What drives Sonnenschmied in the field of energy systems, is there a project or an experience that has particularly shaped your work?
We have realized many PV projects for industry in the past. It is becoming increasingly clear that complex systems, whether due to the requirements of the client or increasingly demanding regulations, are precisely our core competence. The team of the Sonnenschmied Group stands for this claim and the will to successfully implement even difficult projects in the field of renewable energies.
What requirements do you have for monitoring and evaluating your storage solutions during operation?
As installers of the systems, we have very high quality standards. We are not only concerned with sales, but also with ensuring the long-term satisfaction of our customers and guaranteeing productive and efficient systems. To achieve this, it is essential to continuously monitor the systems and regularly evaluate the relevant parameters.
What was particularly important to you when choosing a partner for battery diagnostics and how did the collaboration with NOVUM come about?
When selecting a partner, it is primarily important to us that the company has the technical expertise that we can pass on to our customers as added value. It is also just as important to us that the company’s philosophy suits us and that our partner is also passionate about establishing and monitoring well-functioning systems on the market. We first got to know NOVUM at an energy forum and were very impressed by their in-depth understanding at electrochemical cell level and their comprehensive knowledge of the storage systems of the last decade. In addition, NOVUM shows impressive agility when it comes to technical inquiries. We were particularly impressed by the solution-oriented approach, which also reflects our own philosophy.
Which NOVUM solutions do you currently use and how do you supplement your own systems and working methods?
We generally work very closely with NOVUM to evaluate current market trends and storage manufacturers. For one of our projects, which will be realized in 2025, we are now using monitoring of our storage systems for the first time (40 MWh).
What insights have you gained from the collaboration so far, for example with regard to the joint work on setting up a monitoring system?
The cooperation with NOVUM is very pleasant — always in partnership and on an equal footing. Joint projects are implemented quickly and efficiently. We support each other with open questions so that viable solutions can be found quickly.
What changes or improvements have you noticed as a result of NOVUM’s monitoring and consulting and what would you still like to see
We will see this in the future when the monitoring is up and running and we have been able to gain initial experience with it.
How do you experience the exchange with NOVUM, both technically and on a human level?
The exchange with NOVUM is always fast, uncomplicated and based on partnership. We are particularly impressed by the team’s high level of technical understanding and expertise.
When you look back at the projects to date: Where are the stumbling blocks in the project process? Keyword: suppliers, bureaucracy and network operators.
There are enough projects that could contribute to grid stabilization, but they are currently being slowed down significantly by bureaucracy and grid operators. Our suppliers are doing everything they can to realize projects at short notice — as we were able to prove on the hardware side in 2025 with a project expansion of 50 MWp and 40 MWh within just two months. However, it is now up to the aforementioned parties to actually connect the system to the grid.
Where do you see the topic of battery storage heading and what role do reliable diagnostics such as those offered by NOVUM play in this?
Battery storage is the means to advance renewable energies and create both effectiveness and efficiency. In my view, there is no way around storage systems, as the economic development clearly shows, without the need for subsidies. As the market continues to grow, monitoring these systems is extremely important, as they will secure our energy budget in the future — at every stage of the life cycle of a storage system.
