SecondSol
SecondSol operates Europe's largest online B2B marketplace for new, used, and spare photovoltaic components, connecting 60,000+ registered users with 4,000+ sellers across modules, inverters, storage, heat pumps, and e-mobility. A Pfalzwerke AG subsidiary since 2022, it augments the marketplace with in-house testing, fulfillment, repair, and replication services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersMeiningen, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What SecondSol does
SecondSol GmbH operates Europe's largest online B2B marketplace for new, used, and spare photovoltaic components, headquartered in Meiningen, Germany. Founded in 2010 by Frank Fiedler and Stefan Wippich, the platform connects over 60,000 registered users with 4,000+ active sellers across 13 product categories spanning PV modules, inverters, storage/BESS, complete PV kits, accessories, heat pumps, solar thermal, and e-mobility infrastructure. The marketplace lists over 1 million articles with a combined value exceeding €1 billion, and has facilitated trading of 25+ MWp of used PV modules annually since 2013. The platform is available in German, English, Italian, and Dutch, serving markets across DACH, Netherlands, Italy, UK, France, Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland.
Beyond the core marketplace, SecondSol operates a vertically integrated services stack anchored by a 10,000 m² centralized fulfillment and logistics center in Meiningen holding 300,000+ spare parts, and an in-house PV Testcenter performing performance, electroluminescence, diode, and HiPot testing at 80-100 measurements per day. Additional services include manufacturer-independent module repair, module replication for discontinued panels, inverter repair, certified recycling, and the pv-diebstahl.de anti-theft system endorsed by R+V Versicherung. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pfalzwerke AG, the largest energy provider in the Pfalz region, following a 2022 acquisition. Revenue derives from a combination of tiered marketplace subscriptions (Free, Basic €20/mo, Standard €50/mo, Premium €350/mo), listing and advertising fees (Eye Catcher, Page 1, Top-Deal placements), marketplace commissions, and professional services fees. Named sellers include major PV manufacturers such as Hanwha Q.Cells, JinkoSolar, Trina Solar, BYD, Fronius, Huawei, SMA, and Sungrow, alongside German installer Solarwatt.
SecondSol firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SecondSol
- Legal name
- SecondSol GmbH
- Website
- https://secondsol.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SecondSol operates Europe's largest online B2B marketplace for new, used, and spare photovoltaic components, connecting 60,000+ registered users with 4,000+ sellers across modules, inverters, storage, heat pumps, and e-mobility. A Pfalzwerke AG subsidiary since 2022, it augments the marketplace with in-house testing, fulfillment, repair, and replication services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SecondSol industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Photovoltaic Equipment Marketplace
- NAICS
- Packaging and Labeling Services (56191)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, Nec (5065), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms (BPAMAGAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wholesale/B2B Generalist Marketplaces (CRAFAAAF), Business Technology & Electronics Wholesale Clubs (B2B) (CRAEAEAF)
Keywords
Where SecondSol is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Meiningen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
SecondSol business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Marketplace Transaction Fees: Commission-based revenue from facilitating transactions between buyers and sellers of new, used, and spare PV components on the marketplace. Sellers pay listing fees based on membership tier and optional advertising add-ons.
- Subscription Memberships: Tiered subscription model with Free, Basic (€20/month), Standard (€50/month), and Premium (€350/month) plans. Higher tiers offer more listings, higher ad value limits, business directory visibility, and verified seller status.
- Professional Services: Revenue from PV module testing (€23-31/module), repairs, replication, fulfillment/logistics, and disposal/recycling services. Testing includes performance measurement, EL imaging, and documentation.
