ENERGIA - Magazine for Equipment, Technologies and Engineeringyear XIII, issue 4, 2021

FRONIUS is shifting the limits with innovations of solar technologies

Conversation with Verena M. Huber - Area Sales Manager Central Eastern Europe

FRONIUS is shifting the limits with innovations of solar technologies

Dear Mrs. Huber, Fronius became popular in Bulgaria with its invertors for PV systems. Could you please tell to ENERGIA magazine readers what your latest innovations in that field are?
One of our latest innovations is the Fronius IG Plus 100 V-3. The device was launched on the European market in July 2011 and is satisfying market requirements and unveiling a three-phase inverter with an output power of 8kW.

The Fronius IG Plus 100 V-3 boasts a variety of features: reactive power provision, three-phase feed-in and dynamic grid backup ensure problem-free integration into the grid, even in regions with a large number of PV systems. There are no phase-load imbalances at all.

The usual benefits, such as the Fronius MIXTM concept, the HF transformer switchover, the Fronius Module Manager, the PC board replacement concept, the service-friendly installation system and the cleverly-designed ventilation system, are all present in this latest addition to the Fronius IG Plus family.

Another Fronius development is the Fronius Solar web application that enables data to be retrieved from private PV systems across the world using a Smartphone. This feature allows system operators to keep constant track of energy yields and enables all systems registered by the operator to be monitored. Two applications, one for Apple products and one for Android products, cover a comprehensive target group.

Another mentionable innovation is the energy management function for the Fronius IG Plus series which enables system operators to use more of their own PV-generated energy. More information of our products can be found on www.fronius.com.

At Intersolar 2011 Fronius appeared under "Shifting the limits" brand image. What exactly that means for your customers and end users?
The message epitomizes what the company stands for: providing services to its customers using state-of-the art technology - to the highest quality levels on the market. By developing innovative solutions in the field of solar electronics, Fronius is constantly shifting the limits of what is possible.

For our readers is interesting to know more beyond the Fronius invertors’ technology. Could you please tell them about your stationary and portable Fronius Energy Cells?
It all started with the idea of making solar energy usable in any season and at any time of day. In order to realize this, we needed an adequate solution to store the energy for periods with little or no sunlight. Regular batteries are less effective or even impossible over longer periods of time because of their self-discharge. In order to make a PV system a year round, autonomous energy source, up until now you would have to rely on loud and environmentally unfriendly gas generators as a backup. Fronius has found a new solution for this - the Fronius Energy Cell. The part hydrogen into power is already serial available, in the future, it will also convert excess power to hydrogen. The hydrogen is then converted back into power when there is no or too less sunshine.

The Fronius Energy Cell version now ready for production (i.e. converting hydrogen into power) can also be used for mobile applications such as electric boats or logistical vehicles. In these applications the mobile Fronius Energy Cell replaces the common batteries.

At the Fronius Sattledt location logistical vehicles are operating using environmentally-friendly hydrogen instead of batteries. The main benefits include quick refueling (batteries take 8 – 10 hours to recharge) and the doubling of the range and/or energy density. This project was also honored with the World Energy Globe Award 2007.

We speak more and more about EV charging systems today. Linked with this, what kind of solutions do you have today and how do you see the future of battery charging in Europe?

E-Mobility is the biggest challenge and opportunity battery charging has ever faced. We are sure that DC fast charging at home and at public places will be a huge market for us in the near future. DC fast charging requires deep knowledge in power electronics and new battery technologies, two topics in which Fronius is heavily investing in research and development. We are currently developing a DC Wallbox for the private home and also started planning a DC Fast-charging station for public use. Both will be based on the recently, by the German car manufacturers, decided Combo-Standard. The DC Wallbox is one part of the grand Fronius vision to make the autonomous home and energy independency for everybody possible. Another example of how Fronius is shifting the limits again.

In the end, could you share with our readers what are your overall expectations for 2012 and what do you expect from relatively small markets like Bulgaria?
Globally, I see dark clouds coming towards specific sectors in 2012. According to the latest OECD Report, economy will slow significantly. The current CPI is an indicator for that. Therefore I think that we will see a cooling down of the economy or a recession, if I’m allowed to use a not welcomed word.

I predict that specific sectors will slow down, we already can see this happening now in America not only for the solar sector, where 3 huge solar companies were getting insolvent like Solyndra this week for instance but also for supporting sectors of the industry like the car industry. In the last six months fewer cars have been sold also in Germany, which might be also an indicator that people don’t have enough purchasing power or going into different assets. However, I think that throughout the ongoing consolidation of the solar market worldwide, we might lose some big names on the market if Asian markets are not kicking in early enough with their feed-in programs. In addition to that, some banks could have problems as they are holding toxic assets they gained from the Greek bailout which could lead into a stop of Interbank lending and because of that a stop of loans for PV projects. This could affect also Bulgaria, depending on how much western banks are involved in Bulgaria. So basically I expect still some projects for 2012 to come in Bulgaria, but only as long banks are doing their job. I also have the opinion that in the mid-term Bulgaria could benefit from their own currency more than other EU members from the EURO right know.