voisins. On les valorise, on les réconforte, l’altruisme est une valeur forte, la solidarité aussi.
En Europe, l’individualisme est un fléau extrêmement actif. C’est chacun pour soi, même quand la vision est partagée.
En 2012, j’étais invitée par le réseau Alternatiba pour présenter le concentrateur solaire mais au dernier moment Jo P. a retiré l’invitation parce que nous étions une entreprise, donc pas désintéressée, donc pas digne de confiance.
En 2026, l’immense réseau des Solar Cookers International refuse de même liker un de nos posts parce qu’ils ne souhaitent attirer des gens que vers leur cause et leurs besoins.
Tout ça se comprend.
Pourquoi sommes-nous une entreprise sociale ? Et pourquoi nos guides sont-ils payants ?
Nous sommes une entreprise parce que c’est notre cheval de Troie. C’est très simple : s’attaquer aux industries fossiles est presque impossible. Et on sait qu’elles seront toujours présentes. Le tout est de réduire leur nécessité partout où c’est possible, et ça, vu les politiques à l’œuvre, il va falloir apprendre à le faire par nous-mêmes, tous ensemble.
Depuis les années 70, des millions de cuiseurs paraboliques distribués dans le monde n’ont pas questionné le système. Ce travail humanitaire est absolument génial, ce n’est pas la question. Mais si demain des centaines de personnes se mettent à gagner leur vie avec une énergie décentralisée ET gratuite qui s’intègre à leur mix énergétique, là ça va commencer à piquer.
Nous sommes une entreprise sociale parce que le visage de l’entreprise, des risques et des responsabilités qu’elle prend pour développer une innovation donnent une forme de légitimité qui compte beaucoup.
Et nos guides sont payants parce que c’est avec ça qu’on pourra financer d’aller rencontrer et filmer des artisans solaires.
Parce c’est avec cet argent qu’on pourra mobiliser le temps nécessaire à mettre à jour nos guides et à en créer d’autres.
Pour que la connaissance se diffuse largement, avec un prix certes, mais le plus petit possible et ce prix, c’est votre investissement, votre motivation.
Si nous avions fait ce que certains fondateurs souhaitaient faire, à savoir des grands conglomérats ou des contrats pour refroidir des data center, on serait très à l’aise et on n’aurait pas besoin de vous. On vendrait un produit. Un parmi d’autres. Mais ce n’est pas ce qui nous anime. Pas du tout.
Ce qui compte pour nous c’est de changer le monde vous.
Vous êtes formidables. On existe depuis 14 ans et là, en 6 jours, nous sommes déjà à 30% du budget de notre campagne. C’est très rapide. Nous avons besoin de vous tous et toutes pour continuer à avancer sur cette voie du milieu que nous sommes les seuls à incarner dans le domaine de l’énergie.
Merci d’y croire avec nous, de soutenir notre campagne, de la partager autour de vous. Voici le lien : https://fr.ulule.com/lytefire/
Eva
-- Eva Wissenz Founder & Managing Director Visit our website | Lytefire
You can also follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, and YouTube. This newsletter is meant to inform you about our company, the spread of Lytefire solar thermal solutions and the educational programs. If you do not wish to receive it, you can unsubscribe below. Your newsletter data is not used for anything other than receiving this newsletter. See our Privacy Policy and General Terms © 2026 Lytefire, Toimitilat Tampere CT - Pakkahuoneenaukio 2 - 33100 Tampere - Finland.
Dear solar friends,
When despair knocks at the door, we choose action. ☀️
Since our start we want to make clean energy accessible and practical for all, everywhere, regardless of geography or income level.
We are launching today a campaign to create the Full Lytefire Package with you. ☀️
This package is everything we have been patiently building for 14 years.
The goal? Spread Lytefire knowledge and inspiration everywhere the sun shines.
Watch the video, all the info is here: https://ulule.com/lytefire
To make it happen, we need to update all our construction guides, interview solar artisans to capture their experience, create a new "solarpreneur" guide, develop a wooden version and spread all our education material.
A dozen artisans from France to Africa are making a living with their Lytefire. They are pioneers. They are building a new local and regenerative economy. These courageous people must be known and their experience must be shared widely to give courage to others.
☀️ For a few days, with the Early Bird reward you can pre-order your access to this Full Package at a discounted price ☀️
It is in our DNA to adopt a community-driven approach and to work closely with local entrepreneurs, organizations, and institutions.
☀️ Be among the first to support this project with the early bird reward or a simple donation ☀️
Check it out here: https://ulule.com/lytefire
If you can support this campaign we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If you can share it around you, same.
Thank you so much 💗
Eva & Urs
-- Eva Wissenz Founder & Managing Director Visit our website | Lytefire
You can also follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, and YouTube. This newsletter is meant to inform you about our company, the spread of Lytefire solar thermal solutions and the educational programs. If you do not wish to receive it, you can unsubscribe below. Your newsletter data is not used for anything other than receiving this newsletter. See our Privacy Policy and General Terms © 2026 Lytefire, Toimitilat Tampere CT - Pakkahuoneenaukio 2 - 33100 Tampere - Finland.