- Advertising & Promotions: Additional revenue from advertising options including Eye catcher highlighting (€1.20-33.60/day), Page 1 article placement (€2.50-70/day), Top-Deal homepage banners (€30-840/day), and Dealer Display prominence.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free tier for private individuals |
| Subscription | Monthly | Basic package for installers and small dealers at €20/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard package for dealers at €50/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium all-in-one package at €350/month |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Eye catcher advertising add-on |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Page 1 article advertising |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Top-Deal Homepage advertising |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dealer Display advertising |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
SecondSol product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SecondSol operates Europe's largest online B2B marketplace for new, used, and spare photovoltaic components, listing more than 1 million articles worth over 1 billion euros from 4,000+ sellers. The marketplace is complemented by integrated professional services including an in-house PV test center for performance measurement and electroluminescence testing, module replication for discontinued panels, a 10,000 m² fulfillment and logistics center in Meiningen, and disposal and recycling of end-of-life PV systems.
Product overview
SecondSol operates a platform-plus-services model combining a B2B online marketplace with integrated professional services. The core platform is the SecondSol Marketplace, Europe's largest online trading platform for photovoltaic products, connecting over 60,000 registered users with more than 1 million articles valued at over 1 billion euros. This core marketplace is complemented by a Solar Auctions tool for inventory sales and direct PV Product Purchasing services. SecondSol augments the marketplace with a physical infrastructure of a ~10,000 m² Fulfillment Center in Meiningen and a PV Test Center offering independent testing including performance measurement, EL testing, diode testing, and HiPot testing. Additional service modules include manufacturer-independent PV Module Repair and PV Module Replication for discontinued types, Inverter Repair, and Disposal & Recycling. The platform also offers digital tools including a Solar Calculator, PV Outage Calculator, and the PV-Theft.de anti-theft database, alongside a Business Directory for service providers. The product portfolio spans 13 categories including PV modules, inverters, storage/BESS, complete PV kits, accessories, PV thermal, heat pumps, e-mobility (wall boxes, charging stations, cables), and solar thermal collectors. Membership plans (Free, Basic, Standard, Premium) provide tiered access to marketplace features and promotional tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- pv-diebstahl.de: A project by SecondSol offering protection against PV theft through tamper-proof stickers with individual codes, registration in a central database, deterrence, prevention, and traceability. Already recommended by leading insurers like R+V.
- sunkauf.de
Products and services
- SecondSol Marketplace B2B online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of new, used, and spare photovoltaic products across 13 categories including PV modules, inverters, storage, accessories, solar thermal, heat pumps, and e-mobility. Features more than 1 million articles worth over 1 billion euros from 4,000+ sellers and 60,000 registered users, with listings available in German, English, Italian, and Dutch.
- Solar Auctions Daily auction platform for PV products enabling efficient liquidation of stocklots, surplus inventory, B-grade goods, and insolvency assets for manufacturers, wholesalers, dealers, and installers. Supports transparent price discovery and rapid inventory turnover.
- PV Fulfillment Center Central warehouse and logistics solution located in Meiningen, Germany, with approximately 10,000 m² of storage space holding more than 300,000 PV spare parts. Offers storage, picking, commissioning, and worldwide shipping services for PV components, BESS systems, and EV charging infrastructure, targeting manufacturers, dealers, and installers.
- PV Test Center Independent testing facility offering performance measurement, electroluminescence (EL) testing for microcrack detection, diode testing, HiPot insulation resistance testing, and quality inspections. Serves manufacturers, dealers, installers, and insurance companies with a capacity of 80-100 measurements per day at €23-31 per module.
- PV Module Repair Manufacturer-independent repair service for crystalline solar panels covering bypass diodes, junction boxes, module frames, backsheets, module cables, and solar connectors. Addresses storm damage, lightning strikes, snow pressure, frost, and animal damage for PV operators.
- PV Module Replication Professional reproduction service for discontinued PV module types, maintaining original measurements, frame height, and technical specifications. Used when panels cannot be repaired due to broken glass, cells, or delamination, enabling operators of legacy installations to source replacement modules.
- Inverter Repair Repair services for photovoltaic inverters delivered through SecondSol's service network. Targets PV operators needing cost-effective alternatives to inverter replacement.
