KACO New Energy GmbH
We develop solar PV inverters in the power class of up to 100 kilowatts at two locations in Germany: at the headquarters in Neckarsulm and also in Kassel. The production for the European market takes place exclusively in Neckarsulm. In that way, not only value and jobs are created in the region; the good qualification of the workers is also an important precondition for high-quality products.We are committed to worldwide regenerative energy, based primarily on solar power. We see ourselves among the leading companies globally in all our fields of activity.
Company details
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- Business Type:
- Manufacturer
- Industry Type:
- Solar Energy
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
- Year Founded:
- 1914
- Employees:
- 101-1000
About Us
We turn passion into power
KACO new energy GmbH with its headquarters in Neckarsulm, Germany, specializes in PV inverters and monitoring systems as well as in power supply systems for rail and industrial applications. As a leading manufacturer in this field, the company has produced over 5 gigawatts of PV inverters since 1999.
German solar and electric wholesalers have been the key channels up until a few years ago. Today, at least 30% of the company’s sales are now directly due to international exports. Branches in the USA, Italy, Greece and South Korea, as well as sales offices in all important markets have been established to distribute the company’s products. KACO new energy now has 850 employees worldwide.
The secondary business interests are comprised of manufacturing power supply systems for rail and industrial applications. More than 15,000 battery-coupled power supply systems are employed in rail vehicles all over the world. Companies like Siemens, Alstom and Bombardier are among KACO’s customers. This technological prowess also includes manufacturing of inverters for combined heat and power plants, fuel cells and concentrator modules. In addition, KACO new energy provides components for electric car power generation.
The company’s hallmark is the demand it places on quality. Indeed, KACO new energy is the first manufacturer to give a seven year guarantee standard on its inverters. Carefully thought-out quality management controls have been established and are rigorously followed to ensure sustained reliability of all devices. Shipments to customers only include devices that have successfully passed extensive thermal and electronic test processes under extreme conditions. KACO new energy’s philosophy is that even a high degree of efficiency cannot compensate for the damage caused by an inverter failure on a good sunny day!
Innovation Through Research
Innovation Through Research
As early as in 1999, KACO new energy launched one of the first series-manufactured inverters without a transformer. This made KACO new energy a pioneer in the field of transformerless inverter technology, which yields higher degrees of efficiency. Another example of the company’s innovative power is the early introduction of three-phase monitoring. This method ensures multiple measurements, thus preventing unnecessary inverter disconnection from the grid.
Investments in research and development are key requirements for KACO new energy to maintain this position. Therefore, KACO new energy has established designated research teams in Kassel, Germany, and Neckarsulm for the further development of inverters up to a power class of 100 kW, as well as a team in Seongnam in South Korea for the development of solar inverters of higher power classes.
Committed to Mankind
KACO new energy wants to allow the less privileged people in this world to share the company’s success. We are engaged in different projects aimed at people – directly and personally. We do this because we are of the conviction that it is a human imperative. If we are all linked by a sense of mutual responsibility for one another, then we will make life on this planet richer and more liveable. First and foremost for those among us who are blamelessly trapped in living situations that they often cannot overcome with their own strength.
A few of the organisations and projects that we support:
- “Target” – Organisation led by Rüdiger Nehberg that seeks to stop female genital mutilation
- “Große Hilfe für kleine Helden” (Big Help for Little Heroes) – paediatric clinic foundation in Heilbronn, Germany
- “Peter Maffay Stiftung” (Peter Maffay Foundation) – assistance for traumatised children from around the world
KACO new energy is also committed to engaging in political work that furthers the use of photovoltaics. The company invites politicians for regular plant tours and to exchange views. The Senior Management takes part in panel forums and engages in public political discussions.
KACO new energy’s company culture is a very special one. All employees participate in the company’s profit. The company offers free organic food in winter and free soft drinks in summer. Regular foot-races take place, in which company members train for marathon runs. In addition, all employees are invited to work out in the in-house gym for free.
Milestones
At the turn of the year 1998/1999, Ralf Hofmann and a dozen employees left the old KACO group to start a separate company that was solely dedicated to photovoltaics: KACO GERÄTETECHNIK GmbH. With them, they brought decades of experience from KACO, which was already the world’s largest supplier of electromechanical choppers in the 50s, the predecessors of today’s inverters.
With one of its first series productions, the transformerless inverters, the young company launched itself into the solar age with a bang. It helped a technology to succeed that is now standard thanks to its high levels of efficiency. Today, the company is one of the largest manufacturers
of photovoltaic inverters in the world and is called KACO new energy.
Latest developments are the learning energy storage and management system Powador-gridsave as well as an integrated solution for the electrification of grid-remote regions, Powador-microGrid.
CO2-Neutral Production
The Price of Greatness is Responsibility
We work in an industry that generates power from sunlight, a renewable energy that protects the basis for life: a sound environment. But the responsibility we bear goes a lot further. Because of this, it is not only important WHAT we do, but also HOW we do it. That is critical for credibility. And this is why we are especially proud of our zero-emissions production, which has been attested with a certificate from Steinbeis Transfer Centre.
KACO new energy GmbH purchases green electricity from Elektrizitätswerke Schönau and LichtBlick AG. Thus, we not only produce clean power with the Powador inverters - clean power is already incorporated in them during production. The bottom lineis that we produce without emissions. In periods of high solar irradiance, our own photovoltaic systems, with 1,250 kilowatts of power themselves, supply more power than is needed in the plants. The heat for the production plants comes from a wood chip block heating station.
KACO new energy not only generates climate-neutral power itself; according to their proofs of origin, our two certified green energy suppliers also generate power primarily from renewable energy sources, including biomass cogeneration units. Only a small proportion originates from gas-operated cogeneration. No coal-fired or atomic energy is used at KACO new energy.
Our plants are located in the Neckarsulm industrial area known as 'Trendpark'. Employees travel between the plants using bicycles. There are electric cars available for transportation. Employees who frequently travel on business receive a rail discount card. In order to compensate for emissions caused by business flights taken by employees, KACO new energy also participates in the international myclimate initiative. It supports projects that lead to a direct reduction in greenhouse gases. We received the CSR Mobility Prize for environmentally aware business travel in 2010 from DMM, VCD and B.A.U.M. for this commitment.
Conclusion
KACO new energy produces:
- 100% free of nuclear power
- 100% CO2-neutral
- 100% committed to environmental protection