Installation - Elite Home & Solar

Solar Energy

Safety in the face of increasing loads

February 24, 2025 ryansheehanrts

At the beginning of 2025, violent storms swept across Western Europe. It was not the first such event recently. Does this increase the demands on the stability of solar roof installations?

After all, wind and snow – unlike with ground-mounted systems – is the big challenge. „In terms of wind loads, this does not mean that the average wind speeds are increasing. It’s more about the frequency of events such as thunderstorms. These are usually unpredictable,“ says Cedrik Zapfe, CTO of the Schletter Group, a manufacturer of mounting systems.

He also refers to the increase in powerful winds such as tornadoes in recent years. „Including a tornado in the planning is neither possible nor sensible,“ he says. „Because if you wanted to implement a tornado design, the substructures would be incredibly heavy and massive, making it economically unfeasible – apart from the fact that the roofs would reach their limits rapidly with their residual load-bearing capacity. In such cases, you have to accept the residual risk.“

A turbulent wind

A tornado not only causes increased load but also presents entirely different forces to normal wind. Normally, winds pull the photovoltaic installation upwards as well as horizontally. This is countered by its own weight and ballasting. If the wind speed increases, the ballasting needs to increase disproportionately. „If the wind speed increases by ten per cent, the load affecting the system increases by 21 per cent,“ explains Cedrik Zapfe.

Compliance with applicable standards

This principle only applies to normal winds with a high harmonic proportion and few turbulences. By way of contrast, a tornado has far more turbulence, which means that wind forces act on the roof in a completely different way. It is also true that turbulence is also triggered by the under- and overflows in normal winds. However, these are much lower than those of a tornado, making planning ahead of time a seemingly impossible challenge.

Cedrik Zapfe advises that applicable static standards should always be respected. These specify the values for wind and snow loads for the static calculation of a photovoltaic system for each region. „The consequences of climate change are already factored in,“ says the Schletter expert.

While wind and snow load zones cover very large areas, the winds do not blow in the same manner across these vast expanses. As such, extra buffers have to be planned to be able to cover areas within the zones that are confronted with stronger winds. In addition, Eurocode 1, which is valid for Europe, is continuously adapted every three to five years. This affects not only photovoltaics but also the entire construction industry, which works with the same wind and snow load values.

Avoiding planning errors

The standards not only take into account the region in which the system is located, but also the surrounding area. If the building with the solar installation is located in an open landscape or on the outskirts of a town, higher wind loads are estimated than within built-up areas. „The problems are borderline cases and grey areas: In practice, it happens time and again that systems are planned and calculated in a risk class that is too low for cost reasons. In the event of damage, no insurance will pay,“ warns Cedrik Zapfe.

If systems are planned in accordance with standards, the damage will also be recognised by the insurance company. „This is because with consistent structural planning, proof has been provided that the system will last 25 years over its service life,“ emphasises Cedrik Zapfe. „If the service life is shortened, there are two main reasons: Either mistakes were made in the planning or the corrosion protection was inadequate,“ says the Schletter CTO.

Pay attention to corrosion protection

As with all steel structures, mounting systems made of steel also need to be protected against corrosion. Here, the thickness and quality of the anti-corrosion coating are particularly important factors. Special corrosivity maps exist that show how thick the coating of the components – usually a galvanised coating – must be if the system is located in a certain region.

For example, steel components must have a thicker anti-corrosion coating if the system is built in a coastal area or in a region with a lot of industry than if the generator is located in a purely residential area or an open field.

In the first part of our series, you can read about the effects of extreme weather on ground-mounted solar installations. In the second part, we will show you how you can prevent any damage. (su)

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Solar Energy

Design software saves time – and more

February 24, 2025 ryansheehanrts

Commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop PV systems are on the rise across Europe and are a key driver of the rapidly growing European solar market, which added around 65 GW last year. Germany leads the way with 3.6GW to be added by 2024, followed by Italy (2.0GW), France (1.9GW), the Netherlands (1.7GW) and Spain (1.6GW). By the end of 2024, a total of 104 GW of C&I rooftop systems will have been installed in the EU. Bloomberg New Energy Finance expects this market segment to double to a total of 207 GW by 2030 (a CAGR of 12%).

