PV² | Energie – Our mission for sustainable energy

Get to know us and join us in looking back on the milestones we have achieved.

Our core expertise and motivation

PV² Energie: your partner for sustainable energy supply. We plan, build, finance, and operate photovoltaic systems – particularly for industrial, commercial, and agricultural applications. However, nine out of ten of these systems are not sold to companies driven by sustainability. What matters is cost-effectiveness – the positive impact on the carbon footprint comes as a natural byproduct.

Founded in 2011 by Chris Hannen and Phillip Küpper, we have been developing solar projects for over a decade – from our first 1-MW roof-top system on a farm to a 19-MW ground-mounted system for EDEKA. We incorporate this experience into every new project.

The history of PV² | Energie

Since it was founded in 2011, PV² Energie has grown from a start-up into an established solar energy project developer in the Lower Rhine region and in the Philippines. Our history is marked by a spirit of innovation, resilience in the face of crisis, and sustainable growth.

A look back at our milestones:

2011 – Year of foundation and early successes

In March 2011, Phillip Küpper and Chris Hannen found PV² Energie. That same year, they completed the first photovoltaic system with a capacity of 1 MW – and the company broke even. Its first customers are primarily agricultural businesses.

2012 – Expansion and first solar power plants owned and operated by PV² Energie

The first project companies are established. At the same time, PV² Energie builds three solar power plants which the company owns and operates itself, each with a capacity of just under 1 MW – an important step toward independence and sustainable growth.

2012 – The solar crisis

In mid-2012, a drastic cut in the feed-in tariff in Germany sent shockwaves through the entire sector. Two-thirds of competitors disappear from the market—PV² Energie weathers the crisis and emerges stronger than ever.

2013/2014 – New approaches with biomethane

The company expands its business activities: PV² Energie enters the heating contracting business. The first combined heat and power plants are designed in 2013, and construction starts in 2014.

2014 – A new home

The company moves into its current office space in Goch-Pfalzdorf – a sign of its steady growth in the Lower Rhine region.

2014 – Internationalisation

The establishment of PV² Energie Philippines Inc. marks the beginning of the company’s international expansion. Brenda Baylon takes over as CEO – and it does not take long for the first projects to arrive.

2016 – First self-consumption systems in the Philippines

PV² Energie Philippines installs solar systems for industrial customers, such as Bengar Industrial Corp. and Oriental Tin Can & Metal Sheet Mfg. Corp. – a milestone for the local business.

2017 – International recognition

The first solar power plant owned and operated by PV² Energie in the Philippines is created under a leasing model for the mattress manufacturer Uratex – funded by the German Renewable Energy Solutions Programme (dena) and financed by the DEG German development finance institution (KfW Group) Up-scaling Programme. The official inauguration ceremony takes place in the presence of the German ambassador.

from 2018 – Focus on commerce and industry

The focus is shifting in Germany: more and more industrial and commercial companies are choosing PV² Energie as their partner for sustainable power supply.

from 2019 – Large-scale projects in the Philippines

One of the country’s largest roof-top solar projects (over 3 MW) is developed with Robinson Land Corporation. The home improvement chain Wilcon Depot is also turning to PV² Energie – 15 of its stores are equipped with PV systems.

2021 – Entry into the ground-mounted solar business

PV² Energie also starts the development of ground-mounted solar farms in Germany with the “Strohkirchen” project – a new chapter in the company’s history.

from 2022 – Business customers dominate

Industrial and commercial companies now make up the majority of the customer base – PV² Energie becomes the leading project developer for business solutions in the Lower Rhine region.

2022–2024 – Boom fuelled by the energy crisis

The energy crisis fuels a veritable boom in ground-mounted installations – PV² Energie seizes this opportunity and increasingly undertakes larger projects beyond traditional roof-top installations.

2023 – Major project for EDEKA

A 1,600 kWp is installed on the roof of a logistics centre in northern Germany – a future-centric project for the retail sector.

2024 – Relocation to Kalkar

The company’s current headquarters are bursting at the seams. PV² Energie acquires a plot of land for a new site in Kalkar. The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 2025.

2025 – One of Germany’s largest self-consumption systems

PV2 builds a 19-MW ground-mounted solar farm for EDEKA – one of the largest projects of its kind in Germany. A strong signal for the future of self-consumption.

The Founders

Chris Hannen

Bachelor of Business Administration with experience in management accounting and executive management. Before founding PV² Energie, he served, among other roles, as Managing Director of the U.S. and French subsidiaries of MSK Verpackungssysteme GmbH.

Phillip Küpper

Holds a degree in Business Administration with a focus on project development, financing, and sale of solar and wind projects. He gained experience at OpenLink Financial Inc. and juwi Holding AG.

Together, they steer the course of PV² Energie and are committed to realising sustainable energy concepts. Always at their side: the team.

Would you like to meet our Managing Director in the Philippines? Click here to visit our subsidiary’s website.

Our customers – real-world testimonials

Expertise, a friendly manner and excellent availability – the system is working seamlessly and saves us 1.8 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year.

Michael Hegholtz, Managing Director of Klinkerwerk Küsters

From design and project execution to the final result, we were impressed by our collaboration with PV² Energie.

Steve Tobien, Team Leader for Energy, Building, and Plant Engineering at EDEKA North

Trust built on experience – our solar projects

Photovoltaic references: Successful solar projects for industry and commerce

From medium-sized industrial companies to large-scale projects for a food retailer, and from self-consumption to electricity supply contracts – our customers are as diverse as our solutions. Here is a selection of projects we are particularly proud of.

Every photovoltaic project is a step towards sustainable power supply – in partnership with companies that take responsibility seriously.

View references