totalworld.industry TOMO RROW 'S BUSINESS TODAY
Insurance for a brighter future
SO L ARI F
Solarif has taken a three-pronged approach to supporting the development, continuation and promotion of the solar energy market and it’s doing so with a global presence that looks to be entirely future proofed.
totalworld.industry Solarif
Insurance for a brighter future Victoria South
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Solarif has taken a three-pronged approach to supporting the development, continuation and promotion of the solar energy market and it’s doing so with a global presence that looks to be entirely future proofed.
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saw entrepreneur Harry Wolkenfelt launch a new kind of company. Solar Insurance & Finance was in support of two goals; to make solar installation projects as riskfree as possible and to ensure that simple funding options are available to anyone looking to embrace futurefriendly energy options. A solid business plan and inscrutable ethics allowed the company to enjoy success, essentially, from the moment of inception and though it was focussed in one country, others soon followed, “At first, Solar Insurance & Finance was mainly active in Belgium. The reason for this was the stimulation of the purchase of solar installations in Belgium with socalled green certificates, a specific subsidy. More countries decided to provide subsidies in order to stimulate sustainable energy, such as solar energy.” The development of an international market meant that potential customers from far and
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“We now have a unified, motivated international team, representing and supporting a worldclass portfolio of industry leading brands.”
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wide started approaching Solar Insurance & Finance. Because of the ever growing client base and international acceptance of solar initiatives, the company has, in a relatively short space of time, become a leading global insurance expert within this exceptionally niche field. In 2015, the company was renamed as Solarif and it has gone from strength to strength, incorporating new core business activities into the roster of services on offer.
Three’s a company, not a crowd With a global customer base in place, growth has to be the name of the game for any company looking to make a serious name for itself and Solarif has taken this to heart by centring its operations around three definitive core services. Insurance is the main arm of Solarif’s interests and offers a vital level of reassurance to those operating within the solar energy business sphere, “Solarif Insurance advises developers, EPC contractors and
investors about all necessary insurances to protect their PVprojects. Manufacturers are advised about insuring their warranties and product liability. Solarif Insurance also takes care of the placement, the administrative process and handles claims on their behalf.” It’s no secret that insurance is necessary in all walks of life and business and solar interests are certainly no exception to the rule. In fact, considering how relatively new solar energy is, insurance is even more essential, to give consumers and investors another level of peace of mind. After all, if that one extra layer of protection is what it takes to push people to embrace sustainable energy, the insurance will pay for itself. Next up is the risk management division of Solarif, which offers manufacturers the opportunity to become a recognised Solarif-certified operation, “Solarif Risk Management regulates and performs factory risk assessments for inverter and panel manufacturers willing to become
“Our Singapore Solutions Centre is undergoing expansion. Completion is scheduled for early 2019. The new 250,000 sq/ft building comprises of company headquarters office, warehousing and fulfilment centre, cold chain storage and provisioning.”
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Solarif-certified. Furthermore, Solarif Risk Management performs independent PV quality inspections and checks to secure PV-assets and project returns by assuring the quality of the PV installation. Solarif Risk Management has performed over 100 quality inspections and factory assessments worldwide, is a renowned risk evaluator of solar (PV) panels as well as inverters within the photovoltaic industry. We are a market leader when it comes to PV Quality backed up by an insurance.” The key here is to remember that solar energy is still in its relative infancy, meaning that products need to be more than just fit for purpose, they need to sell the industry as a whole. Solar manufacturers have a responsibility to produce items that are reliable, up to the task of fulfilling designated targets and representing the industry in a positive way and Solarif recognises all of these essential facets by offering a service that addresses them. The final core business segment of Solarif is an advocacy role and as an industry expert, this service cannot be overestimated in terms of importance, “Solarif Matchmaker provides professional matching services between buyers and sellers of PVprojects. The projects can be in different phases: early development, ready to build or operational. Solarif Matchmaker has access to a continuously growing network of companies that are active in the solar PV industry, such as solar project developer, investor/asset owner, EPC contractor and debt provider. Solarif Matchmaker identifies the specific capabilities and needs of each client and subsequently converts this knowledge into concrete business opportunities in a professional and discreet manner.”
An added bonus
Creating a legacy Having identified a number of niche services needed in the emerging solar energy business world, 10 years of operation has created a reputation and legacy for Solarif to be proud of. Don’t forget that a decade is nothing in the commercial world these days, so to have already extended a reach into 23 countries, with operational bases in five of them is an incredible achievement. As we swiftly move towards an age where renewable and sustainable energy sources are surely going to be mandatory, having access to funding sources, risk assessment documentation, insurance and advocacy information is going to be more vital than ever. From Solarif’s point of view, the future is all but guaranteed to be hugely profitable. Solar energy is a growing market and there’s no tangible size limitation as t how big it can get. What a joy for Wolkenfelt and his team, knowing that the industry they specialise in offers not only Solarif but also the world, insurance for a brighter future.
“Our Singapore Solutions Centre is undergoing expansion. Completion is scheduled for early 2019. The new 250,000 sq/ft building comprises of company headquarters office, warehousing and fulfilment centre, cold chain storage and provisioning.”
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Not one to overlook an opportunity and with financing having played a role in the first inception of Solarif, Latin American clients can take advantage of a fourth, smaller division of the company, “Solarif Financial provides financial structuring of PV-projects and arranges the necessary finance. Solarif Financial has acquired a vast knowledge of the various specific international financial instruments for the Solar PV industry, together with a deep knowledge of the fiscal/ financial benefits of the countries
we work in. Our goal is to turn each mandate into a win-win situation for all involved parties; the project owner, the investor, the lender and ourselves, building long-term relationships.”
To Advertise, Contact Hal Hutchison Business Development Manager +44 (0) 20 3287 8795 hal@eastcoastpromotions.net For General Inquiries: Shaun Cousins General Manager +44 (0) 20 3287 8795 shaun@eastcoastpromotions.net
125 Ber Street Norwich NR1 3EY England