New EU Solar Rooftop Standard unlocks huge potential

However, as Tadas Spundzevicius, Technical Sales Manager at PVcase, explained in the webinar, the design and engineering of large-scale commercial and industrial rooftop PV installations presents a number of challenges. For example, large roofs to be fitted with PV often have complex structures with varying roof angles or unusual shapes. Common issues with complex roof structures include shading elements such as turbine fans or chimneys, and multiple roof orientations,” says Tadas Spundzevicius.

Various advantages

In addition, there are multiple PV areas for design and cable management. Important requirements for PV system design on large industrial and commercial roofs include optimal layout, optimal string design, lack of detailed design in early stages, accurate yield assessment for ROI calculation, accurate cable lengths, 3D visualisation limitations and scaling issues for larger projects.

Italy: Kostal and EPC utilise former industrial roof for PV

The impact of design errors often leads to further problems and impacts on business results. Key project issues include time-consuming design and re-design, material shortages or surpluses, inaccurate string layouts, failure to meet promised energy yields, increased construction costs and delays to project milestones. The potential negative business impacts are: lost revenue, lower profit margins, costly rework and modifications, extended project lifecycle and damage to the company’s reputation.

According to Spundzevicius, the benefits of using detailed design software include: accurate 3D design in AutoCAD, early detailed shading and irradiance analysis, energy simulations for different scenarios, advanced stringing algorithms, detailed inverter configuration, and accurate cable length and sizing.

8,700 simulations generated for each shading assessment

In order to achieve the highest possible accuracy in the early stages of design, the software uses PVcase Auto-CAD’s ROOF MOUNT as the main drawing platform and creates a 3D design of each element. The Bill of Quantity (BOQ) is generated from the 3D drawing.

To ensure the most accurate shading impact assessment, ROOF MOUNT uses a special ray tracing algorithm and a 365-day analysis with one-hour increments. Approximately 8,700 simulations are generated for each shading assessment.

You can view the webinar recording here

In addition, ROOF MOUNT integrates the energy estimation into AutoCAD via a special yield algorithm, which can then be exported to PVsyst for even more accurate energy simulation.

Cable design only takes a few minutes

According to Spundzevicius, ROOF MOUNT also offers advantages for the electrical design of C&I PV roof systems. For example, automated stringing is 85% faster than manual stringing, cable design takes only a few minutes, a detailed inverter configuration can be set up at the MPPT level, and automated SLD and cable sizing can be performed.

For auto-stringing, the design software uses an advanced algorithm where the string setup is based on user preferences with a high degree of customisation for each string.
ROOF MOUNT is also useful for a quick evaluation of the voltage drop during the electrical layout of the solar roof. The exact cable length is used based on the drawing.

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The Bill of Materials (BOM) is also easier and more accurate, for example by taking into account the inverter position when calculating the cable length, the roof slope and the position of each string.

Reduce design time up to 80 %

“C&I rooftop design with ROOF MOUNT allows for comprehensive design automation, increased project accuracy and reliability, and improved profitability,” says Spundzevicius, summarising the benefits. The design software can reduce design time by up to 80 %, significantly reduce the risk of redesign, accurately determine material quantities, and require only one software for preliminary and detailed design cycles. (hcn)

You can view the webinar recording here

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Solar Energy

Design software not only saves time

February 24, 2025 ryansheehanrts

New EU Solar Rooftop Standard unlocks huge potential

Various advantages

Italy: Kostal and EPC utilise former industrial roof for PV

8,700 simulations generated for each shading assessment

You can view the webinar recording here

In addition, ROOF MOUNT integrates the energy estimation into AutoCAD via a special yield algorithm, which can then be exported to PVsyst for even more accurate energy simulation.

Cable design only takes a few minutes

Stay informed – subscribe to our free newsletter

Reduce design time up to 80 %

You can view the webinar recording here

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Solar Energy

Kostal and EPC utilise former industrial roof for PV

February 7, 2025 ryansheehanrts

The Italian government has drastically restricted the construction of photovoltaic systems on open spaces. With the exception of agri-PV, it is now completely prohibited on arable land. Industrial roofs offer a way out. The project developer EPC Elettronica Italia in the province of Lecce in Apulia has shown what something like this can look like – albeit on a smaller scale than on open land.

Join our free webinar February 12, about planning and design of large PV rooftops

9,000 square metres built on

The company has installed a solar generator with an output of one megawatt on the roof of a former tobacco processing plant. The modules are located on the roof of the old factory, which covers an area of 9,000 square metres. With optimum solar radiation and no shaded areas, the company can maximise its yield at this location. After all, the southern Italian region of Apulia has one of the highest irradiation rates per square metre on the entire Apennine peninsula.

