Andrea Schartner, Head of Communications at Fronius International Business Unit Solar Energy, gives PES an update on the progress of their 24 hours of sun vision. Smart solutions such as continuously adjustable regulation and their award winning Ohmpilot are edging them nearer to this goal.
PES: Hi Andrea, it’s a pleasure to welcome you to PES. It’s a while since we had a contributor from Fronius, so to begin with could you give us a company update?
Andrea Schartner: We have a very strong product and systems portfolio in both the residential and commercial sectors. Our main strength is in roof-top installations. We specialise in self-consumption systems including storage, energy monitoring, open interfaces, the integration of heat and mobility and the control of energy flows.
Wherever service and expertise are called for we are really well positioned with our network of partners. We are extremely proud of our Fronius System Partners. Our relationship with the installers has always been of the utmost importance to us, since they form the crucial foundation stone for our sales and service organisation. The training and service philosophy of Fronius System Partners is unrivalled anywhere around the world, just as it always has been.
PES: Please can you tell us what is meant by energy sector integration?
AS: The energy revolution means one thing above all: replacing coal, oil and gas with renewable energy. However, it’s not just a question of generating electricity in a renewable manner – although this is, of course, an important element. At the same time, all fossil fuels that are currently used in mobility, industry and private homes need to be replaced by electricity, which, in turn, also needs to be generated by renewable means. This linking of our energy systems, known as integrated energy, is the key to making Fronius’ 24 hours of sun vision a reality.
Replacing fossil fuels with renewable alternatives requires huge change. There is set to be enormous demand for renewable electricity, and we can expect there to be massive expansion in the renewable energy sector in the coming decades, particularly for wind and solar energy. At the same time, a switch in energy usage towards the electrification of mobility, heat generation and industry are also required.
In the home sector, the required technologies are already available, affordable and, often, also make a lot of sense from an economic perspective. There are even more appealing opportunities in heat generation. Here, the Fronius Ohmpilot, for example, enables excess energy from PV systems to be used to produce warm water, or operate a heating panel for other ohmic consumers. After just three to four years the investments often pay for themselves and can help prolong the service life of the heating system.
Even electro mobility powered by solar energy is available today: the compatibility of Fronius energy solution with different e-mobility products are proven and confirmed. Together with heating and electro mobility, Fronius offers bespoke storage solutions to suit every need. Regardless of the living situation or preferences of the customer, Fronius can be relied upon to deliver the ideal solution – from laying the foundations for a future storage solution to installing a fully integrated Fronius system: the Fronius Energy Package.
For installers, this means a whole host of exciting potential applications in new business areas. In order to make use of these, however, it is necessary to embrace new technologies and to think beyond the boundaries of the industry.
Manufacturers, like Fronius, are helping to expand upon the know-how required, by providing relevant training programs. And it goes without saying that this is being done with smart solutions that optimize the use of energy in private homes and provide a genuine and clearly perceptible added value for end customers, take your solar game to the next level.
