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Live Stream

The smarter E Europe: pv Guided Tours and CEO talks with industry leaders - LIVE from Munich
 
On 23 and 24 June 2026, the teams from photovoltaik and pv Europe will be reporting live from the exhibition halls in Munich. At The smarter E Europe, we'll be showcasing the most important innovations and highlighting the key trends for 2026. Our live streams in German and English kick off at 13:00 CEST.
 
Tip: Set a reminder on YouTube and tune in live!

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BLUETTI Unites Open Energy Ecosystem Partners to Advance Home Energy Independence at Intersolar Europe 2026

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At Intersolar Europe 2026, BLUETTI showcased its commitment to home energy independence through an open energy ecosystem integrating balcony solar solutions, residential energy storage and smart energy management. 

The SMA factory in Sandershäuser Berg, Germany

Intersolar – SMA opening with new hybrid inverter launch

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A new three-phase hybrid inverter range integrating energy management, storage and backup functions will make its live debut at SMA's Intersolar stand as the exhibition opens on 23 June.

No shortage of opinions or exhibitors at this year's The smarter E Europe

The smarter E Europe opens with a message: 24/7 renewables are ready

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Europe's largest clean energy exhibition opened in Munich to fully booked halls, 2,800 exhibitors and a single unifying argument: that continuous supply from renewable sources is no longer a question of if, but when.

Storage in series – JA Solar's C&I units in deployment

Intersolar – JA Solar to preview utility BESS and next-gen TOPCon

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At the Munich show this month, JA Solar will present its JAGalaxy grid-scale storage system, the C&I-focused JAPlanet BESS and its latest generation of DeepBlue TOPCon modules.

Generation, storage and grid all in one place, lighting effects not included

Intersolar – Solar's success is a new headache for European grids

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Hybrid systems that pair photovoltaics with battery storage are gaining ground as the EU looks to manage midday oversupply and evening shortfalls, with the case being made at this year's largest solar trade show.

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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)