It's great to rejoice in affordable solar panels from China.
Enpal, a rising star in the energy industry, now generates 900 million euros annually. In the past few years, the company that rents solar panels and sells electricity from your rooftop boosted its revenue by a factor of nine thanks to its efficient workforce and customer-centered approach. It's planning to expand into heat pumps and hire more employees. The founder, Mario Kohle, reveals these details in the ntv podcast "Startup - Totally Honest." He also addresses the lack of skilled installers, stating that they've established an academy to train these professionals. While believing in competitive German module production, Kohle is not concerned about any challenges regarding skilled labor. Though experiencing some criticism, the company is confident in its progress and investments, aiming to become Europe's largest heat pump vendor later in 2023.
ntv.de: Enpal's figures are extraordinary. What's driving this success?
Mario Kohle: Enpal generated around €98 million in revenue in 2021, which increased nine times to €935 million this year. Such an accomplishment is down to the team's remarkable efforts. We're investing in heat pumps, our smart energy manager, and expanding sales networks to reach new heights.
But some critics claim your success only started this year, which could be due to poor performance earlier.
We sold roughly 1,000 heat pumps last year, making €28 million. This placed us among Germany's top heat pump providers. This year, we'll install at least 5,000 heat pumps, five times more than before, potentially making us the nation's top heat pump vendor. It comes with investment, though. We're creating an academy to train future heat pump installers, according to Kohle.
Is this criticism unfounded?
Feedback is vital. Detractors show us areas for improvement and hurdles to overcome. Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder, stated that if someone criticizes you, it's crucial to consider if their criticism is valid.
Are there any valid concerns?
Criticisms pushed Enpal to enhance efficiency, raising productivity from 1,000 heat pumps sold in 2021 to over 5,000 this year. Although challenges arise, our path remains on track based on the performance of our heat pump business. In the last five months, we have quadrupled the installed heat pumps, aiming to be Europe's leading heat pump vendor.
Doesn't the lack of skilled workers impact Enpal's operations?
Enpal's mission is to transform humanity from reliance on fossil technologies to renewable sources. With countless fanatics signing up to join the cause, we get many job applications. Even if there's a talent shortage in plumbing, heating, and climate areas, only one task in Enpal's heat pump installation processes needs an electrician's expertise. To solve the issue of insufficient labor, we're setting up academies that offer training and reduce red tape while ensuring quality.
Is importing Chinese solar modules problematic?
Trade issues could result in increased solar panel costs, reducing consumer interest in these technologies. Cheap solar panels from China keep European energy costs low. Enpal strives for affordable energy, so importing Chinese solar modules remains advantageous, even with potential tariffs.
Does Enpal plan to produce solar modules in Germany?
European solar module production is vital for geopolitical independence. However, it's unnecessary to compete with other manufacturers. Capital Bank, a supporter of Enpal, purchased the production site from Chinese solar module manufacturer Sunrise Resources. Enpal is also purchasing a solar module factory from Meyer Burger to produce solar modules in Germany.
Definitely. There's still no specific time or method decided, but we're certain that it will take place. Our geopolitical freedom is crucial for us.
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Despite the solar industry's reliance on affordable solar panels from China, Enpal is investing in heat pumps and planning to expand its workforce to meet growing demand. However, Kohle acknowledges the skills shortage in the plumbing, heating, and climate sectors and is addressing this issue by setting up academies to train future installers. Critics argue that Enpal's success started only recently, but Enpal's figures indicate a steady growth in revenue and installed heat pumps over the past few years. Tariffs on imported Chinese solar modules could increase costs, but Enpal sees the advantages in maintaining low energy costs for consumers and is also planning to establish solar module production in Germany.
