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Jörg Lennertz from Uniper (right) discusses the prospects of project business.

Uniper – extensive experience in project business

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CEO Talk: Uniper brings decades of experience in the energy sector. But what role can such a strong partner play in the solar park and battery storage business? And how important is this expertise in integrating renewable energies into supply systems? Let’s find out.

Reserva Pro battery is manufactured in Europe.

Fronius shows high-voltage battery with up to 32 kilowatt-hours

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Fronius is presenting the Reserva Pro high-voltage battery at Intersolar in Munich, manufactured in Europe. The modular storage system can be configured from 12 to 32 kilowatt-hours per tower and expanded in parallel operation to up to 128 kilowatt-hours.

Guest author Chris Bernkopf, founder of software provider Podero

Europe’s grid fix is already on our roofs

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Europe is generating more renewable energy than ever, yet a widening gap between production and consumption is pushing imbalance costs across the entire system. The solution to this challenge may lie right above us, says Chris Bernkopf, founder of Podero.

Prices for low-voltage residential systems edged up, and declined for high-voltage premium

March Battery Index – residential prices fall, C&I softens

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Figures from sun.store show a broad price correction in residential batteries, while commercial and industrial prices declined across both capacity ranges, with sharper drops in smaller systems.

Stephan Schindele (right) and Karsten Schäfer discuss the emerging opportunities for PV in Europe.

Solar Investors Guide #11 – Agri-PV reimagines farmland for the future

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Podcast: Elevated solar modules and solar fences are helping farmers generate clean solar power on their pastures and arable land. Stephan Schindele, head of the agri-PV division at BayWa r.e., explains how agricultural transformation and the energy transition are interconnected, offering clear benefits for both farmers and investors. Several countries across Europe are already leading the way with large-scale agri-PV projects.

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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)