[Berlin, Germany, November 19, 2020] The introduction of Qcells’ new power contracting and solar leasing models in Germany promises to alter the way in which small- and medium-sized enterprises in Europe engage with and benefit from the fast-paced renewable energy landscape.
The expansion of Qcells’ product offering from solar modules and storage systems to now include the segments of power contracting and leasing models for solar systems is also a notable evolution of the industry; one that will have a direct positive impact on the markets of Benelux and beyond. For companies in Germany, solar power from their own rooftops is the most cost-effective way of generating electricity at the direct site of consumption. However, many medium-sized companies have shied away from the planning and capital-intensive investment often required for their own solar system.
In 2020, a year in which long-term financial planning has been made even more difficult in the advent of the COVID crisis, the ability for companies to secure a renewable energy source without bearing the upfront costs is highly attractive. With this new service offerings of power contracting and solar plant leasing, Qcells offers two innovative ways for companies to benefit from low-cost and clean solar power, and to engage directly with the exciting new solar-as-a-service business model – and all while keeping their own investment costs low.
In both models, Qcells installs, at its own expense, a solar system on the roof of the owner or tenant of a building. Qcells also covers the company's remaining electricity needs with environmentally friendly electricity drawn from 100% renewable sources. Qcells thus offers companies a cost-effective and sustainable complete solution from a single source.
Power contracting as an all-round carefree package
With regards to power contracting, Qcells assumes the role of investor, owner and operator of the solar plant, and supplies the company with the majority of the electricity from the solar plant that is installed at its premises, all within the framework of an electricity supply contract. Qcells then directly markets the excess electricity that is not self-consumed by the company. The residual electricity that cannot be covered by solar power also comes from Qcells. It goes without saying that this is also 100% ecologically generated electricity.
Plant lease for maximum cost savings
With the second new business model introduced in Germany, the plant lease, Qcells remains the owner of the solar plant, although in this case it is leased by the respective company. This way, the electricity consumer becomes the operator of the system. The electricity consumed is thus regarded as own consumption, for which only a pro rata EEG levy of currently 2.7 euro cents instead of 6.8 euro cents per kilowatt hour is due. Qcells will be in charge of handling the direct marketing of excess electricity that cannot be consumed by the company itself and the supply of additional green electricity to cover the company's entire requirements.
As Qcells builds up its customer acquisitions in Germany, its home and pilot market, the company aims to expand these unique and innovative service offerings to other European markets in the near future, bringing key learnings and experiences from Germany and adapting them to suit other countries’ energy markets. With Benelux being one of the most vibrant and important European markets for Qcells, the Netherlands and Belgium are set to be among the first markets of the European roll-out in 2021.
Maarten Ribbens, Head of Sales Benelux for Qcells, said: “Qcells is looking forward to expanding the innovative power contracting and solar-as-a-service models into the Benelux market. Solar-as-a-service will empower and accelerate the region’s transition from fossil fuels and nuclear power towards renewables, and will do so with the direct and valued involvement of many companies that will not only reap the climate benefits, but the financial ones too.”
Qcells is the only company in the energy sector that combines the complete portfolio of a renowned solar manufacturer with new and innovative green electricity products. The company thus offers its private and commercial customers complete solutions from a single company to cover their electricity needs from 100% renewable energy sources with solar DNA. With its smart, innovative and individual energy solutions for private and commercial customers, Qcells ensures that its customers can always obtain the energy they need for their daily consumption in a cost-effective and ecologically sustainable manner.
About Qcells
Qcells is a renowned total energy solutions provider in solar cell and module, energy storage, downstream project business and energy retail. It is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea (Global Executive HQ) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology & Innovation HQ) with its diverse international manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Malaysia, China, and South Korea. Through its growing global business network spanning Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Africa and the Middle East, Qcells provides excellent services and long-term partnerships to its customers in the utility, commercial, governmental and residential markets. For more information, visit: www.q-cells.com.
Safe-Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and Qcells’ operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Qcells does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH
Corporate Communications
Jochen Endle, Ian Clover
Tel: +49 (0)3494 6699 10121
E-mail: presse@q-cells.com