Could you briefly outline your role and responsibilities within the company?
I am one of the two Managing Directors of Memodo s.r.o., a company operating across the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. Given my technical background, I am primarily responsible for defining and driving the company’s product, commercial and technical support strategy. In the past, I was personally responsible for most C&I (Commercial & Industrial) projects within the company.
How important is the C&I segment for Memodo in the CEE market?
As the market has increasingly shifted towards this segment, we put a strong focus on the C&I business. Today, all our sales representatives have the required skills to design and manage commercial projects.
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How has growing demand in the C&I market reshaped your business strategy?
We follow a holistic approach and place strong emphasis on long term service and comprehensive support. We therefore offer service contracts alongside our projects to ensure high quality standards. Currently, this is primarily available in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, with plans to extend the offering to Poland.
Since when has Memodo been active in Central and Eastern Europe?
Memodo has been active in the CEE region since early 2018.
In which countries is Memodo active, and what is its presence in each?
We have dedicated sales teams in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, supported by local language technical support in each market. From a logistics perspective, we operate from our central warehouse in Prague, which serves all three countries.
What do you see as the main advantages of CEE markets?
The greatest advantage of the CEE markets is their strong growth potential and openness to innovation. These markets are still in a relatively dynamic phase of the energy transition, which creates significant opportunities for new technologies, business models and partnerships.
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Is energy security a factor for your customers?
Another key advantage is the increasing awareness of energy security and independence, which is driving demand for decentralised renewable solutions such as solar and battery storage. This provides a favourable environment for companies like Memodo that focus on high quality, long term energy solutions rather than purely short term transactions.
What feedback are you receiving on the availability of skilled workers?
The CEE region also benefits from a skilled technical workforce and a growing community of installers, engineers and energy professionals who are adopting new technologies and contributing to the modernisation of the energy sector. While the markets can be volatile, their momentum and development potential make them attractive for companies committed to advancing renewable energy.
What do you see as the main challenges in CEE?
The main challenge in the CEE region is market stability and regulatory predictability. On a yearly basis, support schemes, legislation and market frameworks change. While the transition from centralised to decentralised power generation is necessary and progressing, it also creates uncertainty.
In your opinion, would a more regulated environment support PV development in CEE?
I believe governments should adopt and drive a more long term strategic perspective. Businesses need stable conditions to invest in sustainable high quality solutions and aftersales services. Frequent regulatory changes lead to high fluctuation among market participants, which ultimately harms the entire industry, particularly in terms of solution quality and service reliability.
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As a wholesaler, we ultimately do our best to ensure stability when it comes to our selected suppliers and warranties. However, we cannot replace installers who leave the market or go bankrupt when it comes to end customer service.
How do you view CEE markets in relation to others?
CEE markets are significantly more dynamic, but also more volatile, compared to more mature markets such as Germany. They are also highly price driven.
What would you like to see happen in your markets?
A more stable market would naturally lead to higher overall quality in the market. When businesses operate in a highly dynamic market with subsidy windows that open and close unpredictably, they tend to prioritise the lowest cost solutions in order to maximise profitability. While I understand this, and in many cases it is simply a matter of survival, it is not ideal for the long term development of the sector. I hope that policymakers recognise this dynamic and work towards more stable, predictable frameworks.
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What developments do you expect in CEE over the next two to ten years, say until 2035?
Cybersecurity will become a critical issue and will require clear regulatory frameworks and industry standards. There will also be significant developments in grid services legislation. The market will require greater standardisation, which will be challenging for regulators and grid operators. As coal plants are phased out, renewable energy, particularly solar, will play a larger role in the energy mix. However, many grids are already operating at capacity limits. In this context, battery storage will be essential for grid stabilisation and flexibility services. I also hope there will be broader recognition that renewable energy is not only about reducing CO₂ emissions, it is fundamentally a strategic decision to become more energy independent.
Interview by Manfred Gorgus
