Solnet Group, proudly celebrates its 10th anniversary this August. Founded in Helsinki by Kaj Kangasmäki and Arttur Kulvik in 2014, Solnet Group has grown into a pan-European player with offices in the Netherlands and Germany. Over the past decade, the company has achieved remarkable organic growth, averaging 85% per year, making it one of Europe's fastest-growing energy companies.
With a strong commitment to customer satisfaction the unique "Solnet Spirit" has guided the company since its inception. Reflecting on the journey, CEO Kaj Kangasmäki shares, "We have always had a clear goal to make a meaningful impact in battling climate change. From the beginning, we recognized the importance of remote management, accurate data, and automation, enabling us to manage solar utilities as a fleet. This strategic focus on digitalization has been a key to our success as the energy industry has rapidly evolved."
Expanding Offerings and Strengthening Partnerships
Solnet Group’s original vision focused on providing solar solutions to corporate customers specializing in commercial and industrial rooftop projects. Building on this foundation, the company has expanded its offerings in 2024 to include utility-scale solar projects, energy storage solutions, and volatility market services. This expansion positions Solnet Group at the forefront of the energy transition, providing end-to-end solutions that help customers achieve long-term sustainability goals.
"Our customer-oriented mindset has been central to our success," says Kangasmäki. "We’ve grown from two founders into a team of 100, completing over 1,000 projects across Europe. We offer various services, from engineering and installation to maintenance, to ensure our customers achieve their solar strategy targets."
A Bright Future for Solar Energy
The past decade has seen the solar industry mature and evolve significantly. Looking to the future, Solnet Group continues to innovate with its recently launched Solnet Manager, a solution that balances smart solar and energy storage as a service. Leveraging IoT-enabled devices and neural networks, Solnet Manager optimizes grid balancing while unlocking new revenue streams for system owners.
"In the future, electrical networks will resemble our data infrastructure, with all energy assets connected and controlled as a fleet," Chairman of the Board, Arttur Kulvik predicts. "Energy storage will play a critical role in building a resilient grid capable of managing fluctuating demand as we continue to electrify everything. This shift presents significant investment opportunities while creating a more stable long-term energy market."
Solnet Group 10-year milestones
2014 Solnet was founded in Finland and delivered its first 10-year rooftop Solar PPA, achieving profitable growth starting in the first year of operation.
2015 Became the first company to offer Solar as a Service in Finland with the first commercial offering for PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements).
2016 Delivered two of Finland’s largest rooftop solar utilities. Solnet Group was Awarded WWF’s Climate Solver prize.
2017 Solnet Group B.V. was established in the Netherlands.
2018 New Solnet Group strategy to reflect growth – from a country-based to an organization-based approach.
2019 Solnet Group was chosen by Sitra as a European circular economy forerunner in the energy sector.
2020 First agreements in Germany. Solnet Group was featured in the Financial Times as #59 on the FT1000 Fastest Growing Companies in Europe and #3 for the energy sector on the list. Focus on helping large corporate customers meet their RE100/sustainability targets.
2021 First deliveries done for customers in Germany. Solnet Group was selected as a global leader in smart solar by Fortune Business Insight
2022 15-million-euro investment from EAB Private Equity and TESI (Finnish Industry Investment) to accelerate Solnet Group’s international growth. Pan-European onsite solar deliveries.
2023 First delivery to Italy
2024 Launch of Solnet Manager volatility services. Expansion into utility-scale solar. First project delivery outside of the EU
