With Yammer, we have launched an enterprise social network (ESN) at SMA. This means that we use not only e-mail, chat functions and the telephone but also communities to discuss job-related issues within the company. A workshop with our Yammer admins and community manager Katharina Krentz from Bosch identified additional potential for lively communities.

Year in, year out, Intersolar Europe is one of my top events. Last week, the international PV industry descended on Munich again, and the atmosphere was the best it has been in a long time.

The U.S. is one of SMA's most important sales markets and, in the estimation of the Managing Board, will make a significant contribution to the expected increase in sales and earnings in the second half of the year. This assessment was reinforced by my visit to the U.S. in mid-April.

Today we published SMA’s results in 2018. It was a very challenging year that we had originally started with a...

Businesses face the challenge of hacking to prevent cyber attacks. SMA is prepared for digitization and cyber security requirements.

Australia is one of the world’s most exciting and promising photovoltaic markets, which was once again confirmed in the course of a number of conversations with customers during my visit last week. In all probability, after its record year in 2018, the Australian PV market will significantly grow again to 4.4 gigawatts this year. In addition to photovoltaics, storage systems are becoming ever more important, not only for independent electricity supplies for homes but also, in particular, for the power plant segment.

Plenty of oil, but little electricity. Nigeria may be rich in raw materials, however, electricity supply leaves much to be desired. SMA supports the energy transition in Nigeria’s commercial and rural energy supply with a range of intelligent solar solutions and local training programs. Solar micro- and stand-alone grids ensure sustainable economic development in this Sunbelt nation.

PV power plants have to reliably provide electrical energy over decades. If the components within the power plant do not work properly, the plant cannot provide maximum energy yield. That is why regular maintenance is indispensable. In regular trainings at SMA, electricians and plant owners can acquire the necessary knowledge.

In the competition with conventional energy carriers, solar power prices are falling dramatically. It is a difficult situation for project developers and investors who install and operate large PV power plants. In tenders and auctions for new power generation capacities, they are awarded contracts only if they guarantee very low prices and high reliability in the supply of electricity. To support them in this, an international team has developed the SMA Profit+ Solution.

When it comes to combining ecology and economy, the Häde family from Alheim-Heinebach, Germany, likes to be at the cutting edge of development. The first PV system was installed on the poultry farm in 2001. Now the family-run business will be a trailblazer in digital energy supply with SMA’s IoT platform for energy management ennexOS.