About meteocontrol
meteocontrol is a leading provider of innovative solutions for energy and asset management. We offer holistic and tailored solutions to improve performance, reduce risks and increase returns on investment. We provide a one-stop approach to bring together technologies and make the most of your renewable assets, with full flexibility for future investments.
Our cutting-edge product portfolio includes scalable monitoring and control solutions, comprehensive energy management and technical consulting services. As a technology-neutral provider, we ensure clients have the freedom to choose the best solutions for their specific needs, without being tied to any particular technologies, manufacturers or service providers. You can rely on us for complete independence while maintaining full control over your data and assets. We specialize in coordinating and commissioning power plant monitoring, offering customized solutions for project stakeholders. Our independent technical consulting safeguards your investments, with our experts available to address your financial, organizational and technical queries.
At meteocontrol, we pride ourselves on our commitment to quality, customer service and strong partnerships. Our team of experts works closely with clients to deliver tailored solutions that address their unique challenges, helping them to stay ahead of the curve and achieve their financial goals.
With 25 years of experience in the renewable energy sector, meteocontrol has earned the trust of thousands of customers worldwide, spanning from commercial to utility-scale renewable energy projects. We believe that strong partnerships are the key to success and we work relentlessly to build lasting relationships with our worldwide partners. Experience the perfect blend of future-proof technology, expertise and commitment that sets meteocontrol apart and let us guide you toward a brighter, more sustainable future.
Industry-leading expertise
With over two decades of experience, our team has developed unparalleled knowledge of renewable energy technologies and best practices.
Technology-agnostic solutions
Our independence from specific technologies, manufacturers, and service providers ensures that our solutions are tailored to your unique needs.
Commitment to quality and customer service
We pride ourselves on our commitment to quality, customer service, and strong partnerships. Our team of experts works closely with clients to deliver tailored solutions and provide exceptional customer support at every step of the journey.
Proven track record of success
Our reputation for quality and customer service has earned us the trust of organizations across a wide range of industries.
Together with meteocontrol, we are pursuing an ambitious goal: to drive forward the energy transition and promote access to clean electricity worldwide. In emerging markets, companies are growing rapidly and need cheaper and more sustainable energy. With meteocontrol's standardized solutions, we can implement solar projects quickly and flexibly without compromising on high standards and quality. We look forward to many more successful projects and to make a difference together.
Martin Baart, CEO and co-founder, ecoligoToday, our collaboration with meteocontrol is a close and trusting partnership. We have been developing the VCOM Cloud together for many years - to offer O&M teams and customers optimal solutions for effective monitoring and efficient asset management. We have actively helped shape many changes in the industry. This makes IBC SOLAR and meteocontrol a great team and gives us the security and confidence to continue growing together in the future.
Sebastian Geier, Senior Vice President Product and Innovation Management, IBC SOLARDid you know that...?
Surprising facts about meteocontrol
... about 17,000 blue’Log XM/XC are online worldwide.
... in Technical Consulting more than 3,000 yield reports for approx. 25.6 GWp have been completed.
... the VCOM Cloud is used in 140 countries.
... our hardware developers used work titles from Greek mythology? For example, the internal project name of the former data logger operating system was Apollon.
.. one of the earliest systems in the portal is located at the Messe Freiburg. It has been providing reliable data since November 2002.
... in the 90s, the production of solar power for a customer was once visualized with a traffic light. In the production of bathtubs, it showed when the PV system on the roof was producing electricity (green) and when employees could switch on the machine for deep-drawn bottoms and when not (red).
Our vision
We turn 100% renewable energy into reality to create a sustainable and prosperous future for everybody, worldwide.
Our mission
We enable all renewable energy stakeholders to maximize their business efficiently and we help energy suppliers to transit to 100% renewables.
Our values
ONE MC
We work together to achieve our goals, value feedback and thrive on the exchange of ideas and knowledge.
TRANSPARENCY
We speak openly and directly with each other, we communicate our goals and expectations clearly and in a comprehensive manner.
APPRECIATION
We treat each other with respect and value the contributions of others.
ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE
We break new ground, act boldly and shape the ideas of tomorrow.
