From pv magazine Germany
Kai Schuhmacher spent years traveling around Germany as a consultant for PV system owners. He said the question that all customers immediately ask is: “When will my photovoltaic system pay off?” The answer depends on many individual factors, with the amortization period generally spanning from eight to 16 years.
Schumacher said that many consultants currently still carry out these calculations in Excel spreadsheets that they create themselves, which reportedly is the best way to give their customers the most precise answer possible.
“The online tools that have been available on various websites for years have not really convinced me,” he stated.
He always wanted a uniform and, at the same time, simple calculation method that can be used directly at the customer's site. He now claims to have developed such a tool himself and called it Amortisator. It is an app that can be bought initially in the Apple Store, and soon in the Google Play Store, and is available in German, English, Spanish, and French.
He said the app is aimed primarily at customer advisors and costs €9.99 ($10.9) per month. It can be canceled on a monthly basis.
The app offers advisors and customers a quick amortization calculation, which can also be sent to non-users of the app by email. For the calculation, it utilizes inputs such as system performance and size, as well as details on rooftops and financing requirements.
Schuhmacher also wants to use the app to give potential photovoltaic customers the opportunity to find a customer advisor in their area. In this regard, there is an integrated chat that customers can use to contact them. Furthermore, the app reportedly helps customers evaluate previous consulting services. All of this is free of charge for those who are potentially interested in photovoltaics, Schumacher said.
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