KACO new energy
KACO new energy GmbH is a German manufacturer of solar PV string, hybrid, and battery-storage inverters (blueplanet product family) serving residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale customers across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa, distributed through authorized partners and owned by Siemens AG.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersNeckarsulm, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What KACO new energy does
KACO new energy GmbH is a German manufacturer of solar PV inverters headquartered in Neckarsulm, with R&D in Kassel and a logistics centre in Erlenbach. Founded in 1998/1999 as a spin-off of the 1914-established KACO group, the company sells string inverters, hybrid inverters and battery storage inverters under the blueplanet brand, spanning residential (NX1, NX3, NH3 hybrid), commercial and industrial (TL3 60–125 kW) and utility-scale (125–360 NX3 TL3) segments. Its technology stack is built around silicon-carbide (SiC) wide-bandgap semiconductors, delivering inverter efficiency up to 98.9%, power density above 2 kVA/kg, anti-PID float-controller integration, grid-forming capability, and a "Virtual Central System" design approach that the company documents as delivering 8–10% CAPEX savings versus distributed architectures. The blueplanet monitoring platform (smartcloud, web pro, web public) and the myKACO.com customer portal wrap the hardware with telematics, backup-power certificate licensing, an inverter-exchange service promising 48-hour EU delivery, and preventive-maintenance offerings.
KACO has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Siemens AG since 30 April 2019, operating within Siemens Smart Infrastructure as the specialist for decentralised power electronics. The business is monetised primarily through hardware sales via a global network of authorized distributors (Krannich, EWS, Altitude Energy) and Siemens-affiliated service partners, complemented by direct sales from Neckarsulm and an online self-service portal for service, warranty, and replacement inverters. Recurring revenue streams include professional services (commissioning, warranty extensions, preventive maintenance), monitoring subscriptions (blueplanet web pro, smartcloud freemium) and one-time software license fees (backup power certificates). Customer reach spans utilities and infrastructure (EnBW, Kibbutz Maale-Gilboa industrial storage), system integrators (KNE Systemhaus, GSW), and specialized installers across more than 20 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The company holds ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 50001 and 27001 certifications, is EU RED cybersecurity compliant, and has been awarded Top Brand PV in Germany four consecutive years (2021–2024).
KACO new energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KACO new energy
- Legal name
- KACO new energy GmbH
- Website
- https://kaco-newenergy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- KACO new energy GmbH is a German manufacturer of solar PV string, hybrid, and battery-storage inverters (blueplanet product family) serving residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale customers across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa, distributed through authorized partners and owned by Siemens AG.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KACO new energy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar PV Inverters
- NAICS
- Power, Distribution, and Specialty Transformer Manufacturing (335311), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Motors & Generators (3621), Power, Distribution & Specialty Transformers (3612)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar Inverters, Power Electronics & MLPE (String/Central Inverters, Optimizers, Microinverters) (EUAMABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solar Inverters, Power Optimizers & MLPE Manufacturing (EUAMAHAB), PV Balance of System (BOS) & Electrical Infrastructure (Inverters, Transformers, Cabling, Substations) (EUACAGAC), Renewable Power Electronics & Advanced Inverters R&D (SiC/GaN, Grid-Forming, HVDC Converter Tech) (EUAMAOAF), Solar Design, Engineering & Performance Software (PV Modeling, Digital Twins, Monitoring) (EUAMABAH), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)
Keywords
Where KACO new energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Neckarsulm
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
KACO new energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Solar PV Inverters: Sale of string inverters, hybrid inverters, and battery inverters for residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale applications. Product families include blueplanet NX1 (single-phase residential), NX3 (3-phase residential/commercial), TL3 (commercial/utility), and gridsave (battery storage).
- Service and Maintenance: Comprehensive service portfolio including commissioning support, warranty extension, inspection, preventive maintenance, analysis and repair. Services available globally through service partners.
- Inverter Exchange Service: Replacement inverter service for warranty claims with 48-hour shipping within EU. Streamlines warranty process through myKACO.com customer portal.