SUSTAINABILITY
We drive the energy transition and take responsibility for future generations.
We are a diverse team of professionals enabling 100% renewable energy and shaping a sustainable future worldwide. Would you like to take a closer look at our corporate culture? Or do you want to make a difference with your know-how and personality at meteocontrol?
One of the main reasons for the collaboration is the leading technology that meteocontrol offers - both in terms of software and hardware for energy management. In a rapidly changing market with high demands, they are characterized by continuous development and the search for new ways to constantly improve system performance. Their commitment to partnership and professionalism is evident in every interaction. They are truly committed to the success of their customers.
Mickey Arzuan, General Manager, Ledico Green EnergyWe are pleased to look back on almost 20 years of cooperation with meteocontrol as a loyal partner with whom we have been able to work together on solutions. We can also rely on meteocontrol's expertise in the future for the joint development of the integration of batteries and generators for the control and monitoring system of hybrid systems. We would like to congratulate meteocontrol on its 25th anniversary. Due to the many positive experiences in our cooperation, we hope that meteocontrol will continue to be a reliable partner for the next 25 years.
Thorsten Preugschas, CEO, Soventix GmbHMore than 20 years ago, meteocontrol began with the first internet-based evaluations of PV systems. However, there was a lack of suitable hardware for data acquisition. In close cooperation, we defined specifications and developed the appropriate data logger. The strong and transparent exchange in the development of integrated monitoring and parking control solutions continues to this day - always with the aim of finding the best solution for our customers together. We value meteocontrol's expertise and the fact that we have a reliable partner at our side who continues to drive digitalization forward. KACO new energy is proud to be part of this success story.
Matthias Haag, CSO/CTO, KACO new energyAt hep, we operate and maintain facilities worldwide, therefore efficiency and accuracy are essential for our team. Thanks to VCOM and blue'Log, we make decisions based on reliable and accurate data. This allows us to optimize the performance of our portfolio. The user-friendly systems from meteocontrol help us to optimize our processes as we grow. With a fast customer support team to assist our future needs, we have developed a strong partnership. We are looking forward to work together in the future.
Jason Sparks, Senior Vice President of Construction, hep USAThe driving idea behind the founding of meteocontrol was how photovoltaic systems can be operated so efficiently that they can compete with fossil fuels and nuclear power. In the early days, we tried to make the benefits tangible for private individuals and companies by measuring yields and visualizing them in a way that everyone could understand. I am delighted to see how meteocontrol has developed and how it is progressing the future of renewable energy.
Gerd Heilscher, Managing Director of meteocontrol 1990 to 20061976
The founding of the Engineering Office for Solar Technology (IST) laid the foundation for research, planning and consulting in the field of solar technology.
1990
the branch office of IST EnergieTechnik was founded in Augsburg by Gerd Heilscher. This intensified research work in the field of photovoltaics.
1990
The status of photovoltaics in Germany
In Germany, photovoltaics was previously regarded more as an option for supplying off-grid consumers and for supplying electrical energy to appliances and small systems, and less as an option for feeding energy into the supply grid.
The installed electrical output of photovoltaics was 2 MW.
Systems were mostly used for research and demonstration purposes and installed on behalf of energy supply companies.
Small, decentralized, grid-connected photovoltaic systems were nearly unknown at that time - especially systems that were installed on or near buildings. Therefore a lack of experience in their planning, construction and operation existed.
1990 - 1992
The 1.000-Rooftops-Programm
This changed with the so-called 1,000-Rooftops-Program. The funding program of the then Federal Ministry of Research and Technology (BMWT) not only aimed to promote photovoltaics, but also to determine the exact state of the art and the resulting development requirements.
Funding was provided for grid-connected photovoltaic systems of 1 to 5 kWp mounted on the roofs of detached and semi-detached houses.
The 1,000-Rooftops-Program was the world's first scientifically supported field test for grid-connected photovoltaic systems. Almost 2,000 of these grid-connected photovoltaic systems were installed and tested between 1991 and 1995.
