It was on 20 June 1945 that Günter Fronius officially announced he was repairing radios and electrical appliances, laying the foundation for a company that is now a key player in the solar and storage sector. Fronius was an early mover in storage in particular. Just months after starting his repair business, the trained electrical engineer introduced a then-revolutionary idea: a device for recharging car batteries, allowing them to be used for longer.
Limited resources encourage inventiveness
Fronius' first product was well received, marking the start of a long success story. “If you consider the conditions at the time, our beginnings were characterised by innovation, boldness and solidarity,” says Elisabeth Engelbrechtsmüller-Strauß, Managing Director of Fronius and granddaughter of the company founder. “The scarcity of resources awakened my grandfather's inventive spirit and he endeavoured to make the best possible use of what was available, to make it repairable and to make it affordable for a broad section of the population.”
Fronius International
But Günter Fronius didn’t stop there. Just five years after developing the charger, he expanded the product range to include welding transformers. On this foundation, Fronius grew into a major industrial company, and after Günter handed over the reins to his children, Brigitte Strauß and Klaus Fronius, the company began expanding internationally in the 1980s. Since then, the number of subsidiaries has grown to 37.
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Pioneer in solar energy
Fronius was also an early pioneer in solar energy, turning its focus to the field in 1992 – a time when the technology was still in its infancy and its future far from certain. Today, solar is a cornerstone of the energy sector. “We are passionate about renewable energy and are consistently sticking to our vision of 24 hours of sunshine,” emphasises Elisabeth Engelbrechtsmüller-Strauß, who took over the company’s management from her mother and uncle in 2012. “The solar market in particular has been and continues to be characterised by ups and downs, and the effects of the recent crisis are still clearly noticeable. But our 80-year history has taught us that we don't give up even in challenging times, but on the contrary, we emerge stronger.”
New inverters developed
Fronius continues to evolve its solar energy solutions. This year, the company will present its latest innovations at Smarter E Europe, held from 7 to 9 May 2025 in Munich. Alongside its own Reserva energy storage system, Fronius will showcase the Verto Plus, a powerful hybrid inverter that supports reliable emergency power and optimised energy yield. For commercial projects, the company will also unveil the Argeno, a new inverter designed for larger-scale applications.
Fronius launches Reserva battery storage system
Expanding sector coupling
Fronius was an early adopter of using solar power locally for heating and mobility. This year, it will introduce an updated version of its EV charging solution. The Wattpilot Flex enables flexible, cost-efficient, and photovoltaic-optimised charging, helping users maximise their self-consumption of solar power.
Planning made easier
This year, Fronius is also launching a new planning tool for installers to design complete power electronics systems. The Fronius Solarcreator offers a wide range of functions to help optimise PV system layouts. In addition, the company has developed the Energy Cost Assistant, an AI-driven tool for transparent energy cost analysis with battery integration. It provides detailed insights into consumption patterns and cost structures. Thanks to artificial intelligence, it can identify optimisation potential and help reduce energy costs over the long term. Battery connectivity also enables efficient use of surplus energy. (su)
