The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

On 1 February the European Commission ordered the return of €12m in public funds given to Sovello after an investigation showed Q-Cells had downplayed its stake in the solar start-up to make it eligible for state aid.

Dr. Ted Scheidegger, chief executive officer of Sovello, says: “We regard it as both a recognition and a challenge that an investor as experienced in the sector as Ventizz has decided to invest in Sovello as a technology and growth platform considering the currently challenging times in the solar industry."

Sovello,