LightCatcher | Econation

The LightCatcher: Bringing More Natural Light into Your Buildings, Efficiently and Sustainably

The LightCatcher uses an ingenious system of mirrors and advanced technology to bring more natural daylight into your buildings for longer periods. It’s an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional skylights or domes, providing abundant light, green energy, and minimizing temperature fluctuations.

How does it work?

How Does the LightCatcher Work?

The operation of this daylight dome is surprisingly straightforward. A coated polycarbonate dome houses a mirror, which rotates to the optimal light point using a motorized arm. This point is usually the sun, but the system can adjust to other areas of the sky when the sun is obscured by clouds or obstacles. The mirror captures daylight and reflects it inside. The light then passes through a shaft where it is filtered and dispersed diffusely into the building through prismatic lenses.

The result? Up to 10 hours a day of reduced or completely eliminated artificial lighting, while the LightCatcher delivers pleasant, natural daylight. With just a 1.6 m² roof opening, the system can illuminate between 60 and 120 m² of floor space, depending on the ceiling height.

Energy-Free and Autonomous

The LightCatcher operates entirely autonomously, without any wiring or additional energy costs. A patented sensor technology, connected to a microcontroller, ensures optimal operation without using electricity. This is powered by an integrated solar panel, enabling the system to function completely independently of the power grid. With a minimal roof opening, the LightCatcher maximizes the inflow of daylight efficiently and sustainably.

Developed in Collaboration with Ghent University

EcoNation developed the LightCatcher in partnership with Ghent University, and the product holds a worldwide patent. It is the only daylight dome that complies with the "Best Available Technology" standards, exceeding the most stringent European requirements for light efficiency, diffusion, thermal insulation, and circular production processes. This not only reduces your building’s environmental footprint but also enhances the well-being of your visitors or employees.

Why LightCatchers?

Advantages of installing LightCatchers on your project:

Well-being

This is the softest but at the same time the strongest and most important argument in favor of daylight. Natural light has a profound impact on well-being, which cannot be quantified in ROI. It promotes health and improves mood, concentration, and work performance, while reducing absenteeism. Plus, daylight is free and abundantly available!

Optimized daylight distribution

The LightCatcher is designed to maximize daylight in buildings with fewer and smaller roof openings. By outfitting just 2% of your roof surface with LightCatchers, you’ll see a transformative improvement in indoor lighting.

Insulating benefits

By delivering more daylight through fewer roof openings combined with excellent thermal insulation, the LightCatcher is the most energy-efficient daylight dome on the market.
It reduces heating costs during winter and prevents overheating in summer.

Diffuse daylight

An unexpected advantage of diffuse daylight came to light through customer feedback: in production environments with sensor-driven machinery, direct sunlight often disrupted operations.
Thanks to the prismatic lenses, the LightCatcher diffuses daylight twice before it enters the building, ensuring optimal, evenly spread daylight.

Self-cleaning benefits

Why does the LightCatcher maintain its light intensity even after 10 years?

A self-cleaning protective coating on the polycarbonate dome prevents yellowing and reduces dirt adhesion.
Its curved shape ensures rain and dust roll off naturally, keeping the dome clean without manual maintenance.

Hail-resistant and fall-safe

The robust polycarbonate dome performs exceptionally well in hail tests and is considered completely fall-safe.

If someone accidentally falls onto the LightCatcher, the dome is designed to temporarily deform and return to its original shape, ensuring minimal harm to both the person and the system.

Autonomous operation

The LightCatcher is installed directly on the roof and operates autonomously, with no external power supply required. A solar-powered battery powers the motor, enabling completely self-sufficient operation.

Circular design

The LightCatcher is composed of modular components that are assembled on-site.

This design ensures that all materials can be easily separated for recycling or reuse. From the steel light shaft to the polycarbonate dome and lenses, and from the metal mirror to the technology bridge, every component is crafted for sustainability.

Ease of installation

The latest generation of LightCatchers is robust, fully integrated, and designed for ease of installation.
Even a small team can quickly mount the system directly from the roof.
This makes the LightCatcher ideal for worldwide export and a valuable addition for roofers looking to offer more than insulation and roofing solutions.

Ideal for any building

The LightCatcher is suitable for both new and existing buildings and can be installed on flat or slightly sloped roofs. For new constructions, placement can be optimized during the design phase, while for existing buildings, we adapt to the existing infrastructure, including obstacles such as sprinklers, PV installations, and air conditioning units.

The next generation: LightCatcher 2.0

Since its inception in 2009 by EcoNation R&D, the LightCatcher has undergone continuous improvement. With input from research partners and institutions, the system has evolved to deliver maximum daylight efficiently and reliably.

The latest design features:

A more robust motor for improved performance.
An integrated casing for the solar panel and technology.
Software enhancements by Flanders Make, enabling the mirror to orient itself to the ideal starting point at the beginning of each day using a self-learning algorithm.

The LightCatcher combines cutting-edge technology with sustainability, offering unparalleled performance and design flexibility.
Discover the LightCatcher and transform your building today.

International recognition: nominations and awards

Winner of the European Business Awards for the Environment in 2014
Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Best Available Technology for building renovation
Bloomberg New Energy Finance: Named Bloomberg New Energy Pioneer in 2013
Finalist for the Zayed Future Energy Prize in Abu Dhabi in 2013 and 2014
Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2014
Nomination for the Sustainia Award in 2014 in Copenhagen. Econation is listed in the Sustainia 100
Momentum for Change: Recognition during the UN Climate Summit in Peru at the Lighthouse Activity Awards