Dear solar friends,
Why hasn’t solar thermal taken off?
This question has been with us every day since we started Lytefire.
I say it hasn’t taken off, because we don’t see solar concentrators everywhere, yet.
Yes, there are many solar cookers, and yes, there are a few very large power plants concentrating sunlight to produce electricity, but… the entrepreneurs and DIYers using Lytefire: We are still very very few.
Where do we go from here?
I once heard that a new technology can only grow if it can work as a luxury product, or a military good. It’s true that it is hard to produce cheaply, when you produce little. But does everything need to be industrialized to reach people?
What would happen, if we had the option to create high-temperature, efficient, powerful energy to power our needs, ourselves?
This was the idea behind the Lytefire design: Something that can be built locally, maintained by the people themselves. Something that creates real energy independence!
This idea of a human-scale tech that, paired with entrepreneurship, could spread differently from other technologies. And not only tackle the innovation issue, but also the social, political, climate and economic issues surrounding energy. This is what we have been working for over the last 14 years. We want to prove that not only renewable energy access can be solved, it can be solved in a way that empowers people.
So, in the background, since a few months, we have been working on a project to capture and bundle all the knowledge and experience around Lytefire for the next generation of entrepreneurs and DIYers.
And these days we are happy to release the very first results of this ongoing work!
Through this newsletter, we are releasing the interview we did with the Arise and Shine Group in Kenya, located in Salgaa town, about halfway between Nairobi and Lake Victoria.
This is one of the groups that we were able to equip, train and incubate thanks to the support of the Jansen PrimeSteps foundation. For us, their persistence and success in this tough climate has meant a lot over the last months! Get to know them for yourself:
Also, I myself had to get in front of the camera 🙂 and we will start to release a few clips from that session in the coming days as well.
The first post is already out on LinkedIn here, and on Instagram, Facebook and Mastodon. More to come in the coming days, so follow us!
We are working on finding the right format for all this knowledge to put it together into a new package. We are planning to crowdfund around that to accelerate things. These days we are also reviewing our DIY construction plans, how we provide support at-distance, as well as how we do our humanitarian work with our NGO clients and partners. Wherever we can do to enable more people with Lytefire, we want to do it!
So it’s a good moment if you have feedback or questions about Lytefire!
In the end, I think that solar thermal hasn’t taken off because nobody has made it known enough, appealing enough, easy enough, powerful enough. The Lytefire is already powerful. We can make it easier. And eventually, we’ll get the word out!
Have a great rest of the day,
Urs
-- Urs Riggebach Co-Founder, Head of Ops & Board Chair Visit our website | Lytefire
You can also follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, and YouTube. This newsletter is meant to inform you about our company, the spread of Lytefire solar thermal solutions and the educational programs. If you do not wish to receive it, you can unsubscribe below. Your newsletter data is not used for anything other than receiving this newsletter. See our Privacy Policy and General Terms © 2026 Lytefire, Toimitilat Tampere CT - Pakkahuoneenaukio 2 - 33100 Tampere - Finland.
Dear solar friends,
Since the beginning of the year, we have been more outspoken on social media. Solar baking, solar cooking and what Lytefire does… it is still not well known and we think it’s important to work on that too.
Entrepreneurs like Joan in Kenya, Prudence and Benedict in Uganda, Michel, Denis, Manon et Quentin, Vincent, Romain and many others (and their teams!) are some of the most courageous entrepreneurs out there, and they work with a Lytefire.
Hopefully we can get all of them more known. ARTE, the French/German TV channel, has released a documentary talking about innovation and the energy transition globally, and Lytefire is part of it. Until June 14th, you can watch the documentary for free in French and in German. See minutes 18:00-23:30.
Beyond that, the global news is depressing. Energy costs are rising, the climate is heating, and geopolitically much damage is done.
But for us this is all the more reason to push for local, sovereign, regenerative energy as the basis of dignified, sustainable jobs and livelihoods. On one hand we get to do this with our humanitarian clients and partners, on the other hand, since the beginning we have been empowering DIYers to build Lytefire wherever they are.
In this global context we think that DIY is, more than ever, an important strategy to disseminate Lytefire to new places. It’s all about empowering individuals directly with the knowledge they need to build their energy access.
One thing we have learned from the DIYers is that people are creative and always interested in exploring new possibilities. Many have asked if they can build both the oven and the cooker, not just one or the other. This is why we have decided to repackage our construction guides in a different way. One is the starter package, aimed at those starting out in the simplest way, only interested in the cooker. And the other one, the builder package, is for those more ambitious who want to build either the cooker, the oven or both. This package comes with dedicated support hours (via phone, whatsapp, email) to help you succeed your local build providing real, human advice tailored to you.
