Karolina Attspodina, Co-founder of We Do Photo voltaic
Karolina Attspodina, Co-founder of We Do Photo voltaic, is a Ukrainian entrepreneur based mostly in Berlin. He is on a mission to make home-grown photo voltaic vitality obtainable to everybody – whether or not you hire or personal a house.
“The startup is concentrated on offering entry to renewable vitality for everybody.
“Once I got here up with the thought, I felt it was unfair that everybody who owns their very own dwelling or can afford to purchase their very own dwelling has entry to renewables and individuals who stay in flats or hire their very own personal place doesn’t have the chance, “mentioned Attspodina.
“So every part is constructed across the concept of giving entry to renewables to everybody who needs to have it of their dwelling. And many individuals immediately, particularly within the battle, need to be extra unbiased and need to create and create the their very own electrical energy.
The We Do Photo voltaic package provides low-cost photo voltaic panels that may be simply put in on the balcony, “they’re very mild and skinny and they’re straightforward to put in. Now we have an app the place you’ll be able to see how a lot CO2 you save and the way a lot electrical energy you produce,” Attspodina defined.
We Do Photo voltaic launched in February 2022, “it was a whole coincidence that the battle broke out on the identical time,” mentioned Attspodina, “it was undoubtedly a really troublesome time as a result of I even have household, and lots of mates in Ukraine . I am going to the borders, select folks, develop my product, speak to traders, and it is a fully loopy time. However now it is a bit of simpler as a result of I do know that everybody no less than protected,” mentioned Attspodina.
When vitality costs spiked in March after the Russian invasion of his homeland, We Do Photo voltaic’s gross sales jumped 70%: “There was a variety of demand for the product, and naturally, with the beginning of the battle, our demand elevated . Now, we ship to 24 international locations in Europe and we’ve got the UK on that checklist quickly,” mentioned Attspodina.
“Everyone actually needs to do their half in truly getting concerned and ensuring we get off fossil fuels, and particularly that we get fossil fuels purchased elsewhere.”
In a yr of sky-high vitality costs, solar energy has seen outstanding progress throughout Europe and has already delivered important cost-savings for European customers.
Solar energy use in Europe will nearly double by 2022, in response to trade group SolarPower Europe.
The EU will set up 47% extra photo voltaic in 2022 in comparison with 2021 – sufficient to energy 12.4 million houses. Euronews experiences that the bloc’s photo voltaic producing capability will enhance by 25% general by 2022.
Speedy progress in photo voltaic installations throughout Europe is ready to proceed by means of 2023 and past with the race to bridge the supply-demand hole for Russian fuel operating excessive.
“The European Union has made important progress in decreasing dependence on Russian pure fuel provides, however it isn’t but within the hazard zone,” mentioned Govt Director of the Worldwide Vitality Company (IEA), Fatih Birol. “Most of the circumstances that allowed EU international locations to fill their storage websites earlier than this winter is probably not repeated in 2023. The brand new IEA evaluation exhibits {that a} extra sturdy push for vitality effectivity, renewables, warmth pumps and easy vitality saving actions are important to keep away from the chance of shortages and additional nasty value will increase subsequent yr.”
For photo voltaic startups like We Do Photo voltaic, this implies a busy couple of years of enlargement lie forward, because the transition to renewables has that means past the setting and has turn out to be an pressing financial crucial.
We Do Photo voltaic’s light-weight, easy-to-install balcony photo voltaic panels can cut back electrical energy payments by as much as 25% – and at a price of €1,299 – it is an funding that may actually repay for households for years to return.
“Every nation has its personal regulation on how a lot you’ll be able to set up your self with out electrical energy. For instance, in Germany, it is 600 watts and that is what our set supplies immediately. It is 600 watts, and that reduces as much as 25% of your electrical energy invoice. In fact, if you wish to set up extra and also you even have the house to put in extra, you are able to do it with the assistance of an electrician,” mentioned Attspodina.
He is able to deliver his solar energy answer to his dwelling nation of Ukraine if circumstances enable: “Proper now, what Ukraine wants are off-grid turbines. My answer works when the grid is current.
“We’re assembly with the Ukrainian authorities and will launch in Ukraine when the time is correct.”
