Power electronics manufacturer Kostal Solar Electric plans to quadruple its production capacity for hybrid inverters by 2025 compared to 2021. The company already increased capacity by 50 per cent last year. However, the company reports that this cannot be fully utilised at present due to supply bottlenecks for electronic components for the inverters.
Expansion despite fragile supply chains for components
Regardless of the supply bottlenecks, Kostal will continue to expand production. This is the company's response to the drastic increase in demand, which is expected to remain high in the coming years. "The availability of electronic components will remain tight in 2022, but probably also in 2023," says Frank Henn, Managing Director of Kostal Solar Electric. "Thus, a complete utilisation of these production capacities is also uncertain for the coming year." However, with the planned expansion of capacity, which has already begun, the company can react quickly to changes in the market and changing supply situations.
New test field put into operation
At the same time, the company is also continuing to refine its technology and quality. Kostal has already set up two new laboratories. This is where development and test procedures are secured. In addition, the company has set up a new test field with an output of 250 kilowatts.
See also: Kostal Solar Electric: Power electronics designed for self-consumption
With this, the developers in Hagen will inspect and test the inverters, storage units and generators that will be newly introduced in the near future. Here again, the focus is on the growing demand for electricity in households and companies, also with a view to sector coupling. At the same time, Kostal is expanding its international sales and service in order to position itself more strongly in the European market.
Larger inverter for single-family homes
Kostal has also already announced the new generation of hybrid inverters with an output of up to 20 kilowatts, which will be launched on the market next year. "With this, we are supporting the trend of ever-larger photovoltaic systems with storage connection in the private customer segment as well. "We call this new market segment 'Residential Plus'," explains Frank Henn. (su/mfo)
Also interesting: SolarPower Europe: Yes to 45% renewable target by 2030
