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Solarwatt has launched six new inverters and batteries as part of its Solarwatt Home line and outlined its future strategy. The German company, currently in transition, recently closed its solar module plant in Germany and announced staff reductions.
Solarwatt has been involved in system integration for over a decade, starting with an energy management system that included both its own devices and products from partners. Now, the company is expanding its line with its own new products: an inverter, a battery, two wallboxes and two upgraded energy management systems.
“In addition to Germany, the Vision range will be available in Austria, Switzerland, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain and Italy,” a company spokesperson told pv magazine .
The company is stepping up its collaboration with BMW, focusing on battery development and design, which will be handled by California-based company Designworks. Solarwatt is also continuing to collaborate with Kiwigrid for energy management and with Stiebel Eltron for heat pump solutions.
Six products
The new 15kW Solar Vision inverter can connect up to 30kW of power, according to Peter Bachmann, Product Manager. Multiple units can be connected in parallel to meet even higher power needs. This inverter also includes an emergency power supply function and a switch box.
The new Vision battery uses individual, stackable modules, with capacities ranging from 5.2 kWh to 182 kWh. BMW, drawing on its automotive sourcing expertise, assisted in the selection of the supplier, and the battery bears the BMW logo.
Solarwatt has also launched the Solarwatt Charger wallbox, available in two versions: Solarwatt Vision and Solarwatt Charger Max. Both offer the same basic features, but the Charger Max also supports bi-directional charging.
The Solarwatt Manager energy management system is available in two models: one for DIN rail installation in a meter box and a stand-alone version that only requires an internal Internet connection for integration with other components.
Solarwatts energy management system offers advanced features such as seamless integration of heat pumps. It will soon support dynamic electricity tariffs by accessing real-time exchange rates. It can also connect to virtual power plants, although Solarwatt does not provide the plant, but instead offers open interfaces to give customers flexibility. Bachmann has pointed to the ongoing development of startups and other players in this field, although a provider of open interfaces has not yet emerged.
Solarwatt outsources the production of its inverters and batteries to Asian manufacturers, as European suppliers cannot match their costs. These products are tailored to Solarwatts specifications and are not outsourced, only the housings are modified. Solarwatts previously launched TOPCon modules also come from Asia, and the company is closely involved in the selection of components. Bachmann personally investigated the suppliers, from silicon mines to wafer factories, to ensure quality.
The company prioritizes ease of installation and provides installers with an app to streamline setup. For example, the system only requires one meter for all components, rather than multiple units.
With the new product range and its wholesale offering, Solarwatt aims to regain momentum after a difficult year, according to company data. The company closed its 300 MW solar panel manufacturing plant in Dresden, Germany, in August.
The German market for PV systems under 30 kW has fallen to 6.1 GW from 7.8 GW, with prices falling from €2,350 ($2,520) in 2023 to €1,950 in 2024, according to CEO Benjamin Frank, who joined in July. The price drop, coupled with weaker demand, has caused sales to shrink from around €300 million in 2023 to €130 million so far this year, taking into account Solarwatt’s recent exit from module production.
The company aims to achieve a turnover of 150 million euros next year with new products. While its core photovoltaic segment has been struggling, Solarwatt systems of more than 30 kW have seen positive growth in 2024.
The business downturn and strategic shift have taken a toll on Solarwatts workforce. The company employed 850 people in 2023, but plans to reduce its workforce to 350 next year — 100 in planning, consulting and sales and 160 across all Solarwatt locations. For laid-off employees, a retraining and relocation program has placed about 50 percent in new roles, mostly through job fairs, Frank said. |