20 inverters installed

EPC also achieves its high output by using bifacial modules. These feed the solar power into 20 Piko CI inverters from Kostal Solar Elektrik. The commercial inverters from the manufacturer based in Hagen, Westphalia, each have an output power of 50 kilowatts. “The bifacial modules had to be connected to inverters that are capable of handling a very high current: One of the special features of Kostal’s devices is that they support currents of up to 18 amps, making them suitable for this type of installation,” explains Paolo Melandri, Field Marketing Engineer at Kostal. “In addition, the type of devices used also allowed us to optimise the configuration of the strings.“

Also see: Acquisition of Italian inverter manufacturer Fimer completed

Practical test of the flexibility of the inverters

The plant in Apulia was one of the first photovoltaic systems in Italy to be installed with such a large number of inverters from the Piko CI series. “For us, this was a practical test of the flexibility of our inverters, as they are rarely used in such a large number of systems with such a high output,” says Riccardo Frassanito, Service Manager at Kostal. “It also confirmed the ability of our products to easily manage data transmission and the interaction between the various devices. This ensures efficient monitoring, even with such a large number of installed devices.“

Also see: First Renewable Energy Community in Lombardy with large PV rooftop project

1.41 gigawatt hours of solar power per year

The bifacial modules ensure a high yield. The planners assume that the generator will supply around 1.41 gigawatt hours of clean electricity every year. All of the energy generated is fed into the grid and sold via an electricity trader. The latter has concluded a purchase agreement with EPC for the solar energy generated. (su/hcn)

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Solar Energy

Big solar power for big trucks

February 3, 2025 ryansheehanrts

Daimler Truck’s new logistics location in the heart of Germany, Global Parts Center (GPC), will gradually take over the global spare parts supply for Mercedes-Benz trucks from 2025. In the approximately ten months since the foundation stone was laid, the development on the approximately 900,000 square-meter site in the East Industrial Park has grown at a rapid pace.

The new building will have a gross built-up area of around 270,000 square meters and in a three-stage logistics process will serve around 20 regional centers worldwide, including in other EU countries, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and China. These local centers will supply regional dealers with spare parts.

Romania: Longi and Solarpro cooperate on 174 MW solar park

Project well on schedule

With this new site, GPC is at the heart of a complex network of global goods logistics. “Thanks to the excellent cooperation with the city, district and state, our Global Parts Center has already taken impressive shape less than a year after the foundation stone was laid,” says Stefan Roedler, who heads the real estate subsidiary Daimler Truck Real Estate. “We are well on schedule.”

The new logistics location is planning CO2-neutral operation, with an energy concept that completely dispenses with fossil fuels. The roofs of logistics buildings, encompassing over 90 percent of all roof space on the location, are currently being equipped with solar modules, creating one of the largest rooftop systems in Europe.

Large-scale project in Spain with particularly high yield forecast

Easily visible from the main road

Anyone driving past the Global Parts Center on the nearby motorway will see two large, parallel halls, each around 200 meters wide and 600 meters long. In the future, one hall will be used for receiving goods and the other for issuing spare parts. Smaller buildings will be for empties, recycling and offices.

Not visible from the motorway is the around 30,000 square meters – around twelve percent of the total 250,000 square meters of roof area – are already covered with solar modules. The roofs of outbuildings with no modules will be greened.

Find more interesting solar projects here!

22 megawatts on the rooftops

The photovoltaic system will have an output of over 22 megawatts and is anticipated to generate more than 20 gigawatt hours per year – significantly more than is consumed at the location. Excess energy from the Global Parts Center will be fed into the grid. In order to keep the level of self-sufficiency as high as possible, additional powerful energy storage devices are provided. In the first stage, an energy storage system of around 2,000 kilowatt hours is planned, which will be expanded later.

Neither natural gas nor petroleum are required. The buildings are heated using electric heat pumps, which bring their heat inside via floor heating systems. A high level of energy efficiency is achieved thanks to the low temperatures in the heating flow and the high thermal storage effect of the industrial floors.

Solar power for Danish State Railways

Powerful charging points for e-trucks planned

Around 30 charging points for electric vehicles are provided to make it easier for employees to access electromobility. The infrastructure is already set for further expansion. There are also corresponding charging options for suppliers’ trucks, whose fleets will gradually be electrified: 16 charging points with 200 kilowatts and four charging points with 400 kilowatts of charging power are planned.

