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Alan Greenshields (right) from ESS discusses sustainable long-term storage technology.

Solar Investors Guide #4 – Long-term storage with iron flow technology

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Podcast: The Energy Center from ESS Inc. in Oregon is an iron flow storage system offering 1.16 MWh of capacity and 174 kW of maximum charging power. Housed in a single container, the modular unit is designed for a range of commercial and grid applications. Alan Greenshields, Director EMEA at ESS, discusses long-duration storage and the role of redox flow technology using sustainable materials such as iron, salt and water.

Dr Tim Juan (left) is CTO of Ampace

Ampace: strategies and innovation for the European storage market

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CEO Talk: The European energy storage market is growing dynamically, and so are the demands on profitability, safety and system integration. We find out how Ampace is positioning itself in this environment, the role Europe plays for the company, and which advances and technologies are set to shape the market next.

The kind of scale that made the financing possible and now makes the shortfall harder to absorb

Greece – overdue loans mount as solar producers feel the squeeze

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Banks are stepping up warnings to solar operators as loans fall into arrears, with output restrictions and falling power prices squeezing project income and pushing some towards default.

Not abstract art but an aerial view of the Amynteo Cluster in Greece

Greece – former lignite mine reborn as gigawatt-scale solar hub

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RWE and PPC have finished building 930 MWp of solar capacity in Western Macedonia, part of a joint venture that also has 567 MWp under construction for 2027.

The sun sets on European Energy's involvement in Cerano Energreen

Italy – EE hands over the keys to Cerano Energreen

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The fully permitted 90 MW park in Puglia carries a 20-year FerX Contract for Difference, built on already-industrialised land in a province long defined by fossil-fuel generation.

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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)