From Austria, SKE supplies 16 countries – Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Greece, Ireland, Kosovo, Croatia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Austria, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, UK, and Cyprus – with smart solar products from Huawei. Founded in 2008, SKE is one of the leading companies in the European solar market.
Interview with Dareios Dimitriou, Area Sales Manager South Balkan at SKE.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Dareios Dimitriou: SKE takes over all sales and support activities for Huawei FusionSolar in 16 countries in Central, East and South Europe. As a PV specialist SKE supports customers across its countries in sales, logistics, training, certification and with technical support for all Huawei photovoltaic products.
More, SKE supports partners internationally in their local language on all technical questions about the Huawei product portfolio and about complex photovoltaic system solutions. This ensures rapid and competent assistance for SKE customers and partners with planning, commissioning, and analysis through to uncomplicated warranty processing.
E.E: What’s the news about new products/services?
D.D: In the FusionSolar Residential Smart PV solution category, we can find recent product additions designed to optimize the homeowner’s experience during solar power generation, energy storage and energy management.
On the solar power generation side, Huawei has launched the most powerful “battery ready” string inverter, the SUN2000-(12-25K)-MB0. Its strength lies in its power conversion capacity, which has been increased from 12 kilowatts to 25 kilowatts. The conversion power can be ordered and customized according to the specific system requirements of 12, 15, 17, 20 and 25 kilowatts. As a hybrid inverter, its future features support PV design optimization with Smart Module Controllers, compatibility with the new Smart String ESS model LUNA2000-7/14/21-S1 storage system, where a single MB0 inverter can manage up to 84 kWh of storage capacity. In addition, the management of smart home devices is now powered by artificial intelligence of EMMA, the energy management assistant from Huawei, allowing prosumers to take full control of energy flow. With Huawei’s FusionSolar App, homeowners can monitor and manage their solar energy systems in real-time, gaining insights into energy production, consumption, and savings.
The MBO supports four PV string inputs using two independent MPP trackers for optimized power output with a maximum input voltage of 1100V. It is a perfect option for complex designs and multiple string alignment.
Huawei Intelligent Power Controllers offer a plug-and-play installation design. It offers a simple installation design with easy connection of the AC output power cable to simplify the installer’s tasks in preparing the DC and AC output power cables as well as the communication network.
SKE scores in the PV industry with its initiative and expertise in developing skilled workers. The SKE Academy turns participants into competent contacts, from planning to installation of Huawei FusionSolar solutions. SKE CEO Dr. Thomas Frank: “We actively approach electricians, installers, PV dealers, system planners and their employees and train, test and certify every participant in our SKE Academy. In hundreds of hands-on practice training courses and roadshows that we offer in 16 European countries, we impart knowledge from experts for experts to thousands of graduates.”
SKE roadshow trucks are on the road throughout Europe all year round. On site, at wholesalers and installers, SKE presents the Huawei FusionSolar portfolio. The Huawei FusionSolar products are within reach of the participants and the SKE experts are available to answer any questions. All current dates for the SKE Hands-on Practice training courses are online at www.ske-solar.com.
E.E: What are the ranges of products/services?
D.D: Photovoltaics is the central technology of the energy transition. It provides people with sustainable, affordable solar power. As a Huawei Value Added Partner and Certified Service Partner, SKE offers Huawei FusionSolar solutions for Residential, Commercial & Industrial and Utility Scale applications.
Integrated PV systems coupled with Storage systems is the main solution proposal for distributed renewable energy production in On-grid and Off-grid scenarios to foster the energy transition. Huawei’s FusionSolar Smart PV solutions adapted across multiple solution scenarios and project types. The FusionSolar product portfolio includes residential, C&I and utility scale PV and energy storage. It provides families, business owners, enterprises, grid operators and municipalities with clean and affordable solar power.
Huawei FusionSolar Residential is the intelligent and sustainable photovoltaic technology for solar energy generation in all private living areas – in single-family houses, apartment buildings and multi-party residential buildings. Huawei FusionSolar Residential is a prosumer-centric, all-in-one solution that offers solar power generation, storage and management to participate in the energy transition. Huawei’s FusionSolar Residential product portfolio ensures product quality, optimal efficiency, and reliability.
The benefits lie in maximising energy production through cutting-edge string inverter PV technology, storing excess energy with state-of-the-art batteries, and providing intelligent management through EMMA, providing homeowners with a robust, sustainable and user-friendly solution.
Efficient and calculable work in commercial and industrial infrastructures is supported by the solutions from Huawei FusionSolar in the Commercial & Industrial range. Products for large-scale photovoltaic systems can be found in the Huawei FusionSolar Utility Scale performance range.
Anticipate future needs with the easy-to-upgrade features of Huawei devices. It’s not just a system for today, it’s an investment that evolves with you.
E.E: What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
D.D: Huawei products and SKE services help people and industry to solarize their energy needs and effectively reduce emissions. The transformation from fossil energy consumption to solar and climate-neutral energy generation is a challenging task. It is the many initiatives for greater environmental awareness. Global partnership as the interaction of technological, social and economic factors of both companies drives sustainable, solar energy generation. With the help of digital Huawei technologies, energy production and energy consumption become even smarter, safer and more efficient.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
D.D: One thing is certain: the future is electric. As an international company, we face the global challenges of our time every day.
Huawei’s Smart PV business provides solutions that use intelligent PV and storage collaborative control algorithms to realise energy flow management to improve self-consumption and increase energy independence. In this sense, it has brought more safety, efficiency and intelligence. The technology and solutions presented in the FusionSolar product portfolio aim to completely change the way we engage with power and energy flows. The result will be a greener and more liveable planet for us all.
E.E: What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
D.D: Huawei is at the forefront of Utility Scale PV technology, focusing on integrating PV with Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and leveraging cutting-edge materials and technologies. This strategy has significantly improved power supply stability in PV+ESS systems. Notable advancements include enhanced safety design, spanning AC to DC safety, hardware, and software measures, and information security. This comprehensive safety approach includes a shift from passive to active safety mechanisms, ensuring robust protection across various dimensions. Moreover, the integration of grid-forming energy storage technologies is revolutionizing power grid dynamics, facilitating the seamless integration of renewable energy sources. Real-world projects have validated the feasibility of GWh-level PV+ESS grid forming capabilities, marking a major milestone in Utility Scale PV technology evolution. Through collaboration with Huawei and SKE, customers are empowered to achieve their carbon neutrality objectives with highly efficient, safe, and reliable solar power plants.
E.E: What estimations do you have for the beginning of 2024?
D.D: One of the main challenges today and in the future is to find qualified employees for the technology area and also for all other areas of a company that is as rapidly expanding as SKE. As already mentioned, many competitors are entering the market. The quality of the products and services will make the difference.
SKE is growing rapidly and is building Europe’s largest warehouse and logistics center for power storage solutions and photovoltaic products in Austria. By 2025, more than 450 jobs will be created here on 30,000 square meters of storage, logistics and office space, including the SKE Solar Academy.
SKE Engineering GmbH
SKE Office Greece
Building THERMI 1
Kazantzidi St. 47, Pylea
Thessaloniki 57001
Greece
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