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Imposing buildings almost completed

The data on solar self-sufficiency is likewise impressive. The construction project is an indication of Daimler Truck’s big plans for the Halberstadt site. The central buildings for logistics are supported by around 1,600 reinforced concrete supports. With around 90,000 square meters (over twelve football fields), around a third of the hall floor has already been concreted.

Over half of the hall facade is completed and currently spans 30,000 installed square meters – equivalent to around four football fields. Almost three kilometers of fire protection walls have been built inside, with another 500 meters to be added in the future.

Stockholm’s first mobile fast charger for electric boats installed

3,000 piles drilled

The figures for the roof construction are also impressive, with over 31 kilometers of steel roof racks already installed. At around 200,000 square meters, the trapezoidal sheets laid on the roofs to date have a total area of almost 30 football fields. In the coming months, the building will expand to accommodate a high bay, which required the subsoil to be prepared with almost 3,000 drilled piles. (HS)

ADS-Tec and Paragon Mobility join forces for fast charging in France

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Solar Energy

Hannover Zoo uses half a gigawatt-hour of its own solar power a year

January 31, 2025 ryansheehanrts

The project planner CSAE from Wolfsburg has installed a photovoltaic system measuring around 3,000 square metres on part of the parking deck of the zoo in Hannover. The company specialises in the construction of commercial and industrial solar energy systems. The materials for the system were supplied by wholesaler Sonepar.

The new solar energy system, which will be fully operational in the spring, will generate around 548,000 kilowatt hours of solar power per year. This will be used almost entirely by the zoo for its operations.

Four weeks of construction

This is not the first solar energy system that Hannover Zoo has had installed. A system on the roof of the Gemeinschaftshaus and a second solar generator on the grandstand in the Canada-themed world ‘Yukon Bay’ have been supplying electricity to the zoo for quite some time.

Register for our free webinar about the planning and design of large PV rooftops, February 12

The realisation of the new photovoltaic system was supported by the Hannover region. This is because CSAE took part in the tender through which the region promotes solar energy systems. The company’s project was also accepted. After the acceptance, the concrete planning and installation progressed quickly. Within just four weeks, the generator was on the roof of the parking deck – much faster than expected. The zoo had originally calculated a construction time of three months. But the modules were already on the roof before the beginning of winter in 2024.

All components from a single source

Sonepar supplied a total of 1,650 solar panels, the associated mounting hardware, all solar cables and six inverters for the system. In addition, a power analyser and lightning and surge protection were installed, which also came from Sonepar.

Also see: New EU Solar Rooftop Standard unlocks huge potential

Thanks to the reliable delivery of the materials, the project partners were able to ensure that the plant was completed within the short time frame. ‘Our aim is to offer specialist companies an absolutely reliable supply of materials and to relieve them of as much work as possible,’ emphasises Sven-Patrick Pankla, field representative at Sonepar Germany. ‘That’s why we delivered the goods directly to the construction site at the zoo to save CSAE additional logistical effort.’

Site facilities supplied

The wholesaler’s Support & Service department also provided all the site facilities that CSAE would otherwise have had to organise separately. These included site fencing, a barrier and safety fence, as well as material and room containers, including furnishings.

Also see: France sets out clear regulations for mandatory solar installation on car parks

With this additional service, Sonepar is positioning itself as a provider of complete construction solutions. ‘Our goal is to support the specialist companies in the best possible way and to take work off their hands so that they can concentrate on the most important thing: the installation,’ says Sven-Patrick Pankla. ‘That’s why we offer our customers everything from a single source to make their work easier.’ (su/hcn)

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Solar Energy

Solar roof for the historic York Minster

January 31, 2025 ryansheehanrts

The 184 particularly durable Solarwatt ‘Panel vision’ solar modules on the roof of the South Quire will generate almost 70,000 kilowatt hours of clean solar energy annually, enough to supply around 40 average households in England. This corresponds to about a third of the York Minster’s energy consumption and reduces the church’s annual CO2 emissions by 13 tonnes. The solar installation is part of the Chapter of York Minster’s wider plan to make the cathedral self-sufficient in renewable energy and future-proof the building. Further projects are already in the pipeline.

