The certification of photovoltaic systems is a major challenge. It is a bottleneck in the expansion of large photovoltaic systems. The challenges are manifold. In addition to the various requirements that the almost 1,000 grid operators in Germany place on the systems, it is above all the great effort involved that makes certification a game of patience.
Certification in less time
Carbodfreed, based in Meldorf in Schleswig-Holstein, has therefore developed Gridcert, an AI-supported solution to digitalise and therefore speed up the entire grid connection process. Project planners can carry out the entire certification process via Gridcert, which, according to the company, reduces the processing time for system certification from several months to just a few weeks.
More than 700 systems certified
The company has now raised almost one million euros from investors in a first round of financing to bring this solution further onto the market. The capital comes from Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Schleswig-Holstein (MBG), Bürgschaftsbank Schleswig-Holstein and Sparkasse Westholstein.
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Carbonfreed has already connected more than 700 systems to the grid quickly and safely. Founder and Managing Director Marko Ibsch intends to use the fresh capital to significantly further develop the company's own AI software. "Our platform has so far specialised in the grid connection process for solar systems with an inverter output power of up to 950 kilowatts," explains Marko Ibsch. "In the coming months, we will expand our software so that it can also be used for larger systems, which will open up a completely new market for us. This will also make the integration of wind turbines into the platform a reality," he adds as a prospect.
Tapping into new markets
Carbonfeed currently only offers Gridcert in Germany. However, this is also set to change in the near future thanks to the financing round. "Digitalisation is an important key to driving the energy transition forward as quickly as possible - here in Germany, in Europe and around the world," emphasises Ibsch.
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"We are currently still focussing on Germany, but the safe and rapid integration of solar systems into the power grid is of course a global issue. It is therefore only a matter of time before we roll out our service internationally." After all, the demand from abroad is already there, so the market is there. (su/mfo)
