A family-owned global company founded in 1945, Fronius has played a pioneering role in the solar and renewable energy industry since the early 1990s.
According to Fronius Australia Managing Director Mariella Doppelbauer, the company’s journey into solar energy began at a time when the concept was still unfamiliar to many.
“At that time, no one even knew really what a solar panel does or what an inverter does,” Doppelbauer said.
However, driven by a vision to give back electricity, Fronius started developing and launching its first inverters in 1992– and some of these early models are even still in operation today.
Doppelbauer said Fronius has always been committed to creating high-quality products, expanding its focus beyond inverter manufacturing.
“We’re committed to bringing solutions to help everyone electrify their home as much as possible,” she said.
That commitment shows in the Fronius portfolio, which now includes electric vehicle (EV) chargers and hot water solutions, with more innovations to come.
According to Doppelbauer, the Australian renewable energy market, much like other sectors around the world, is facing economic pressures and increased cost-of-living burdens. However, she remains optimistic about the future and sees solar power’s effect on energy bills is a key factor in alleviating these pressures.
“At the end of the day, it’s decreasing your cost of living by decreasing your energy bill,” she explained.
“Now it’s even more important than ever to invest into a high-quality system because the last thing you want is investing now and needing to invest again next year.”
This approach, Doppelbauer believes, will provide customers with the peace of mind they need as they navigate their energy decisions in the years to come.
When it comes to investing in renewable energy systems, new products play a crucial role in advancing the industry.
Doppelbauer introduced Fronius’ latest offering with enthusiasm: a new commercial inverter that comes in power categories of 25, 27, 30, and 33.3 kilowatts. This inverter is set to be the successor of the highly successful SnapINverter Eco series.
Doppelbauer highlighted the flexibility this new inverter offers, particularly in system design.
“It comes with four entities, so whatever system you want to design, the inverter is able to do that with you,” she said.
In addition, the inverter features a dynamic peak manager that maximises system performance in shaded conditions without the need for additional components.
As with all Fronius products, the new inverter is designed, developed and manufactured in Europe, adhering to the highest quality and safety standards.
“Maximum performance and longevity is of great important for us,” Doppelbauer said.
Fronius remains committed to long-term customer satisfaction, which Doppelbauer said is achieved by an unwavering commitment to quality standards.
Whether it’s testing in salt rooms, hot rooms, or water rooms, Fronius ensures that its products can withstand even the harshest conditions, an essential quality, especially in a diverse climate like Australia.
“We want to be set apart in the market so that everyone knows if you’re buying a Fronius inverter, no compromise has been made on quality,” Doppelbauer said.
Further solidifying this commitment, Fronius recently announced an upgrade to a 10-year warranty model for its inverters, a move that Doppelbauer describes as a significant commitment to the Australian market.
“We’ve always had a ‘five plus five’ warranty, but we wanted to ensure that if we give a promise to our customers, it’s a promise we can confidently stand behind,” she said.
This 10-year full warranty, which includes material and labour, is offered specifically in Australia and New Zealand, demonstrating Fronius’s dedication to the markets.
In addition to quality and longevity, Fronius also has strong commitment to sustainability that go extends to the very materials that go into its inverters.
“We are sourcing more than 70 per cent of all our materials from European companies,” Doppelbauer said.
“This choice isn’t just about proximity; it’s about ensuring ethical work environments and high standards across the supply chain.
“The closer we are with those companies, the more we can ensure that the working conditions of our suppliers meet our standards.”
Information security is a paramount concern in the renewable energy sector, especially given the sensitive customer data collected by products like inverters.
Doppelbauer said Fronius adopts a highly conservative approach to safeguarding such data, recognising the potential severe consequences of any breach.
“If such sensitive information were to fall into the wrong hands, it could jeopardise the integrity and stability of some companies’ entire inverter fleet,” she said.
To mitigate these risks, Fronius has been actively collaborating with the government and industry to develop robust and strong cybersecurity standards.
“While current regulations address smaller systems, the security implications for larger fleets are significant,” Doppelbauer said. “We are committed to implementing stringent measures to ensure that customer data is securely stored and unauthorised access to inverters is effectively prevented.”
With the All Energy Australia Expo set to take place in Melbourne in October, Doppelbauer said she would love to see renewable energy leaders from across Australia and around the globe at Fronius’ booth.
“We’re excited to share ground-breaking announcements at All Energy Australia that align with our commitment to a sustainable future,” she said.
“Let’s work together to build a thriving solar industry that benefits generations to come. By investing wisely and adopting sound business practices, we can navigate challenges and create a more resilient and prosperous energy landscape.”
This article featured in the October edition of ecogeneration.
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