For a long time, photovoltaics (PV) played a subordinate role for trade and industry in Germany: due to a lack of incentives and misguided political measures like for example low commercial electricity prices led to a reluctance of this segment to invest in solar systems.
Bureaucratic hurdles such as the direct marketing obligation and the requirement for extended system certificates for medium-sized systems of between 30 and 350 kilowatt peak (kWp) did the rest.
However, together with the recent geopolitical crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine, solar energy once again became the focus of commercial and industrial operators. With the sharp rise in electricity prices, more and more companies started seeking for independence from the electricity market, be it by installing a PV system on their premises with the aim of becoming self-sufficient. But also purchasing electricity under fixed supply contracts as part of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) has become increasingly important for trade and industry.
At the Forum Solar PLUS from November 21—22, 2023 in Berlin, innovative start-ups will present their ideas and projects for trade and industry. The start-up session on November 22 at 12:30 p.m. will include pitches from Voltaro and Eco2Grow.
Voltaro from Munich has already advised more than 60 companies on how to install a solar system on commercial properties. Voltaro supports the entire process, from the analysis of the roof and the offer phase to the implementation and operation of the solar system. This includes a feasibility study and the handling of all obligations arising from the operation of the system.
Eco2Grow from Bonn offers the brokerage of PPAs from renewable electricity and offers companies electricity contracts with a fixed term of up to 10 years. This enables them to meet their sustainability and CO2 targets and at the same time hedge against volatile electricity prices.