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Live Stream

On June 23 - 24, 2026 the editors of photovoltaik and pv Europe will be reporting live from the exhibition halls in Munich. At The smarter E Europe, we will showcase the most important innovations and highlight the trends for 2026. Our live streaming in both German and English will kick off at 1 pm CEST.
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Latest news

Leonard Friese (right) of Tesvolt presents the new Forton storage system

Smarter, tougher, outdoors – Tesvolt’s latest storage container

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PV Guided Tours: The new Tesvolt Forton battery system enables commercial enterprises to participate profitably in energy trading for the first time. With high‑temperature LFP cells, traditional applications such as peak load capping and solar self‑consumption are now more cost‑effective. A 15‑year performance guarantee, covering two full cycles per day, ensures long‑term investment security.

Rolling hills, ranked containers: a 300 MWh storage vision for Romania

EBRD backs 302 MW battery rollout across four EU markets

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NGEN Energetske Rešitve will deploy Tesla-supplied storage systems in Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovenia under a €70 million loan, with returns tied to wholesale electricity prices.

Torre Glòries looks on as the rooftops learn a new trick

Barcelona – Siresa marks 25 years with rooftop solar drive

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The Tersa subsidiary is helping expand installations across the Catalan capital through the "Moment Solar Barcelona" initiative, part of a wider municipal effort to accelerate decarbonisation and local energy generation.

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Peakup Power Establishes European HQ Ahead of Intersolar Munich, to Unveil Next-Gen PEC-BC Technology

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Every breakthrough in photovoltaic technology brings us one step closer to a greener future. As a world-leading provider of PEC-BC lightweight modules and BIPV solutions, Peakup Power is proud to announce the establishment of our European headquarters – Peakup Europe GmbH – in Germany.

The majority of the grid-secured projects consist of standalone battery storage systems – but not all

Spain – Galileo nets 700 MW grid access for clean power

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The Zurich-based developer has cleared a key hurdle for its Spanish portfolio of battery, wind and solar projects, with final investment decisions on several schemes targeted by the end of 2026.

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What is photovoltaics?

Photovoltaics (PV) refers to the generation of electrical energy from sunlight. At the heart of this process are the solar-active semiconductors known as solar cells, which capture sunlight and convert it directly into electricity.

From a technical standpoint, a PV system or solar installation functions as a generator. Here, individual solar cells are combined into a solar module, which is protected from the elements. These modules are then assembled into a larger solar generator, which can be mounted on rooftopsfaçadesopen ground or specially designed structures. The electricity generated is direct current (DC), which is converted into alternating current (AC) by an inverter. This AC power can be used directly on site or fed into the public grid via the building’s connection. The electricity is typically supplied to the local utility or grid operator.

Larger PV systems installed on open land are often called solar parks. These feed power into the grid via dedicated transformers and switchgear. In many countries special Acts and regulations govern remuneration for solar power, whether via feed-in tariffs or market premiums for direct sales to third parties.

Self-consumption can be increased by using solar power for heating waterroom heating, air conditioning or refrigeration. Battery storage systems help by storing surplus solar electricity for later use. These so-called solar batteries improve system reliability, especially when solar output dips.

Not all incoming sunlight is converted into electricity. The conversion rate depends on the intensity and wavelength of the incoming light spectrum. This ratio between usable electrical output and the maximum available solar radiation is known as efficiency.

The performance of a solar generator or storage system is defined by its output. When multiplied by the number of sunshine hours, this gives the solar yield – the amount of electricity generated per day, month or year. In addition to charging and discharging power, solar batteries are also rated by their capacity, or the amount of energy they can store. Power is measured in kilowatts (kW) or megawatts (MW), while energy and yield are expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or megawatt-hours (MWh). (HS)