- Backup Power Certificate: Software certificate sales for backup power function activation on blueplanet hybrid 10.0 TL3 inverters, sold through customer portal or via installers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | blueplanet smartcloud - Free monitoring portal |
| Subscription | Monthly | blueplanet web pro - Professional monitoring |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | blueplanet web public - Free public portal (phasing out) |
| Subscription | Annual | Warranty Extension |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Inverter Exchange Service |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Backup Power Certificate |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
KACO new energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KACO new energy designs, manufactures, and sells solar PV inverters under the blueplanet brand, including string inverters, hybrid inverters, and battery storage inverters for residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale applications. The company also offers PV monitoring software (blueplanet smartcloud, blueplanet web pro), service and maintenance, inverter exchange under warranty, and a backup power software certificate, leveraging silicon carbide semiconductor technology and a Virtual Central System design approach.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- blueplanet hybrid NH3 system Hybrid inverter system for residential and small commercial solar PV with integrated battery storage and smart energy management.
- blueplanet 100 NX3 / 125 NX3 solar PV inverters 3-phase solar PV inverters for large-scale commercial and industrial rooftop installations with advanced multi-MPPT technology.
- blueplanet NX3 series 3-phase solar PV inverter series for residential and small commercial applications featuring multi-MPPT technology and modern industrial design.
- blueplanet NX1 M2 single-phase inverters Single-phase solar PV inverters for residential rooftop installations, next-generation 1-phase devices with flexible, lighter design.
- blueplanet 60.0 TL3 / 105 TL3 solar PV inverters 3-phase solar PV inverters for commercial and industrial solar installations enabling sustainable enterprise energy supply.
- blueplanet 155 TL3 / 165 TL3 solar PV inverters High-power 3-phase solar PV inverters (155 kW and 165 kW) for utility-scale solar power plants, supporting 1500 V architecture and Virtual Central System approach.
- blueplanet TL3 SiC series solar PV inverters Commercial and industrial solar PV inverters with silicon carbide (SiC) power transistors delivering higher efficiency, higher power density, and lower noise.
- blueplanet gridsave 92.0 TL3-S battery inverter Battery inverter with silicon carbide (SiC) technology for commercial and industrial energy storage applications, supporting high-voltage battery systems.
- blueplanet hybrid 10.0 TL3 hybrid inverter Hybrid inverter for solar PV plus battery storage systems, marketed as first product after Siemens acquisition.
- blueplanet 125 TL3 string inverter String inverter for large solar power plants, the world's first inverter with silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor technology designed for 1500 V PV modules.
- blueplanet 360 NX3 utility-scale inverter Utility-scale solar PV inverter designed for enhanced cybersecurity (RED Directive compliant), targeting European energy supply resilience.
- blueplanet smartcloud monitoring platform Cloud-based PV monitoring portal co-developed with Siemens with European-hosted servers and EU Radio Equipment Directive (RED) cybersecurity compliance for hybrid and NX3 inverters.
- blueplanet web pro monitoring portal Professional subscription-based PV monitoring portal offering detailed system monitoring in a customizable environment, provided in collaboration with meteocontrol.
- KACO service and maintenance portfolio Comprehensive service portfolio including commissioning support, warranty extension, inspection, preventive maintenance, analysis, and repair available globally through service partners.
- Inverter exchange service Replacement inverter service under warranty with 48-hour shipping target within the EU, requested through the myKACO.com customer portal.
- Backup power software certificate One-time software license (certificate) sold to activate the backup power function on blueplanet hybrid 10.0 TL3 inverters, purchased through installers, PV wholesalers, or directly via the customer portal.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98.9% efficiency in battery inverter applications
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use KACO new energy
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
KACO new energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature6 records
KACO new energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Siemens AGflagshipSiemens AG acquired 100% of KACO new energy GmbH shares effective April 30, 2019. Within Siemens AG, KACO new energy operates as the specialist for power electronics for decentralised energy supply under the Smart Infrastructure operating company.
- Siemens (Smart Infrastructure Grid Edge)coreCollaborative development of blueplanet smartcloud monitoring platform with Siemens to meet growing cybersecurity requirements. Joint Grid Edge technology initiatives and knowledge sharing.
- meteocontrolcorePartnership for PV monitoring solutions. KACO offers monitoring portals in collaboration with meteocontrol including blueplanet web pro and blueplanet web public platforms.
- Lumera EnergyminorCollaboration on smarter battery storage planning. Webinar partnership for energy storage system planning combining blueplanet gridsave inverters with Lumera Energy expertise.