A sustainable solution to preserve history

Alex McCallion, head of building at York Minster, says: ‘If we can do it, anyone can, because our climate is changing. We are experiencing this first hand as we take care of this very precious building.’ He adds that the use of solar energy in the cathedral shows ‘how historic buildings can use renewable energy solutions without compromising their heritage.’ Extreme weather caused by climate change also poses a major threat to York Minster. Prolonged heavy rainfall has accelerated the deterioration of the stone and caused movement in the listed building, raising concerns about its preservation.

Join our free webinar about planning and design of large PV rooftops, February 12

The highly efficient Solarwatt Panel vision double-glazed modules installed by ACT on site have a very small carbon footprint, which is 50 per cent smaller than that of conventional modules. Other reasons for York Minster’s decision in favour of the modules were durability, performance and safety. The Solarwatt modules meet the required safety standards of the highest fire protection class (IEC Class A), making them ideal for use on a centuries-old cathedral roof. They are also designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and mechanical stresses without any problems.

Also see: Norman Foster Solar Award for church renovation in Switzerland

‘We are honoured to have been selected for this significant installation at York Minster. Our team has worked diligently to ensure the project meets and exceeds the highest standards of safety and efficiency,’ says Nicola Newby, Operations Director at Associated Clean Technologies Ltd. Neal Goddard, Managing Director of Solarwatt UK & Ireland, adds: ’Solarwatt is proud to be part of this transformative installation alongside our expert partner ACT, who have done an incredible job. The York Minster solar installation is a great example of heritage preservation through sustainable innovation.’ (hcn)

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Solar Energy

Solarwatt to roll out new battery and other products in Europe

January 29, 2025 ryansheehanrts

After a few difficult months, Solarwatt has recovered and is performing strongly again. The provider of energy solutions for private and commercial premium customers will in future be offering installing partners a genuine comprehensive, worry-free package.

In less positive news, the Solarwatt F8 module factory has been shut down for the foreseeable future. “It was a difficult decision for us to end module production after 30 years,” said Benjamin Frank, who has been running the company since mid-2024. “Under the current conditions, the production of solar modules in Dresden is not possible.”

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Intelligent solution for customers across Europe

The Solarwatt Home package features an own wallbox, new storage and its own hybrid inverters. “With our intelligent energy solution Solarwatt Home, we ensure that homeowners and companies across Europe can use the cheapest and cleanest energy at all times,” said CEO Benjamin Frank at the presentation of the products in Dresden. “This only works if we bring together all sectors such as electricity, heat and mobility, and intelligently connect solar power from the roof of the house to the power grid. That’s exactly what we have achieved with Solarwatt Home.”

Gridparity founds subsidiary for urban solar applications

More than 700,000 systems built

Solarwatt builds on a unique wealth of experience. Since it was founded in 1993, more than 700,000 solar projects have been planned and built in Europe – mostly by regional partners. “In many of these projects, in addition to the solar system, a battery storage system, heat pump or charging solutions for an electric car have already been installed,” explained Benjamin Frank. “We have been relying on sector coupling since 2012. This experience sets us apart from other providers and simplifies our next development step.”

Bertrand Chevalley of Solar Solutions: Strong brands for strong installers (video)

Energy manager with AI

Solarwatt offers an energy management system that is based on artificial intelligence and significantly reduces the costs of home electricity, heating or e-mobility. The company supports the planning and installation of solar technology, the heat pump and the charging stations.

Leonhard Peboeck and Robert Muellehner from Fronius International: The best emergency power (video)

Benjamin Frank explained: “The coupling of electricity, heat and mobility is complex. What matters is that the different pieces of the puzzle fit together perfectly. We make sure of that.” In addition to regional partners, Solarwatt maintains close cooperation with Stiebel Eltron and BMW.

Use energy wisely

The complete solution Solarwatt Home combines solar modules, battery storage, heat pump and wallbox, intelligent energy management as well as services. Customers are private investors and companies who want to reduce their energy costs.

The Solarwatt Manager is responsible for controlling and optimizing the solar system. This ensures that customers use the highest possible proportion of the solar power they generate in their household or company: “Every kilowatt hour generated is used where it makes the most sense in terms of costs and the environment,” said Peter Bachmann, who is also part of the management.

Frank Henn of Kostal Solar Electric: Solar inverters become universal genies (video)

AI controls and optimizes

Dynamic electricity tariffs are also integrated into the system. “Using AI algorithms, we individually calculate how the energy from the solar system is used and when, at best, they should buy electricity from the grid,” explained Bachmann. “The calculations include, for example, weather data, usage behavior in single-family homes or commercial businesses, the availability of renewable energies in general and, of course, the price on the electricity exchange.”

