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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!

Latest news

Battery containers lined up on a factory floor in Bohumín

Czech firm lines up 307 MW of storage, including direct transmission

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Technology and energy trading company Second Foundation is developing 307 MW of battery storage across three sites, including Czechia's future largest installation, due online by end of 2026.

Power and weather protection in one: the solar carport in Valls

Alight and Lear expand European partnership across carports and rooftops

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Solar-as-service provider Alight has commissioned a 1.4 MW solar carport at Lear's site in Valls, Spain, alongside new rooftop installations at two manufacturing plants in Poland, bringing the partnership to six European sites.

Session stage at the Intersolar Europe 2026 in Munich: Hans-Christoph Neidlein (pv Europe) with Lance Hong (Sungrow)

From cost centre to market player: the new economics of fleet charging hubs

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Three projects presented at the Intersolar Forum show how PV, battery storage, charging infrastructure, energy management software and market integration are turning commercial truck and bus depots into flexible, revenue-generating assets.

Solar stays up because something holds it there

The smarter E – S-5! attachments set sights on carports and single-ply roofs

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The veteran metal roof attachment specialist is expanding its European presence at The smarter E Europe, with two products aimed at simplifying solar installation on carports and flat commercial rooftops.

Gerard Scheper (centre) is a Dutch expert in solar and storage business

Solar Investors Guide #5 – prospects and pitfalls for investments in solar and large battery projects

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With module prices currently low, investing in solar is particularly attractive, although conditions may not remain this favourable for long. The battery storage market is also gaining momentum, especially for large-scale systems. We spoke with Dutch market analyst Gerard Scheper about the key players, the drivers behind the shift and what changes to expect.

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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)