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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

René Gelfert (right) discusses safety and the new functions of their commercial inverters.

Solis – new hybrid inverter delivers 125 kilowatts

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PV Guided Tours: Solis offers a broad portfolio of inverters for residential and C&I. A standout highlight is the new hybrid inverter with 125 kilowatts of power and ten MPP trackers. On the service side, the company is increasingly focusing on AI capable of responding in real time – a clear benefit for installers and consumers.

The front and rear glass panes are each two millimetres thick

Solar Fabrik colours its way into the heritage market

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The Mono S4 Halfcut Chroma Orange is Solar Fabrik's first coloured solar module, with a red-brown finish modelled on RAL 8004 for traditional red tiled roofs and heritage-protected buildings.

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PMT X118 – Protection without limits

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Flat roofs offer huge potential – but they also demand smart solutions. Large modules, complex layouts, strict structural and safety requirements and rising cost pressure call for a mounting system that does more than simply hold panels in place.

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.

The rebranded Nextracker will exhibit at Intersolar Europe in Munich

Nextpower marks European debut at Intersolar 2026

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A decade on from its tracker origins, the Nasdaq-listed company is using its first Intersolar under the Nextpower name to position itself as a single-source partner for European developers and EPCs.

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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)