Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to site search

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.
Tip: Use YouTube's reminder function to not miss out!

Latest news

Giannis Giannakopoulos, Chief Executive Director, Integrated Utility, of London-listed METLEN

Giannis Giannakopoulos: “Portfolio and aggregator management is essential”

-

METLEN's integrated utility chief explains how the group fuses generation, storage, trading and supply into one platform, underpinning decarbonisation, customer affordability and industrial resilience across more than 40 markets.

The containers that do the heavy lifting, rain or shine

Quadrupling EU storage by 2030 – the ees Europe agenda

-

Europe's battery storage fleet is growing fast, up more than 45% last year and potentially quadrupling by 2030, with €55 billion in annual savings on the table, if Germany and others get the regulatory framework right.

Parking garages are attractive assets that enhance their worth through solar facades.

Solar Investors Guide #5 – Solarised parking and charging

-

The era of petrol and diesel dominance is drawing to a close. Mobility is transitioning to electric, with millions of private electric cars, company fleets, and commercial vehicles creating new demands on the energy supply. Filling stations, parking garages, and parking lots now represent opportunities to provide EVs with solar power.

The Gamma BESS project site in Giurgiu, Romania

Romania – Trina Storage ships 40 MW Gamma project

-

The 160.48 MWh utility-scale battery system marks the first European deployment of an integrated DC+AC architecture, combining 32 Elementa 2 Pro battery units with four Electra AC units

SL Rack had many new products to show off for private and commercial roofs.

SL Rack – optimal module mounting for all roofs

-

PV Guided Tours: Mounting systems play a crucial role in PV installations by providing stability and reliability over many years. What details do manufacturers focus on to make your work easier? Ludwig M. Schletter from SL Rack shows the latest solutions for optimal installation. Watch the video to find out more.

Latest videos

More videos

PV on TourPV Guided Tours


 

markets

financing

hybrid generators

inverter

mounting

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)