Global solar-driven sector coupling manufacturer Solarwatt GmbH has announced a more than doubling of like-for-like sales for the first three quarters of 2022 to €250 million (£218 million).
The Dresden-based company has sold almost 50,000 photovoltaic systems across Europe in the current financial year, including 24,500 systems in Germany. In the first three quarters of the previous year, Solarwatt sales throughout Europe were 27,000, including 13,000 systems sold in Germany.
Solar systems up to 10 kWp: 20 per cent market share for Germany
According to its most recent accounts, in September 2022, Solarwatt delivered solar modules with a total capacity of 75 megawatts (MW) – a monthly record in the company’s near 30-year history. Around 500MW of modules were delivered to customers in Europe in the first nine months, including 270MW in Germany. In the same period last year, 275MW of Solarwatt modules were installed on European roofs (Germany: 140MW). Solarwatt’s market share in Germany for newly installed solar systems up to 10 kilowatt peak (kWp) was more than 20 per cent overall in recent months, and for systems up to 30kWp, more than 15 per cent.
Bottlenecks in materials and installation capacity
Detlef Neuhaus is very pleased with current business development. However, the Solarwatt CEO cautions: “We are currently experiencing a huge increase in incoming orders compared to the previous year, and will clearly exceed our target figures for this year. Nevertheless, we are facing two challenges in particular: securing the purchase of materials and the limited installation capacity of installers. We need to ensure our positive position in the market doesn’t fall back, because people have had to wait a long time for their solar system.”
“… the entire energy supply system must be viewed holistically – as an intelligent ecosystem”
Detlef Neuhaus, Chief Executive Officer, Solarwatt GmbH
Wide network of craftspeople, close partnerships
Solarwatt has built up a network of 8,500 craftspeople throughout Europe who sell and install its products. The Dresden-based company also maintains close relationships with several partners. In spring this year, for example, Solarwatt announced a technical cooperation with Stiebel Eltron, a leading German manufacturer of home technology and heating. Neuhaus adds: “For us, the entire energy supply system must be viewed holistically – as an intelligent ecosystem linking the functions of energy, mobility and heating. Only through this sector coupling will the transformation required for climate neutrality ultimately succeed.”
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