If electricity is particularly cheap, it can be charged into the battery storage system using the Solarwatt Manager and used later. During these times, it also makes sense to charge an electric car or heat up the heat pump’s buffer tank for the evening hours.

Sebastian Geier from IBC Solar: All necessary components from one source

Storage up to 182 kilowatt hours

The basis of the complete package is the glass-glass modules from the Panel Vision series. The Topcon cells provide the electricity used in the building. These deliver up to 450 watts, with 460 watts on the horizon. Solarwatt offers a 30-year product and performance guarantee. The Panel Vision solar modules have been available since the beginning of 2024.

The solar power is stored in the new Battery Vision battery storage system. The battery uses LFP cells. Previously, Solarwatt storage units were equipped with NMC cells. The new system comes with a cool design and logo from BMW, which was developed in the USA. Like the previous models, it also has a modular design for capacities of between 5.2 and 182 kilowatt hours. Each battery module stores 2.6 kilowatt hours. At a minimum, the system is equipped with two battery packs, which charge and discharges with 1C.

TOPCon-Technology overcomes PERC in 2024

Ten times seven battery modules

A storage tower can accommodate up to seven battery modules, providing 18.2 kilowatt hours. Ten battery towers can be linked to provide up to 182 kilowatt hours of storage capacity. Solarwatt therefore also offers an interesting storage system for commercial customers.

The highest safety standards have been implemented and the storage fully complies with the EU battery regulation. It was developed and tested according to BMW specifications and automotive industry standards. The Battery Vision offers emergency power (without a separate switch box) and sufficient power to supply the devices for sector coupling. The new home storage has been delivered since January 2025.

Elio: A package for an almost fully solar-powered house

No more wall mounting

Important: The new storage system will only be available as a standing version, no longer for wall mounting. A cable of 1.5 meters must be bridged between the inverter and battery, but three to five meters are also possible. Due to the IP65 housing, the storage can be positioned outdoors, ideally protected from rain or strong sun. It is approved from minus ten to plus 55 degrees Celsius.

The basic pack weighs 35 kilograms and contains the control of the battery modules. Each battery module weighs 33 kilograms. DC fuses are integrated as standard, as is an external switch for black start. The battery can be used with a reserve of up to 40 percent for emergency power.

With the three-phase storage system, a home can definitely be supplied in the event of a power failure. Single-phase or three-phase sensors are installed in the meter cabinet for emergency control.

Hamza al-Bazaz of Kaco New Energy: New hybrid inverter for residential applications (video)

Specially developed hybrid inverters

Solarwatt offers new a single- or three-phase Inverter Vision for connection to the solar system. These cover 3 to 15 kilowatts. The solar strings run via three MPP trackers, with one connection reserved for the battery. The inverters, which are produced in Asia, are not off-the-shelf devices but are manufactured according to strict Solarwatt specifications.

They can be overcharged by 100 percent on the DC side, meaning that it is possible to connect a 20 kilowatt solar generator via a 10 kilowatt inverter. The inputs can be assigned up to 20 or 25 amps.

The package is completed by the Charger Vision. This AC wallbox enables solar excess charging and dynamic load management. Four operating modes can be set, including phase switching from 1.4 kilowatts.

Yassin Mahioui of BYD: New energy system for solar homes and commercial use (video)

Configuration via App

Solarwatt rolled out the Charger Max for delivery start in January 2025. This wallbox can charge electric cars bidirectionally. The configuration is carried out via the Solarwatt Pro app. The components are integrated via the new Manager Flex. The DIN rail device rail is inserted into the fuse cabinet. A slimmed-down version adheres magnetically to metal lids or doors, and offers free connections for additional controllable consumers.

The IT connection is via a LAN cable. The number of devices that can be integrated is unlimited. Essential functions run locally, and only certain data and controls are connected to the cloud.

Manufacturing: End of European PV production?

The right service for specialist partners

What sounds simple is technically complex and demanding. Specialist craftsmen know that it is no longer enough today to screw solar modules onto the roof and connect the inverter. Home ownership is about the intelligent networking of all energy sectors, which includes heating, cooling and mobility.

