Arausol’s projects typically span two weeks to six months and involve teams of 25 to 70 installers, usually working with their own equipment. Most substructures go into ground-mounted PV parks, with about five percent used in agri-PV systems.
Solar Investors Guide e-paper: Mounting on trickier terrain (free download)
Targeted services for agri-PV
The company continues to refine its services for agri-PV applications in orchards and vineyards. “Agri-PV is only marginally profitable for investors due to high regulatory hurdles,” says Henning Wicht. “With the right system design, it can be an attractive source of additional income for farmers and fruit or vegetable growers.”
Solar-Planit puts users at the centre of solar planning (interview)
Beyond energy yield, dual-use solar offers many other benefits. As well as protection from excess heat through shading, the systems increasingly provide cover from hail and heavy rain. The trend towards higher module output also supports agri-PV: while modules averaged 540 watts in 2023, outputs of 630 watts are now common, and this upward trend continues.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for investors
Navigating a volatile market
The solar industry remains more volatile than most traditional sectors, demanding flexibility and a sharp eye on costs. Steel prices are a key factor in mounting system costs, followed by labour, especially amid rising minimum wages.
Arausol has developed a standardised mounting system that requires only one screw size. Modules are clamped and mounted from below, with cables housed inside the cross beams and inverters integrated into the structure.
“The aim is to keep everything as simple and standardised as possible,” explains Wicht. “This reduces logistics costs, cuts material use, lowers the error rate and speeds up installation.” Fewer screw connections and robust stability also help reduce long-term maintenance costs.
Built to scale
Public authorities have recently shown growing interest in smaller PV projects. These sites often come with their own challenges, but Arausol has proven reliable for both niche and large-scale applications.
UK: Axpo signs PPA for co-located PV project
Major players such as Naturstrom, Greenovative, Eon, EnBW, RWE and Goldbeck Solar, along with municipal utilities such as Zeag in Heilbronn, continue to rely on the company’s systems. Arausol is also active in the UK, the Netherlands, France, Poland and Romania.
Looking ahead, Henning Wicht says: “We are prepared for growth, ready to scale and committed to quality, and are supported throughout by digitalisation and AI.” (Leo Fromm/HS/TF)
