Solar Power Needs Strong Partners
Interview with Markus Krampe, Managing Director of Enovos Renewables O&M GmbH
Photovoltaics are booming – but what happens once the modules are installed? That’s when the phase begins in which operation, maintenance, and performance optimization determine the economic efficiency. Markus Krampe, Managing Director of Enovos Renewables O&M GmbH in Saarbrücken, explains in the interview why the professional operation of PV systems is demanding, what challenges need to be mastered daily – and how his team ensures that solar power flows reliably.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Krampe, many people think that operating PV systems is simple. Why is this a mistake?
Markus Krampe: The impression often arises from a private perspective: a small system on the rooftop that is rarely checked. If one string fails, it often goes unnoticed. At the power plant level, it's completely different: Here, we deal with medium to high voltage, economical operation, and contractual obligations in the B2B sector. Anyone who thinks that a PV system runs maintenance-free will be taught otherwise at the latest when the first serious failure of an inverter occurs.
Wirtschaftsforum: What are the challenges in operational management?
Markus Krampe: A major challenge is vegetation control. We specifically use animals to prevent growth that could shade the modules and reduce performance. Moreover, each PV system is unique. Different types of modules and inverters, cabling, and site conditions require custom maintenance. Therefore, we see ourselves as an independent workshop for all brands, which gives us flexibility and independence to quickly respond to the individual requirements of each system.
Wirtschaftsforum: How has your company positioned itself in this market?
Markus Krampe: Our origins are in the O&M business of Q-Cells. After their bankruptcy, we took over the service sector. Today we manage about one gigawatt of installations and are part of the Luxembourg energy group Encevo. Our strength lies in the versatility and expertise we have built up over the years.
Wirtschaftsforum: What are your core services?
Markus Krampe: We are starting with the monitoring. Our colleagues monitor the facilities from sunrise to sunset to detect and diagnose errors early before a technician has to visit the site for an inspection. Additionally, we handle repairs and revamping measures. We offer expertise in medium voltage and a growing service in repowering. This way, we manage to extend the life of facilities and secure their efficiency in the long term.
Wirtschaftsforum: What does your staffing structure look like?
Markus Krampe: We currently have about 25 dedicated people and are still looking for more support. The German part of the Encevo group has a total of 500 employees, and altogether more than 2,500 people work for Encevo across Europe. Our business is labor-intensive—it's about trust and experience. We offer long-term prospects, which ensures us low turnover and a stable team. Our employees particularly value the opportunities for development and the exciting work in the field of renewable energies.
Wirtschaftsforum: How do you handle margin pressure?
Markus Krampe: Previously, service was often included in project prices. Today, customers buy the installation and tender the service separately. The market is very competitive. We focus on quality, process optimization, supplier partnerships, and digitalization, especially in monitoring. We have also introduced a quality management system and are working on an information security management system to ensure the lasting trust of our customers.
Wirtschaftsforum: What importance does the Saarbrücken location have for you?
Markus Krampe: Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate are our home markets. We operate our own facilities here and know the region well, which enables fast response times. At the same time, through our group structure, we are networked across Europe, such as through our sister companies in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. This gives us flexibility and strength on an international level.
Wirtschaftsforum: What challenges do you see for the future of solar energy – and how does Enovos Renewables O&M address these?
Markus Krampe: In my opinion, solar power is significantly more predictable during the day compared to wind power, but to use it more efficiently, we need more storage solutions like battery systems or pumped storage power plants. Also, the regulatory effort in network operations and billing should urgently be simplified. At the same time, the complexity and the intensive maintenance required to operate PV systems are often underestimated. Besides repairs, preventive maintenance, precise monitoring, and actions such as targeted vegetation control are crucial. Our goal is to ensure the highest technical availability of the installations. Our claim is to actively shape the energy transition together with experienced partners, to establish new standards in operational management and to ensure high performance and reliability of the installations permanently – for our customers and a sustainable energy future.