INDUSTRY FOCUS: RENEWABLE

enjoys a favourable position when it comes to energy generation from an economic perspective. Long gone are the carefree days of coal and gas burning as the cheapest generating methods, and the build of nuclear generating capacity is incomparably difficult to renewable (particularly solar) – not to speak of the long-term risks. Today, renewable energy is not only the ‘environmental’ alternative.

“We now have a sweet spot in the rollout of renewable energy,” smiles Thiemann. “Firstly, we have widespread political support now which is different from when we started. This is because of the awareness of climate change and the acceptance of the requirement for energy transition in the public. Secondly, we are now economically the smart choice alongside being green. When we started, most of our generation was subsidised but there is no longer a need for subsidy. We have an opportunity to rapidly troll out renewable energy and we are trying to do so as fast as possible.”

There are, of course, challenges. Primarily for Sonnedix is the volatility of power pricing and the lengthy permitting process which differs across borders alongside the well-documented challenges in global supply chains.

“The main bottle necks that we are challenged with are pricing volatility with regulatory issues, and also the ability to develop projects easier and quicker. That is a problem from a permitting perspective – being able to develop the land and real estate –and also being able to gain access to interconnection to existing grids. From our perspective, we have big plans, but we need the right economic and political environment, and we need to work on streamlining permitting and building out the electricity grids to drive the energy transition forward allowing the renewable energy industry to grow,” details Thiemann.

In this growth, the CEO

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