Page 206 - ISES SWC50

Claude Remy
Country: France
Year joined industry: 1981
Company first worked for: Photowatt
Technology area: PV
Still active in the industry: No

In 1981 while working with Conference Des Granded Ecoles (CGE) Subsidiary Alsthorm Claude Remy was asked
to become the chief executive of Photowatt. This solar company was a subsidiary of CGE’s SAFT battery company.
Photowatt was the largest European PV manufacturer during the early to mid 80’s. In 1987 Chronar France obtained
a majority shareholder and Remy returned to work for CGE. However, Remy with a few others formed Solar France
and in 1988 bought back Chronar’s shareholding and he returned as chief executive of Photowatt . However, to
survive in these early years, Photowatt still required support to continue operating and that came from the European
Commission and also investment from Shell. After Shell withdrew its support in 1998 Photowatt was acquired by
the Canadian ATS group. Remy retired in 1999 however he established a research facility that investigated silicon
ribbon processes . Remy was the recipient of the first EPIA’s Bonda Prize in 2000.

Alfred T. Ritter
Country: Germany
Year joined industry: 1980’s
Company first worked for: Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG
Technology area: Solar Thermal
Still active in the industry: Yes

As the owner of the world-famous chocolate factory, Alfred Ritter was affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe in
1986, as he was no longer able to obtain non-irradiated hazelnuts for his premium chocolate. Not able to buy an
ecological heating system on the market, he decided to do what was necessary. Together with Klaus Taafel, the owner
of the “Paradigma engineering office”, he founded the company “Paradigma - Ritter Energie- und Umwelttechnik”
in 1988. They initially composed high-quality, market-available components such as solar collectors, wood pellet
and gas condensing boilers into intelligent and sensible systems and established a distribution system with very
well-trained partner installers. With its own highly innovative development department, control concepts were
developed and later a production facility for highly efficient CPC vacuum tube collectors was built in Dettenhausen.
Today, these solar collectors form the core of Paradigma Systems’ heating systems in detached, semi-detached
and multi-family houses, covering up to more than 50% of the heat demand. In addition, a department for large-
scale solar plants Ritter XL was established, which builds large-scale turnkey solar plants since 2006 and is able
to provide high temperature levels even without the support of conventional heat generators. Alfred Ritter’s goal
has always been to strive for the best ecological solution with the highest possible proportion of renewable heat.
The combination of highly efficient solar thermal energy and wood pellet boilers is an expression of his vision. After
more than 30 years of successful work in the heating sector, he is still active as member of the board of directors.
Alfred Ritter and his former CEO Klaus Taafel, who unfortunately passed away in 2018, were a dream team that
very early on pursued the goal of completely regenerative heating and with their spirit never lost sight of it, even in
the most difficult times.

188 | ISES SWC50 - The Century of Solar-Stories and Visions