Parabel

What Parabel does

Parabel GmbH is a German project developer and technology provider focused on solar energy generation, operating across both photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal segments. The company designs, engineers, and commissions utility-scale solar parks as well as smaller distributed installations, with a portfolio that includes Solarpark Jännersdorf (40.5 MW, Brandenburg, 2012), Solarpark Krempendorf (35 MW, Brandenburg, 2012), Solarpark Krughütte (29 MW, Sachsen-Anhalt), Solarpark Helbra (11.7 MW, Sachsen-Anhalt, 2010), and Solarpark North Beer (6.8 MW, Cornwall, UK, 2013). The firm has demonstrated specialized capability in developing sites on difficult or non-traditional terrain, including former military sites and slag heaps, which expands its addressable land base beyond conventional greenfield sites.

The company's technology stack encompasses both PV plant engineering and solar thermal systems, complemented by the proprietary Juri-SolarwärmeManager module, which manages district heating networks fed by solar thermal generation. Parabel markets its solutions as operating independently from EEG (German Renewable Energy Act) subsidies, indicating economic viability on merchant or PPA-like economics rather than guaranteed feed-in tariffs. Customer segments served include citizens' energy groups, municipal utilities, electricity traders, and residential housing associations, with GSI Solarfonds explicitly named as a key project partner. The company operates through a German parent (Parabel GmbH, headquartered in Ludwigsfelde, Brandenburg) and a UK subsidiary (Parabel UK Ltd.), supporting cross-border project execution. Founder Rolf Knorr is publicly associated with the business. No pricing model, revenue figures, headcount, or funding rounds are disclosed in available data.

Name

Parabel

Legal name

Parabel GmbH

Website

https://parabel-solar.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Parabel GmbH is a German solar energy developer and technology provider engineering utility-scale PV and solar thermal parks across Germany and the UK, serving utilities, energy cooperatives, electricity traders, and housing associations with subsidy-independent solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Energy Project Development

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO), Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD), Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ)

Keywords

• Solar park development
• Photovoltaic systems
• Solar thermal energy
• Utility-scale solar
• Renewable energy projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Core offering

Parabel GmbH develops, plans, and constructs utility-scale solar parks and integrated solar systems covering both photovoltaic and solar thermal technology for buildings and open spaces. The company delivers decentralized renewable energy solutions for citizen energy groups, municipal utilities (Stadtwerke), electricity traders, and residential housing associations in Germany and the United Kingdom.

Product overview

Parabel GmbH is a pioneer in solar energy offering two main forms of solar technology: photovoltaics for electricity generation and solar thermal for heating. The company provides integrated solar systems for buildings and open spaces, serving decentralized energy solutions for citizen energy initiatives, municipal utilities, and electricity traders. The portfolio includes utility-scale solar parks (Jännersdorf, Krempendorf, North Beer, Krughütte, Helbra) and residential solar modernization projects. The Juri-SolarwärmeManager serves as a district heating management module for solar-warmth solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Photovoltaik (Photovoltaics) Solar photovoltaic systems that convert sunlight directly into electricity for buildings and utility-scale solar farms. Sold to municipal utilities, electricity traders, citizen energy groups, and investors.
• Solarthermie (Solar Thermal) Solar thermal systems that capture heat from sunlight for water heating and building heating applications. Used for district heating solutions and residential modernization projects.
• Solarsysteme (Solar Systems) Integrated solar systems deployed on buildings and open spaces, enabling decentralized energy solutions for citizen energy initiatives, municipal utilities, and electricity traders.
• Solarpark Jännersdorf Utility-scale solar park in Brandenburg, Germany with 40.5 MW capacity on 94 hectares of former military training ground, developed and constructed by Parabel in 2012.
• Solarpark Krempendorf Utility-scale solar park in Brandenburg, Germany with 35 MW capacity on a conversion area, includes its own transformer station, developed in 2012.
• Solarpark North Beer Solar park in Cornwall, UK with 6.8 MW capacity, project development, planning and construction completed in 2013 by Parabel UK Ltd.
• Solarpark Krughütte Solar park in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany with 29 MW capacity built on a former slag deposit, featuring different module orientations due to hillside terrain.
• Solarpark Helbra Solar park in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany with 11.7 MW capacity on 28 hectares, developed and built in 2010 for the GSI Solarfonds.
• Wohnanlage Meller Bogen, Berlin Solar modernization project for 560 residential units combining solar thermal with gas heating XXL for district heating solution.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• juwi: German renewable energy project developer covering utility-scale solar and wind. Comparable to Parabel on turnkey renewable project development for municipalities, utilities, and traders within the German market.
• GP JOULE: German renewable energy developer with utility-scale solar, wind and hydrogen projects. Comparable to Parabel on renewable energy project development, EPC, and operation across German regions including challenging terrains.
• Enerparc: Hamburg-headquartered utility-scale solar EPC and project developer active across Europe. Direct comparable to Parabel in customer base (investors, utilities, traders), project size, and turnkey delivery model.
• BELECTRIC: German utility-scale solar EPC with global footprint, similar project development, EPC and O&M service stack as Parabel. Closely comparable on utility-scale ground-mount delivery and EEG-era experience.
• Solarcentury (now Statkraft Solar): UK-based solar developer and EPC, comparable to Parabel specifically through the UK subsidiary angle and similar subsidy-free / FiT-era utility-scale delivery experience.
• IBC Solar: German solar PV system provider and EPC, active in utility-scale, commercial and residential segments. Comparable as a vertically integrated German solar company covering PV modules, EPC, and project development.

Broad incumbents

• E.ON: Major European utility with significant solar and decentralized generation development. Comparable as a broad incumbent buyer/competitor in the decentralized solar and EEG-independent power generation segments Parabel targets.
• Conergy: Historically a major German solar EPC and module supplier, comparable as a broader incumbent in the same solar development and EPC space, although now operating on a smaller scale post-restructuring.
• EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg: Large German municipal utility with significant utility-scale solar development and trading operations. Comparable to Parabel's municipal utility / electricity trader customer segment and EEG-independent utility-scale positioning.
• Hanwha Q Cells: Large global solar module manufacturer and project developer with significant German roots. Comparable as a broad incumbent in German and European utility-scale solar, though operating at substantially greater scale than Parabel.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/parabel_ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Parabel