We meet Rike in her office, where she and her team are working on a cost calculation for a customer. The common room is right next to her office. This is where we go for the first interview in our series “TRICERA from the perspective of …”. It’s a great place to get together and chat informally.

You are part of the Sales & Project Design team at TRICERA. What specific tasks do you deal with?

We usually make initial contact with the customer. The core task is therefore customer communication and all associated topics such as product presentation and consultation, the design of the initial technical layout, as well as the creation and negotiation of works and maintenance contracts. We are always in close contact with other departments in order to offer our customers an economically and technically optimal solution.

How do you explain to friends what your daily work involves? You rarely come across battery storage systems in everyday life.

A simplified description of our utility storage systems usually sounds like this: Imagine a shipping container in which new or used batteries from electric vehicles, for example, are installed. These containers are often installed next to generation systems such as solar photovoltaic (PV) fields and operated in conjunction with them, but independent use is also possible. If the system is connected to a PV system, the storage unit can, for example, store surplus solar energy that cannot be consumed at the relevant time and release it at a later time. This serves to optimize self-consumption and reduce electricity costs. However, storage systems can also draw energy from the grid at times of day when the electricity price is lower and sell it again at a later time at a higher price. Other applications include grid stabilization, functioning as an emergency power unit or similar.

What is the most common question you are asked by customers?

In initial discussions with customers, questions are often asked about the battery type, transportation and installation of the container at the project site, delivery times and fire protection. Later on in the quotation process, topics such as investment costs, the exact technical design, guarantees and maintenance are added.

Was sustainability and the opportunity to help drive the energy transition a reason why you applied to TRICERA?

It has definitely reinforced this in a positive way. I did an internship in the energy storage sector a few years ago and have been enthusiastic about the idea of battery storage ever since. It’s motivating to work on a product that contributes to the energy transition and sustainability.

You’ve been with TRICERA for almost a year now. Is there anything you appreciate about the company?

I really appreciate the working atmosphere and the culture at TRICERA. Everyone does their best to make it easier for their colleagues to continue their work and to achieve the best results for our customers. Our strength lies in individual system solutions for a wide range of customer requirements. This means that every new project is very varied and you can contribute new ideas.

You don’t just take care of sales, I’ve heard that you also organize overarching activities, such as a billiards tournament…

We have our own pool table in the common room and that’s how the idea of organizing an in-house department tournament came about. Events like this are always a great opportunity to talk to employees about topics outside of everyday working life. That’s why I actively participated in the organization of the event together with other colleagues. We really enjoyed it.

It seems like you’re not the only one taking the initiative.

Definitely not. There is even a sports club that colleagues have founded. It offers yoga and volleyball during the week. We also have some climbing and bouldering enthusiasts who meet up frequently. This year, TRICERA will once again be taking part in the REWE Team Challenge in Dresden.

Finally: Who are you nominating for the next interview and why?

My nomination goes to Konrad. He works in project management. It’s a multi-faceted job and I’m sure there are some exciting things to report.