We live, or have lived, in difficult times – at least that is what everyone in the photovoltaics industry is hoping. As of early this year, most assemblers of components are cautiously optimistic looking forward. “In the original core markets, such as Germany, we are not expecting another boom”, says Julian Möller, head of sales at Mounting Systems, a supplier of assembly systems located south of Berlin. “On the other hand, there are new players coming up, who have so far been much smaller. For example, the Netherlands, Ireland or Poland. Much is also happening internationally, outside the EU. And we are well-placed to tackle that.”
Most things happen outside the EU
After having massively shrunk, business in pitched roof systems seems to stabilise at a low level. And utility-scale solar parks are hardly worth the effort anymore, at least not in Germany. “In 2015, that was an important market segment in the UK, but due to changes in the funding rules, it is going to collapse,” says Möller. “In the US, in Japan, India and other countries in Asia, the situation for greenfield installations is much better. And we also see South Africa as a promising market.”
More than 80 percent of Mounting Systems’ turnover of the last year was generated abroad, chiefly outside of Europe. “In the Philippines alone we built 250 megawatts of capacity in 2015,” Susanne Kylla shows. As COO, she is in charge of business operations at Mounting Systems. In late March 2016, the Philippines will change their funding regulations, which has already created anticipatory momentum. “In six to eight weeks, we received about 200 megawatts worth of orders,” she says. “Nowadays we have to be able to handle such orders quickly and on point. Customers are no longer willing to wait a long time.”
A chick has left the nest
Originally, Mounting Systems was a subsidiary of Conergy in Hamburg. The former parent company has since become very successful in international project management. Their team is very effective and supports the planning and construction of solar parks and large-scale roof-top solar installations for industrial companies. Mounting Systems are now operating separately, striking out on their own.
And although the company from Rangsdorf is now part of the NWI Group in Bremen, their old ties to Conergy are still valuable. The NWI Group buys into struggling producers and helps these to sustainably adapt to current market conditions.
Mounting Systems is so far the NWI Group’s only involvement in PV. “We are totally autonomous,” Susanne Kylla explains, “at Conergy, structures sometimes became a bit complicated. Today we benefit from very level hierarchies and there is little bureaucracy.”
Growing demand from France and Poland
In France and Poland, demand is also growing, chiefly for steel frames for solar parks. Within Europe, the smaller regional markets in Austria and Switzerland are proving to be a glimmer of hope. “In both countries we are doing good business,” Susanne Kylla confirms. “A number of our Austrian customers operate in the former East Block and the UK. And the construction of solar thermal systems is much more important in Austria than it is here.”
Even though their business model is by tradition and geography mostly dominated by large-scale projects, Mounting Systems are now planning to get more involved in the market for standard parts for roof-top assemblies, because in spite of everything, it is such smaller orders that generate the bulk of the Rangsdorf factory’s capacity. About 150 people are employed here, and including all sales representatives and their US subsidiary, Mounting Systems have around 180 employees. (Heiko Schwarzburger)
Read here Part Two: Innovation in Mounting Technology – The Return of the Trackers