Other countries launched similar programs, such as the 70,000-roof program in Japan (1994) or the 1,000,000-roof program in the USA (1997).
On behalf of the Federal Ministry, IST engineers developed the first remote measurement network for measuring photovoltaic systems as part of the program. The results of the measurements formed the foundation for the future safer'Sun remote monitoring system and the WEB'log data logger.
1991
The legal basis for feeding in solar power
The Electricity Feed-in Act - the predecessor to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) - formed the legal basis for feeding electricity from renewable energies into the public grid.
1995 - 2001
The first peak phase of the Internet
The Internet was becoming increasingly widespread. More and more computers were connected to each other and the number of domains registered in Germany increased rapidly.
1998
The spin-off company from IST EnergieCom developed into meteocontrol
The articles of association of IST EnergieCom were signed on June 29, 1998. The managing director was Gerd Heilscher.
IST EnergieCom GmbH was entered in the Augsburg commercial register on July 13, 1998. The company's registered office was at Stadtjägerstraße 11 in Augsburg. The offices were located in a former bakery.
The object of the company was the operation of an engineering office in the fields of energy, measurement and data technology. This activity also included trading in hardware and software products. With the founding of IST EnergieCom, the company increasingly focused on the monitoring and visualization of solar power systems.
1999
start of the 100.000-Rooftops-Program
The subsidies were to be used up to and including 2004 to co-finance 100,000 PV systems of an average size of 3 kWp on the roofs of interested applicants.
1999 - 2001
First internet-based evaluations
The first internet-based evaluations were created during this time. However, the appropriate hardware for data acquisition did not exist. In cooperation with development partners and the first customers, the data logger - a predecessor of the WEB'log - was developed. In 2001, KACO promised to purchase 10 devices.
When the Renewable Energy Sources Act came into force in 2000, the development of cost-efficient monitoring concepts and services was intensified in order to minimize downtimes and secure long-term earnings.
2000
The Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) came into force
The aim of the EEG was to restructure the energy supply in Germany and increase the share of renewable energies (photovoltaics, water, wind and biogas) in the electricity supply - to 80% by 2050.
Electricity from renewable energies should now have priority over fossil fuels in the public electricity grid. Feed-in tariffs and levies were also set.
In comparison to the Electricity Feed-in Act (1991) for the technical opening for photovoltaics, the EEG (2000) is regarded as an economic opening for the feed-in of electricity from photovoltaics or renewable energies. It is regarded as an important instrument for the expansion of renewable energies and the energy transition.
For every solar kilowatt hour fed into the public grid, the system operator received a feed-in remuneration fixed for 20 years. This initially amounted to 99 pfennigs (51 cents) net.
Monitoring became increasingly important in order to minimize downtimes and secure long-term yields.
2002
Start of the remote monitoring system
Specifications were defined in close cooperation with KACO Gerätetechnik GmbH and the first data logger ready for series production was developed.
The remote monitoring system, consisting of the data logger "WEB'log" and the internet-based evaluation and analysis tool "safer'Sun", was launched.
As a joint venture between S.A.G. Solarstrom AG in Freiburg (75%) and the Swiss holding company JKP AG (25%), IST EnergieCom GmbH was renamed meteocontrol GmbH. The company was entered in the commercial register on April 11, 2002.
2003
All data measured at the installation on site was sent to the safer'Sun portal by e-mail. The visualization was browser-based. Users could be notified of errors in the system, such as an inverter failure, by SMS, fax or e-mail.
If settings were changed on the WEB'log via the portal, users usually had to wait 15 minutes until the device reported again and they could check whether the changes were successful. Today, changes are implemented and checked live.
The WEB'log data logger was compatible with the three inverter manufacturers Siemens (Sinvert Solar), Kaco and SMA (SunnyBoy). The inverter manufacturer to be used was specified when the order was placed.
In 2023, the blue'Log is compatible with 69 different inverter manufacturers, with a total of 176 different series.
If you add other devices such as energy meters, sensors or string measurement technology, the blue'Log is compatible with more than 3,300 devices - all of which are included as standard.
2004
The company grew and the office in Stadtjägerstraße became cramped. Every free space had to be used. The former bathroom was converted into a storage area.
