--- title: "Blog Alternative" description: "Not a day goes by without Anton Merker informing himself of the current status of his virtual solar power credit. He checks his E.ON Home App even when he is on vacation. State-of-the-art technology has always been an important part of the biomedical engineer's life." path: https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/en/best-practice/example-pages/blog-alternative.html lastModified: 2026-05-05T06:20:12.632Z --- # Blog Alternative solar energy heating e-mobility 24 OCT 2022 # Strengthening friendship with SolarCloud ![image](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/EON_Emobility_Business_84I3595-1%3A16-9?fmt=webp) ##### Not a day goes by without Anton Merker informing himself of the current status of his virtual solar power credit. He checks his E.ON Home App even when he is on vacation. State-of-the-art technology has always been an important part of the biomedical engineer's life. And even though he's retired, he doesn't want to miss the opportunity to stay up to date with the latest technology. After all, Merker has worked for decades in the technical service departments of large companies. Even then, during his many trips abroad – and this was a special experience for him as a citizen of the former GDR – he clearly felt how technology connected people. He became particularly aware of this when he was on assignment in the former FRG: the common love of sophisticated tech solutions was not able to withstand any wall or border. ### Solar energy? I want it! ![image](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/GettyImages-1124741564-1%3A3-1?fmt=webp) Photovoltaic power became a hot topic for Anton Merker shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall. A childhood friend had installed a system on his roof. “When he called me and told me about it, I turned green with envy,” he recalls. Even then, the 76-year-old was already thinking about sustainability. Once you have this attitude, you can't get it out of your head, Merker is convinced. But since his children were still small and he wanted to become self-employed, he let the idea of solar power rest. He made his next attempt with solar power in 2010, when he built a new carport and discussed with his wife the idea of installing a solar system. His then solar energy consultant advised them against it for various reasons. ![](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/illustration-neu-1?fmt=webp-alpha) #### Electric car? I want it too! Yes Merker would probably have buried his great dream of producing sustainable solar energy in his own home forever if his old friend with the solar installation hadn't contacted him again a few years later. He had now bought himself an electric car. This news left Merker no peace of mind. “It's now or never,” he said resolutely and immediately began searching for a suitable supplier. He wanted the most modern PV system, and he wanted it immediately. Of all the offers, he preferred the E.ON solar package. It was transparent, had its own software and was also very attractive in terms of the price-performance ratio. And when the E.ON solar expert visited him on site and gave him detailed advice, he sold. “Mr. Mayer is honest, competent and solution-oriented – he advised me like a good friend.” ### Mr. Mayer is honest, competent and solution-oriented – he advised me like a good friend. #### We are like friends As good friends are, the E.ON solar expert told him that he had to completely renew his electrical installation before considering further steps. As a tech professional, Merker had already seen this coming, but had hoped for a miracle. His house on the outskirts of Berlin was built in the 1930s and the electrics were last replaced over 40 years ago when the house was expanded. “I almost had to revive the electrical expert when he looked at the power distribution system.” It consisted mainly of parts that the graduate engineer had assembled from old X-ray equipment. But good friends don't let you down either. Although the E.ON solar expert was unable to accept the job, he explained in detail what had to be done to enable Anton Merker to finally generate sustainable electricity himself. “We'll manage that,” the E.ON employee said confidently. ## Independent from electricity providers Video type: file Video source: https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/content/dam/foundationNG/videos/video_city.mp4 #### From ancient to ultramodern This damper stirred up even more of Merker's ambition to get rid of the old system. It was a long and exhausting process until everything was done and he contacted the E.ON advisor again. ![image](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/eyeem-100017689-131350366%3A2-1?fmt=webp) “We're going to make a real job of it,” the expert said, looking at the new system. And he kept his promise: From this point on, everything went very smoothly and in April 2019, the Merker family had their long-awaited PV system installed and ready for operation in two days. All suppliers were highly efficient and professional. “That's what it's like when everyone pulls together,” smiles Merker. #### SolarCloud gets us talking A photovoltaic system is great, but a lot of people have it. The E.ON SolarCloud, on the other hand, is extraordinary. And not only because his childhood friend doesn’t have it. “When I heard about the SolarCloud, I was instantly interested,” Merker recalls. The real reason for purchasing the SolarCloud was that the family wanted to be independent of the electricity providers. With virtual storage, they could store their own solar power and only consume it later, for example in winter. Now Merker was the one who called his friend. The friend was thrilled and immediately wanted the password for access to the E.ON software. This way, the two of them can look at the current status of the virtual solar power credit, the consumption and so much more. The SolarCloud has become their hobby. ![image](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/emobility2018-business-group-greencouch-4391%3A2-1?fmt=webp) #### Thanks to solar technology we feel closer to each other Nevertheless, the Berliner still feels a bit lonely, because he doesn't know anyone who is as technologically advanced as he is thanks to the SolarCloud. But he is sure that this will change soon. He has nearly convinced one of his neighbours and is already on the second round of talks. Others in the vicinity would install a PV-system immediately but are frustrated that they don't have the space or location for it. Merker is looking forward to this dialogue: “When I am convinced of something, I tell everyone about it.” #### The sun is for everyone – make the best out of it This experience has enabled E.ON to set another milestone in the development of sustainable solutions. As you can see, pursuing these and even using them for your own benefit can be fun. Not just because new technologies connect us, but because they bring the future into the present. Did you think it would be this easy to enjoy a 100 percent self-sufficient solar power supply that produces your own energy that you can use at any time, whatever you need it for? ## The WE Grid Explore what WE can achieve together Together with our customers, partners and communities all over Europe, we are changing the world to make it a better, more sustainable planet. The WE Grid gives you an overview of what is possible, when we all work together. Travel from the first sustainable village in Sweden to a hidden power plant in London’s underground. With one click. [Discover the WE-Grid](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/en.html) ### You might also enjoy these articles ### Energy4Blue: How we all help the sea breathe again ![image](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/eyeem-100017689-123087699-1%3A2-1?fmt=webp) [Read more](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/en.html) ### Streaming is the coolest way of heating ![image](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/EON_Family_Tag3_84I5307%3A2-1?fmt=webp) [Read more](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/en/about-foundation-2020.html) ### Why we has no limits ![image](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/cdm-assets/is/image/eon/GettyImages-487445460%3A2-1?fmt=webp) [Read more](https://www.eonshowroom.eon.com/en/basket.html)