- Disposal and Recycling Environmentally responsible disposal and recycling of end-of-life PV systems, handling complex materials including glass, aluminium, silicon, and metals such as lead, copper, gallium, and cadmium through certified disposal partners.
- Repowering Solutions Complete repowering services for older PV systems including plants with and without EEG (German Renewable Energy Sources Act) subsidies, plus disposal and recycling of old equipment.
- PV-Theft.de Anti-Theft System Tamper-proof sticker system with unique codes and central database registration designed to deter and enable traceability of stolen PV installations. Recommended by leading German insurers including R+V Versicherung for insured PV customers.
- Business Directory Expert network directory for service providers across photovoltaics, solar thermal, e-mobility, heat pumps, BESS, and software sectors. Enables companies to present services and connect with potential customers searching for installers, repair services, and consultants.
Quantifiable outcome
- 25+ MWp of used PV modules traded annually since 2013
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SecondSol
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SecondSol technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
SecondSol partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- R+V VersicherungminorLeading German insurance company that recommends the pv-diebstahl.de anti-theft system developed by SecondSol for PV installation protection. This endorsement provides credibility and market access to insurance-covered PV customers.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SecondSol competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IBC Solar: German PV system distributor and project developer selling modules, inverters, and storage to installers, with comparable DACH focus and installer/dealer customer base as SecondSol.
- Krannich Solar: One of Europe's largest PV wholesalers, distributing modules, inverters, storage, and e-mobility products to installers — overlapping with SecondSol's PV distribution and installer customer base.
- Sonnenkraft: Austrian/German distributor of solar thermal, photovoltaic, and heat pump systems to installers — directly comparable portfolio and customer base to SecondSol's multi-category PV/heat pump offering.
- EnergyBin: US-based B2B online marketplace for new, used, and refurbished solar PV equipment, directly mirroring SecondSol's core marketplace model and buyer/seller audience of installers and dealers.
- Memodo: European PV and storage wholesaler serving installers across DACH and beyond; competes for the same installer purchasing activity and overlapping product categories as SecondSol.
- Mister Solar: German online retailer of PV components targeting small installers and end customers — directly overlaps with SecondSol's online sales channel and DACH installer audience.
Broad incumbents
- BayWa r.e. Large diversified renewable energy group with PV distribution, project development, and energy trading arms; broader portfolio than SecondSol but overlapping solar distribution services.
Emerging players
- Zolar: German online PV platform offering planning, financing, and installer matching — overlapping with SecondSol on digitization of the residential PV buyer journey, but focused upstream in lead generation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SecondSol social profiles
Digital presenceSecondSol financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SecondSol leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
SecondSol subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
SecondSol funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SecondSol M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SecondSol
What does SecondSol do?
SecondSol operates Europe's largest online B2B marketplace for new, used, and spare photovoltaic components, listing more than 1 million articles worth over 1 billion euros from 4,000+ sellers. The marketplace is complemented by integrated professional services including an in-house PV test center for performance measurement and electroluminescence testing, module replication for discontinued panels, a 10,000 m² fulfillment and logistics center in Meiningen, and disposal and recycling of end-of-life PV systems.
Is SecondSol a public or private company?
SecondSol is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was SecondSol founded?
SecondSol was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SecondSol based?
SecondSol is headquartered in Meiningen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does SecondSol make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Marketplace Transaction Fees are the primary driver. The others are subscription Memberships, professional Services and advertising & Promotions.
Who are SecondSol's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IBC Solar, Krannich Solar, Sonnenkraft, EnergyBin, Memodo and Mister Solar. BayWa r.e. is listed as a broad incumbent. Zolar is listed as an emerging player.
Does SecondSol have an API?
No public API is recorded for SecondSol.
What industry is SecondSol in?
SecondSol's product category is Photovoltaic Equipment Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAGAD, B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms, with a secondary code of CRAFAAAF, Wholesale/B2B Generalist Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 56191 and its SIC code is 5065.