It will stay in peoples minds as a critical year for the entire solar energy sector, which depended heavily on government subsided green energy prices. The significant Feed-in Tariff cuts in Europe and uninterrupted solar PV modules price decrease deeply impacted the market behavior, the only positive note being the awakening of new emerging solar markets.
Continuing economic challenges and changing policies have generated uncertainties, negative perspectives and reduced market growth in traditional renewable energy markets such as Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, the UK or even France.
Despite the gloomy global economic context, 2012 proved to be very positive for The meeco Group. We expanded and grew considerably, moving into new regions and countries, where the interest and policies to promote renewable energies is rapidly rising. Obviously this has in part been possible thanks to major dropdowns in module index prices, explains Victoria Lázaro, Head of Procurement for The meeco Group.
Geographical expansion has been a constant factor since 2008 and has turned into a real strategic advantage for The meeco Group. We work with strong and key local partners and bring along our strategic know-how, provide top-tier quality products while our partner manages all local activities such as service, sales and supervises / guides the professional implementation of local installations under our guidance, declares Dieter Trutschler, Sales Director for The meeco Group.
In 2012, The meeco Group has worked on more than 80 projects in 21 different countries, installing close to 50 MW capacity, 80% of it being grid connected projects. In addition, two exclusive solutions were developed: the sun2flow, a solar water pumping solution available in both fixed and mobile version, the sun2live a modular solar energy generation and storage system for households, schools, business and small industries with weak or no grid, as well as the sun2fish, a solar based fishing buoy solution.
Developing new solutions has opened a whole new perspective and brought along exciting business opportunities, says Eric Borremans, International Sales Manager for The meeco Group. Among these new solutions, the sun2flow has been particularly successful and has contributed to settle the company in new markets such as Latin America, India, Pakistan and other Asian Pacific countries where the demand for off-grid energy solutions as well as energy storage is very high, adds Borremans.
The meeco Group has also started diversifying its product offering, adding hydroelectric power generation to his portfolio, namely the water turbine solution from German-based Smart Hydro. This decision echoes the companys belief in providing the best renewable energy solutions, that meet all expectations, both economically and environmentally, for todays and tomorrows energy needs.