A similar trend can be observed in the industry. “We are targeting specialist companies that can handle this complexity,” said Benjamin Frank. The new complete Solarwatt Home system will be rolled out in 10 European countries at the same time.

In addition, Solarwatt has updated its shop to include frequently requested electrical components often required during installation, such as cables, cable ducts and other accessories. (HS)

More news on storage

More news on wallboxes and chargers

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Solar Energy

Solarwatt is rolling out new products in Europe

January 27, 2025 ryansheehanrts

After difficult months, Solarwatt has recovered and is performing strongly again. The provider of energy solutions for private and commercial premium customers offers its installing partners a real all-round, worry-free package.

The downside: The F8 module factory has been shut down for the time being. “It was a difficult decision for us to end module production after 30 years,” said Benjamin Frank, who has been running the company since mid-2024. “Under the current conditions, the production of solar modules in Dresden is not possible.”

Subscribe to our business newsletter!

Intelligent solution for customers across Europe

The offer has been completed for this purpose: with its own wallbox, new storage and its own hybrid inverters. “With our intelligent energy solution Solarwatt Home, we ensure that homeowners and companies across Europe can use the cheapest and cleanest energy for them at all times,” said CEO Benjamin Frank at the presentation of the products in Dresden. “This only works if we bring together all sectors such as electricity, heat and mobility and intelligently connect solar power from the roof of the house to the power grid. That’s exactly what we do with Solarwatt Home.”

Gridparity founds subsidiary for urban solar applications

More than 700,000 systems built

Solarwatt builds on a unique wealth of experience. Since it was founded in 1993, more than 700,000 solar projects have been planned and built in Europe – mostly by regional partners. “In many of these projects, in addition to a solar system, a battery storage system, a heat pump or charging solutions for an electric car have already been installed,” explained Benjamin Frank. “We have been relying on sector coupling since 2012. This experience sets us apart from other providers and simplifies our next development step.”

Bertrand Chevalley of Solar Solutions: Strong brands for strong installers (video)

Energy manager with AI

Leonhard Peboeck and Robert Muellehner from Fronius International: The best emergency power (video)

Use energy wisely

The Solarwatt Manager is responsible for controlling and optimizing the solar system. It ensures that customers use the highest possible proportion of the solar power they generate in their household or company: “Every kilowatt hour generated is used where it makes the most sense in terms of costs and the environment,” said Peter Bachmann, who is also part of the management.

Frank Henn of Kostal Solar Electric: Solar inverters become universal genies (video)

AI controls and optimizes

For example, dynamic electricity tariffs are integrated. “Using AI algorithms, we individually calculate how the energy from the solar system is used and when, at best, they should buy electricity from the grid,” explained Bachmann. “The calculations include, for example, weather data, usage behavior in single-family homes or commercial businesses, the availability of renewable energies in general and, of course, the price on the electricity exchange.”

If electricity is particularly cheap, it can be charged into the battery storage system using the Solarwatt Manager and used later. During these times it also makes sense to charge an electric car or heat up the heat pump’s buffer tank for the evening hours.

Sebastian Geier from IBC Solar: All necessary components from one source

Storage up to 182 kilowatt hours

The basis of the complete package is the glass-glass modules from the Panel Vision series. The Topcon cells provide the electricity used in the building. They deliver up to 450 watts, with 460 watts on the horizon. Solarwatt offers a 30-year product and performance guarantee. The Panel Vision solar modules have been available since the beginning of 2024.

The solar power is stored in the new Battery Vision battery storage system. The battery uses LFP cells. Previously, Solarwatt storage units were equipped with NMC cells. The new system comes with a cool design and logo from BMW, which was developed in the USA. Like the previous models, it also has a modular design – for capacities between 5.2 and 182 kilowatt hours. Each battery module stores 2.6 kilowatt hours. At a minimum, the system is equipped with two battery packs. It charges and discharges with 1C.

TOPCon-Technology overcomes PERC in 2024

Ten times seven battery modules

Elio: A package for an almost fully solar-powered house

No more wall mounting

Important: The new storage system will only be available as a standing version, no longer for wall mounting. A cable of 1.5 meters must be bridged between the inverter and battery, but three to five meters are also possible. Due to the IP65 housing, the storage can be set up outdoors, best protected from rain or strong sun. It is approved from minus ten to plus 55 degrees Celsius.

With the three-phase storage system, a home can definitely be supplied in the event of a power failure. Single-phase or three-phase sensors are installed in the meter cabinet for emergency control.

