SOLARWATT GmbH
 | |
| Privately held company | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Renewable Energy, Photovoltaics |
| Founded 📆 | 1993 |
| Founder 👔 | Lothar Schlegel, Frank Schneider |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | , , |
Area served 🗺️ | |
| Products 📟 | PV Panels, PV Batteries |
| Owner | Stefan Quandt |
| Members | |
Number of employees | 350 (2018) |
| 🌐 Website | solarwatt.com |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
Intro[edit]
Solarwatt (SOLARWATT) is a German manufacturer and supplier of photovoltaic systems for private homes and small businesses that sells all over Europe and Australia.[1]. The company follows a strategy of providing complete photovoltaic systems rather than selling some components individually. Their product range covers the three pillars of home energy supply – energy production with photovoltaic (or solar) panels, energy management within the home, and energy storage of the solar electricity generated during the day for use in the evening.
The internationally active company is based in Dresden, Germany and was founded in 1993. It is the market leader in the field of solar panels made with glass-glass technology.[2]. In 2017 the business magazine, brand eins, selected Solarwatt as one of the most innovative companies in Germany[3].
Since 2012 a large majority of the company shares is owned by German industrial baron Stefan Quandt.[4].
History[edit]
The company was founded in 1993 as Solarwatt Solar-Systeme GmbH by Lothar Schlegel and Frank Schneider with a 200.000 $ state subsidies and 2 employees.[5]. The focus was on supplying electrical consumers with electricity using photovoltaic modules. In 1995, serial production of small impact-resistant modules (casting resin technology) for vending machines and emergency call pillars began. In the following years Solarwatt specialized in the serial production of custom solar modules and increased the module output capacity to 220 Wp in 2002 with new production lines. 100 employees were hired in 2002.
In 2005 the company became a publicly traded corporation (AG). Frank Schneider became Chairman of the Board of Management[6] In the same year, the 500,000st photovoltaic module rolled off the production line. In 2007 the company moved into its new headquarters[7] (still used today) and expanded its production capacity to 100 MWp. In the following year production capacity was increased by an additional 150 MWp by implementing a fully automatic production line.
In 2007 SOLARWATT was selected to build the roof-integrated photovoltaic system of the then new constructed BMW World in Munich. The 3,660 solar modules deliver a minimum power capacity of 824kWp (kilowatt-peak).[8]
In 2010, the company commissioned Europe's most modern solar module production facility and a logistics center. One year later, Detlef Neuhaus was appointed Chief Sales Officer of the company and in 2012 he was named CEO. Carsten Bovenschen became CFO of Solarwatt AG in 2012. The launch of the EasyIn roof-integrated solar modules as an alternative to conventional roof tiles also began in 2011.[9]
On January 23, 2013 the company was converted into a limited liability corporation (GmbH)[10] and Detlef Neuhaus and Carsten Bovenschen became managing partners. With 350 employees and a production capacity of 300 MWp, Solarwatt was the 10th biggest company in the then booming German solar industry.[11]. In that year, a cooperation with BMW and their 360° mobility program (electric mobility) began, which still exists today.[12]
This change was accompanied by a reorientation of the company from a pure module manufacturer to a systems provider. Solarwatt supplemented its product portfolio with all components necessary for a complete energy system.[13]
In 2014, Solarwatt GmbH acquired the Centrosolar subsidiaries in France and the Netherlands and integrated them into the company.[13] In 2015, Centrosolar France became Solarwatt SARL and Centrosolar Benelux became Solarwatt BV.
In 2016, Solarwatt formed an extensive cooperation with Germany’s biggest energy provider E.ON.[14] E.ON used Solarwatts battery MyReserve to market a white labeld version of the Hardware as Aura battery to support its own offer of PV systems for houseowners. The business newspaper Handelsblatt rated this deal to be worth 'tens of millions of Euros' in sales volume.[15].
In the same year the company also acquired the former electric vehicle and battery manufacturer e-Wolf, located in Frechen, and founded the technology center Solarwatt Innovation (proprietary name: SOLARWATT INNOVATION). Solarwatt Technology Australia Pty Ltd and Solarwatt Italia S.r.l. were founded as further subsidiaries.[16]
Solarwatt GmbH currently has locations in Dresden (headquarters), Frechen, France, Holland, Italy, Spain, and Australia.
Products[edit]
The MyReserve battery has won several awards, including 'Top Power Storage 2016', 'Product of the Year 2017'[17] and the ees Award 2017[18]
References[edit]
- ↑ PV Magazine Australia, 22. February 2018
- ↑ Bild (in German), 03. June 2016
- ↑ Tagesspiegel (in German) 9. June 2017
- ↑ PV Tech, 11. September 2012
- ↑ CNN, 28. May 2007
- ↑ Elektronischer Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette), as of 28. April 2010.
- ↑ "Solarwatt Dresden | Seidel+Architekten" (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ↑ Inhabitat, 14. November 2007
- ↑ Premium modules: Players in the top league
- ↑ PV Tech, 11. September 2012
- ↑ Germany, Trade & Ivest as quoted on Bulgarian gouvernment website
- ↑ BMW Blog, 25. April 2013
- ↑ PV Tech, 22. June 2018
- ↑ Reuters
- ↑ Handelsblatt, 25. February 2016
- ↑ RenewEconomy, 7. October 2016
- ↑ Elektrobörse Smarthouse
- ↑ Sun Wind Energy, 01. June 2017
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Solarwatt. |
- Official website (in English)
- UK Website
- Australian Website
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