- EWS GmbH & Co. KGcoreGerman specialized solar wholesaler distributing KACO inverters since 2022. Partnership established for portfolio complement and successful market launch with further expansion planned.
- Krannich Group GmbHcoreLong-standing distribution partnership across multiple countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, UK, Greece, Mexico, and Czech Republic.
- Solar-Cluster Baden-WürttembergminorMembership in regional solar industry cluster with KACO new energy for driving forward solar energy expansion in Germany and Baden-Württemberg state.
- Energy DepotcoreGerman energy storage provider acquired by KACO new energy in 2018, strengthening battery storage capabilities and solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
KACO new energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SMA Solar Technology AG: German-headquartered inverter manufacturer with overlapping product portfolio across residential, commercial, and utility-scale string inverters. Most direct German competitor to KACO in the EU string inverter market.
- Fronius International GmbH: Austrian manufacturer of string and hybrid inverters for residential, commercial, and industrial solar. Closely comparable to KACO in product positioning, regional focus (DACH region), and target customer segments.
- Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. Chinese-headquartered global leader in solar inverters with comprehensive string, central, and hybrid inverter product lines. Direct competitor in utility-scale and C&I segments where KACO also competes.
- Huawei Digital Power: Global player in smart PV inverters (FusionSolar) for utility-scale and C&I markets. Competes head-to-head with KACO on SiC-based high-efficiency string inverters and integrated monitoring/cloud platforms.
- Ginlong Solis (Ningbo Ginlong Technologies): Chinese string inverter manufacturer with strong global presence in residential, C&I, and utility-scale markets. Direct competitor in the same product categories as KACO's blueplanet NX1, NX3, and TL3 lines.
- GoodWe Technologies Co., Ltd. Chinese manufacturer of string, hybrid, and battery inverters. Direct competitor to KACO in residential and C&I solar+storage segments with overlapping product positioning.
- SolarEdge Technologies: Israeli-headquartered inverter and power optimizer company serving residential and commercial solar markets. Comparable in commercial/residential hybrid inverter portfolio and integrated monitoring offering.
- Enphase Energy: US-headquartered microinverter and battery storage company. Comparable in residential solar+storage systems and integrated monitoring, though different inverter topology (microinverter vs string).
- Growatt New Energy: Chinese manufacturer of string inverters, hybrid inverters, and battery storage solutions. Competes with KACO across residential and C&I markets globally with strong price competitiveness.
Broad incumbents
- ABB (FIMER / Hitachi Energy): Large industrial conglomerate with solar inverter offerings through legacy ABB/FIMER/Hitachi Energy operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent in power electronics and grid-tied solar inverters, particularly in utility-scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KACO new energy social profiles
Digital presenceKACO new energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KACO new energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
KACO new energy subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
KACO new energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KACO new energy 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 KACO new energy
What does KACO new energy do?
KACO new energy designs, manufactures, and sells solar PV inverters under the blueplanet brand, including string inverters, hybrid inverters, and battery storage inverters for residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale applications. The company also offers PV monitoring software (blueplanet smartcloud, blueplanet web pro), service and maintenance, inverter exchange under warranty, and a backup power software certificate, leveraging silicon carbide semiconductor technology and a Virtual Central System design approach.
Is KACO new energy a public or private company?
KACO new energy is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was KACO new energy founded?
KACO new energy was founded in 1998. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is KACO new energy based?
KACO new energy is headquartered in Neckarsulm, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does KACO new energy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Solar PV Inverters are the primary driver. The others are service and Maintenance, inverter Exchange Service and backup Power Certificate.
Who are KACO new energy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SMA Solar Technology AG, Fronius International GmbH, Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd., Huawei Digital Power, Ginlong Solis (Ningbo Ginlong Technologies), GoodWe Technologies Co., Ltd., SolarEdge Technologies, Enphase Energy and Growatt New Energy. ABB (FIMER / Hitachi Energy) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does KACO new energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for KACO new energy.
What industry is KACO new energy in?
KACO new energy's product category is Solar PV Inverters. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAE, Solar Inverters, Power Electronics & MLPE (String/Central Inverters, Optimizers, Microinverters), with a secondary code of EUAMAHAB, Solar Inverters, Power Optimizers & MLPE Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 335311 and its SIC code is 3600.