We are also working on improving the DIY experience in other ways. We’ll tell you more about it in our next newsletter (you will probably receive 2 or 3 before Summer).
One more thing: Some of you have known us for 14 years now and you know that we are a team of doers, not very inclined to marketing. For years, people have sent us nice comments, pictures, messages and now we have decided to bring light on all the successes. The result is a new website reflecting the growing number of Lytefire users. Check it, and share it!
We need you: Contact us for a project, put us in touch with motivated people and connect us to the media. Thank you!
Looking back on the last 24 Lytefires installed
In the rest of this newsletter we want to recap our successful and less successful projects in the humanitarian sector globally over the last months.
The humanitarian sector is at stake everywhere. Still, 24 Lytefire PRO have been installed in Kenya, Uganda, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Angola with our humanitarian partners and clients.
We are grateful to all our NGOs clients and users, our investors, our team and board members, and to Metco, our Kenyan manufacturer.
In East Africa, we have continued to work in Kenya and Uganda thanks to the support of PrimeSteps Foundation. The Foundation is focused on poverty alleviation through entrepreneurship. Joan Arwa delivered great trainings to allow the creation of 6 solar baking activities powered by Lytefire. The groups have been identified with the help of World Vision Kenya. In order to facilitate appropriation, each community had to invest in the project by preparing a kitchen, work environments and a flat and steady ground. The baking activities have started in Sego, Funuyla and Salgaa. Some groups are only women entrepreneurs and we were really happy to see that they were able to install the Lytefire by themselves. The Arise & Shine group is one of the most promising ones. We have captured their experience and we’ll soon share it with you.
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In Ethiopia, Stem Synergy has produced and deployed 7 Lytefire units. They have been very courageous in doing so because of the local conflicts, the rise of material prices and the discontinuation of government programs meant to support youth entrepreneurship through microloans.
In Angola, we have been very pleased to see that each solar oven has been properly installed by the local teams with minimal support from us. What happened with the UNDP is exactly what we wish to encourage in the future! We love to see people being autonomous. It gets the local people involved directly, rooting the knowledge locally. That is also why we want to reinforce our DIY approach this year.
The 3 ovens have been installed for the UNDP in Benguela, Lua Norte and Uige.
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In West Africa, things have been more challenging, especially in Senegal. ADSCAL Association contacted us a long time ago to equip 3 small bakeries in the village of Agnam. Another oven has been installed for a group of women baking biscuits and cakes. The women’s oven is in use, but the switch to solar baking operations for the other ones has been very challenging. For once, we have experienced a long series of blockages: from delays in the delivery to issues during installation. Add to this bad weather conditions, with hazy weather that is not allowing full performance. We’re still working on it to find a solution. In Guinea-Bissau, 3 solar ovens have also been installed in Bafata, Cacheu and Oio with SWISSAID.
In Haiti. For those of you who have supported Mackenson in 2024 with us to create Pain Soleil, here is an update.
When Makenson reached out to us in late 2023 with a half-built Lytefire we were honestly really touched. We decided to support him like we did so many times with other entrepreneurs. Our community pulled through and within a few weeks we had the money together and sent it. Even before that we sent him our latest construction guide to support his work.
After the campaign Mackenson managed to build the Lytefire and he created the terrasse for it, we have received these images below after we transferred the funds. But sadly he was not able to continue. He must have used a part of the money to support his family instead of investing it in the bakery because there have been several raids in Port-au-Prince, with lots of violence. The government left in January 2024, right when our crowdfunding campaign for him was over. Since then gangs have been ruling the country because of political instability. Now, there’s a businessman who’s served as the acting prime minister since 2024, who became the country’s sole leader a few weeks ago. Later in 2024 we received that update and he mentioned he is using the oven for his family and for the neighbors. Then we didn’t hear anything more about the bakery. Of course the situation in Haiti is terrible. Maybe he will be able to restart activities, we don’t know.
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Europe: France
Yes, this newsletter is already long, but wait.
3 women have decided to start their solar bakeries. They are inspired by the examples of NeoLoco in Normandy and Barasol in Brittany. Mathilde et Tiphaine, are starting the solar bakery Facettes, in West France. This Summer, Naig will launch Pamie, the first solar bakery on the island of Belle-Île, in Brittany. Both got their Lytefire built by Grégoire, in Grenoble.
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☀️
Have a great Sunday,
Eva
-- Eva Wissenz Founder & Managing Director Visit our website | Lytefire
You can also follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, and YouTube. This newsletter is meant to inform you about our company, the spread of Lytefire solar thermal solutions and the educational programs. If you do not wish to receive it, you can unsubscribe below. Your newsletter data is not used for anything other than receiving this newsletter. See our Privacy Policy and General Terms © 2026 Lytefire, Toimitilat Tampere CT - Pakkahuoneenaukio 2 - 33100 Tampere - Finland.
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