Sustainable and Affordable Alternatives for Energy

We talked to Edgar Imaz of SotySolar about promoting energy self-consumption, and he had the following to say:-

First of all, how are you and your family doing in these COVID-19 times?

Edgar Imaz: Luckily, we are in very good health and are doing as well as possible in this new normal. Of course, the lockdown and mandated restrictions can affect you emotionally, but to overcome this global pandemic, it is necessary that we all comply with the rules, and that is what we are doing.

Tell us about you, your career, how you founded SotySolar.

Edgar Imaz: I am a Civil Engineer as well as a Mining and Energy Resources Engineer. I have a Master’s Degree in Commercial Management and Marketing from the University of Oviedo and an MBA from the Barcelona Business School. I have previous experience working within the safety, quality, and environmental sectors at the AUDINOR company.

In November 2016, I founded SotySolar with Daniel Fernández in order to promote energy self-consumption, turning a traditionally complex and highly mistrusted process into a very simple and safe process.

How does SotySolar innovate? 

Edgar Imaz: At SotySolar we are experts in solar energy and photovoltaic self-consumption. We work on two types of solutions; first, the more traditional purchase and installation of solar panels in which the owner pays SotySolar for the installation. The second is a more flexible solution; the solar subscription model. This model offers our customers a more tailored solution wherein they can choose how they save through self-consumption and boost photovoltaic solar energy in Spain. 

How the coronavirus pandemic affects your business, and how are you coping?

Edgar Imaz: Of course, during the lockdown restrictions, we could not access our customers’ homes. However, we were able to work with our customers in advance to ensure all necessary paperwork was completed and any questions were answered so that when the restrictions were lifted, we could hit the ground running. Interestingly, these months of lockdown have given people a chance to look into more sustainable and affordable alternatives for their energy needs, and switching to solar energy and self-consumption is a reliable and cost-effective option.

Did you have to make difficult choices, and what are the lessons learned?

Edgar Imaz: Yes, difficult decisions had to be made, and many lessons were learned. I maintain that you can still find opportunities in times of crisis if you have the courage, security, and confidence to make decisions that make you grow personally and professionally. Ultimately, it’s about assessing opportunity and risk and establishing the right balance between the two.

How do you deal with stress and anxiety?

Edgar Imaz: Some days are better than others. I try to maintain a routine; organizing my days, prioritizing the important tasks, and, if possible, finding the tasks that will lead to professional advances. I play sports frequently as it greatly helps me to clear my mind and make better decisions, and I usually meditate with a mobile app.

Who are your competitors? And how do you plan to stay in the game?

Edgar Imaz: Of course, competition in the renewables sector is always excellent news for the environment and gives people more alternatives to consume green energy, which in turn helps boost the industry. 

One last thought?

Edgar Imaz: I think this pandemic has brought clarity on what is important; health and wellness should be our number one priority. Due to the fragility of human life, we must focus on looking for happiness in the present, in the little things, and focus our efforts on improving the lives of those around us.

Your website?

www.sotysolar.es/