Benjamin Blaurock and his team developed two apps at the same time last year: SMA 360° is a digital all-purpose tool to support installers in their daily business. With SMA Energy, plant operators keep an eye on their energy system at all times and can charge their electrical vehicle intelligently. In this interview, he talks about the launch of the mobile applications, what new features will soon be available and when intelligent energy management will be possible with SMA Energy.

Driving under electric power is already more cost-effective than gasoline-fueled vehicles, says Lisa Spangenberg. As an expert in charging technology, she knows exactly where momentum of the energy transition on the road is still lacking. She also explains why e-mobility is becoming more and more fun.

Whether washing the dishes, doing the laundry in an eco-friendly way or heating and charging the e-car with solar power – we show you all electrical and thermal devices that you can use for you smart home.

The world’s leading trade fair for the solar industry, Intersolar Europe, had to be cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. With the new event format "Let's talk energy! POWER ON", SMA offered its customers and partners a digital alternative to the Munich trade fair in June. In the livestream, presenter Kimsy von Reischach and top-class experts provided interactive discussions and exciting glimpses behind the SMA scenes.

Stand-alone grids can be found all around the world — at the South Pole and in East Asia, deep in the jungle and in idyllic holiday regions. Solar stand-alone grids provide a stable electricity supply far away from utility grids – often even 100% from renewable energy. They form the basis for sustainable economic development. Isabel Ballesteros-Sanchez has already implemented countless off-grid projects for SMA and inspires optimism for a world full of off-grid systems.

Optimize energy yields in PV systems intelligently, but safely. When it comes to additional module electronics versus lean system design with modern inverter technology, Hannes Knopf is in his element. The expert in modern string inverter features knows why module optimizers are a safety risk. He explains how operators and installers can benefit from greater efficiency and safety over the entire system life with the integrated SMA ShadeFix software.

Over 800 million people in the world have no access to an electricity supply. A sustainable solution is available in the form of off-grid systems. These produce renewable energy from sun, wind or water in the exact places where it is needed. SMA off-grid systems are extremely robust and can therefore be modernized, even when the batterie´s lifecycle ends. Replacing old lead-acid batteries now with modern lithium-ion technology increases the efficiency and service life of the off-grid system.

With the PV system on the roof of their home, the Reinhardt family from northern Hesse, Germany, is committed to be part of the energy transition. The sustainable power generation is well established so that they want to continue to store excess energy using a storage system.

The world of renewable energies is truly fascinating. Our new Sonnenallee magazine presents compelling stories about the people, ideas and projects. Sonnenallee takes a broader view, clears up misconceptions, and seeks to change minds and make readers think.

Record solar yields in Europe: The summers of recent years have been extremely profitable for PV system operators. While nature suffered under the unrelenting heat of the sun, millions of PV systems were busy producing green power. And this is how PV system operator Vincent Illian is becoming increasingly independent from electric utility companies – right in the heart of Germany.