Other countries passed laws comparable to the EEG to promote renewable energies, such as the Real Decreto in Spain (2004).
2005
The first branch office of meteocontrol outside Germany was opened in Madrid, Spain.
Foundation of the Technical Consulting division: To date, more than 3,000 yield assessments have been prepared for around 25.6 GWp. The largest project for which a yield calculation has been prepared to date was 611 MWp in Finland.
2008
meteocontrol took over the I2SE development and production site in Moers (NRW).
The requirements for controlling photovoltaic systems and input management increased. The number of generation plants using renewable energies in the medium-voltage grid continued to increase, so that a new medium-voltage directive was published in 2008, which came into force on January 1, 2009. This required all generation plants to participate in grid support (reactive power control).
2009
1 GWp monitored capacity
The first idea for an integrated control center - later becoming the VCOM Cloud (Virtual Control Room) - was developed.
meteocontrol reached the 1 GWp mark in monitored output.
In addition, the EEG 2009 introduced the first possibility for decentralized generation plants to be curtailed by the grid operator in order to minimize grid fluctuations.
With the publication of the EEG 2009, grid operators were authorized to temporarily reduce the output of systems > 100 kW (active power control).
2011
Opening of branch offices in Milan and Lyon.
The VCOM (Virtual Control Room) was introduced at the first customer, the company a+f (now Iqony Solar Energy Solutions - SENS).
2012 - 2013
Sustained growth at meteocontrol and constant space capacities were at odds with each other. The Quality Services division therefore moved to nearby offices in the Dierig site area until a comprehensive expansion of the office in Spicherer Strasse became possible in 2012.
2012 - 2015
Die Solarbranche in der Krise
The solar industry became globally competitive and a predictable business. The industry began to grow rapidly, and foreign competitors entered the market.
The German market collapsed as a result of price wars and severe cuts in photovoltaic subsidies. Numerous companies went bankrupt and tens of thousands of jobs in the solar industry were lost.
The picture shows meteocontrol employees at the major rally in Berlin in March 2012.
2013
On December 13, 2013, S.A.G. Solarstrom AG announced its preliminary insolvency. As a stable and profitable company within the S.A.G. Group for many years, meteocontrol was only indirectly affected by the insolvency of the parent company.
2014
Launch of the new portal generation VCOM (Virtual Control Room)
In addition, the now technically obsolete WEB'Log data logger generation has been replaced by the blue'Log X series. The developments at a glance:
- Future-proof operating system
- Architecture and CPU enable a high sampling interval
- Modern and future-proof programming language with a huge developer community
- Higher data availability
- More complex, precise and dynamic feed-in management
- Growing demands on IT security
Following the insolvency of the previous parent company, there were changes to the company structure. The S.A.G. Group was taken over by the Chinese investor SFCE International.
2015
Foundation of the software development office in Taiwan.
Foundation of the subsidiary Raising Power GmbH, Augsburg, for the construction, technical management, maintenance and repair of PV systems on site.
2017
Foundation of meteocontrol Japan Corp. as a joint venture with Suntech Power Japan Corp.
Foundation of joint venture meteocontrol Chile SpA
Foundation of joint venture meteocontrol Central America SA de CV
2019
blue'Log XC (Control) for parking control came onto the market.
Launch of the VCOM CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System)
2020
20 years of EEG
The EEG has now been in place for 20 years. It has been the model for similar regulations up to 100 times worldwide.
The share of renewable energies in electricity consumption has grown steadily: from around six percent in 2000 to around 45 percent in 2020.
Foundation of meteocontrol AMEA DMCC in Dubai
2022
Introduction of smart alarms
The global growth of renewable energy requires strong O&M processes to increase time efficiency in green energy generation.
The new alerting provides a data and component based solution, including a machine learning algorithm to detect alarms.
The alerting enables learning the normal behavior of an inverter as the main component of a PV system, which is then used to learn the behavior of the system. With this approach, possible losses and their causes can be detected intelligently.
The headquarters move to the Sheridan Cubes at Pröllstraße 28, Augsburg.