Hamza al-Bazaz of Kaco New Energy: New hybrid inverter for residential applications (video)

Specially developed hybrid inverters

Solarwatt offers new single- or three-phase Inverter Vision for connection to the solar system. They cover 3 to 15 kilowatts. The solar strings run via three MPP trackers, one connection is reserved for the battery. The inverters come from Asia. These are not off-the-shelf devices, but are manufactured according to strict Solarwatt specifications.

They can be overcharged by 100 percent on the DC side. So you can connect a 20 kilowatt solar generator via a 10 kilowatt inverter. The inputs can be assigned up to 20 or 25 amps.

Yassin Mahioui of BYD: New energy system for solar homes and commercial use (video)

Configuration via App

Solarwatt rolled out the Charger Max for delivery start in January 2025. This wallbox can charge electric cars bidirectionally. The configuration is done via the Solarwatt Pro app. The components are integrated via the new Manager Flex. The DIN rail device Rail is inserted into the fuse cabinet. A slimmed-down version adheres magnetically to metal lids or doors. It offers free connections for additional controllable consumers.

The IT connection is made via LAN cable. The number of devices that can be integrated is unlimited. Essential functions run locally, only certain data and controls are connected to the cloud.

Manufacturing: End of European PV production?

The right service for specialist partners

In addition, Solarwatt has included frequently requested electrical components in its shop that are often required during installation. These include, for example, cables, cable ducts and other accessories. (HS)

More news on storage

More news on wallboxes and chargers

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Solar Energy

DHL company relies on PV – large roof system in Finland

January 23, 2025 ryansheehanrts

With 12,500 properties worldwide, measures are being taken on existing properties to achieve the 2050 climate target, with the integration of solar energy playing a central role.
Due to the considerable roof areas of DHL’s large warehouse buildings, substantial solar installations can be installed there, enabling DHL to maximize the use of solar energy on the properties.

Join our webinar February, 12: Mastering C&I rooftop design – from complex geometry to seamless installation

“Everything we do is geared towards achieving zero emissions by 2050. We have a clear policy on solar energy – every location is screened for solar potential. For existing locations, factors such as the size of the property and the length of the lease are taken into account when considering solar installations. However, we install solar panels on all new sites,” says Jussi Jylhä, Infrastructure Manager, Operations at DHL Supply Chain (Finland) Oy.

Locally generated energy also offers marketing advantages

Currently, 56% of DHL’s energy comes from renewable sources, 94% of the electricity it uses is predominantly green. With the goal of energy self-sufficiency and locally generated electricity, DHL is installing solar panels on every property.

In Pirkkala, DHL owns a property of approximately 4,000 square meters, where Solnet Group installed a solar energy system in 2019. DHL was involved in the tender for this project, but an external contractor managed the construction of the building. Solnet Group then worked with the construction company.

Also interesting: Virtual power plant for solar companies to participate in balancing markets

“It is crucial for us to meet our emissions targets while also generating electricity right on site. We have also noticed the marketing benefits of solar energy in building our brand. For example, we use pictures and videos of our Pirkkala site in our sales materials,” mentions Jussi Jylhä.

Security as top priority

When selecting partners for the Pirkkala project, security was already an important factor. Since then, security has become even more important and is clearly one of the most influential factors in decision-making. Solnet Group’s intelligent solar system, with remote management and the ability to disconnect power to the panels, were deciding factors.
“The security features and credentials of the Solnet Group solution convinced us, along with its price-performance ratio and suitable guarantees. In addition, Solnet provides production data displayed on screens in our lobby, which generates positive feedback and makes the solar installation visible. Despite its size, the solar array is not visible from the roof, so this way we can demonstrate its effect in reducing emissions and generating electricity,” Jylhä points out.

Also see: Best possible utilisation of a logistic property for PV

As advice for those implementing solar arrays for the first time, Jylhä recommends bringing in an experienced consultant. A company that understands the variables that affect yields and system size, and knows the technical specifications.

Join our webinar February, 12: Mastering C&I rooftop design – from complex geometry to seamless installation

“If you have a reliable partner and a solar plant has been built with high-quality equipment, it is relatively maintenance-free to operate. Solnet Group does maintenance once or twice a year. We monitor and report on the system’s output ourselves, and Solnet Group handles maintenance and monitors operations at the panel level. Integrating production overview has also been effortless,” Jylhä emphasizes. (hcn)

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