1Komma5 buys Australian company Natural solar

The climate start-up 1Komma5 of ex-Tesla manager Philipp Schröder takes over important Tesla partner on the Australian market.

For an undisclosed amount, German startup 1Komma5 is acquiring Australian solar panel and battery installation leader Natural Solar. This reports Businessinsider. In Australia, Natural Solar is a key partner of Elon Musk's e-car maker Tesla; it installs the cars' solar power storage systems. 1Komma5 founder Philipp Schröder previously worked as a manager under Musk.

His startup installs and maintains solar systems, electricity storage, charging infrastructure and heat pumps. To expand, Schröder's startup acquires and bundles local craft businesses. This is how 1Komma5 aims to become a global provider. The Australian market plays an important role in this: Schröder plans to invest more than 65 million euros there in the next 18 months. Up to six more companies are to be acquired on the continent.

So far, the start-up operates mainly in Germany and Sweden. Schröder founded 1Komma5 last summer and says it has since acquired 15 companies and employs more than 750 people at 25 locations. In 2023, the startup aims to turn over 600 million euros.