All latest news

The use of drones for the cleaning of agricultural solar arrays is increasing, placing new demands on cleaning agents in terms of safety, compatibility and application control.

PV Guided Tours: Solar canopies for vines, fruit and berry plantations serve to protect growing fruit from harsh weather and environmental conditions. In most cases, however, the grapevines, the bushes and trees are already firmly rooted in the ground. Mo Horowitz, COO of Solargik, shows how this can be achieved without interrupting agricultural operations – even on slopes.

Chinese manufacturer Aiko has become the first provider to receive explosion protection certification from TÜV Süd for its ABC Stellar 66-cell dual-glass module. The certification confirms that the module does not constitute an ignition source in potentially explosive atmospheres.

The Energy Transition Expo from 4 to 6 March in Rimini, Italy, will feature an extensive programme of conferences, seminars and strategic debates focused on the energy transition at both national and international levels.

Based on network modelling and connection data, the new study by distribution network operator Deddie/Hedno suggests that between 1.8 GW and 2.9 GW of battery storage could be connected to Greece’s existing distribution grid.

Consumer priorities in Spain’s solar market have fundamentally shifted after a major power outage in spring 2025. The study reveals how motivations have changed and which technologies are now in focus.

As electric vehicle deployment accelerates in the UK, BYD has joined Electric Vehicles UK, reflecting a growing focus on consumer confidence, system integration and grid readiness.

Free to download: This special issue highlights the dual use of land as a key aspect of the solar energy transition in agriculture. Alongside the latest technological developments, it also covers the emerging business models for solar installations on farmland.

The agreement pairs Talesun’s global agrivoltaic project pipeline based on Alphatracker’s purpose-built trackers and structures, with installations customised to local crops and a total investment topping €700 million.

PV Guided Tours: Atmoce presents two new innovative products – a micro inverter and a low-voltage battery. The M-ELV battery operates at less than 30 volts, increasing safety for installers and simplifying day-to-day work. Intelligent energy management system connects both components. The low-voltage technology is designed to benefit private households as well as commercial users.

The recently announced WST-485BDX54-B2 from Winaico expands the manufacturer’s back-contact range, offering 485 W of output and 23.8% module efficiency in a bifacial glass-glass design.

Industry leaders at the summit will discuss how AI can drive efficiency, strengthen quality assurance and support operational excellence in Europe’s solar sector.

Market volatility and price cannibalisation are accelerating flexibility purchase agreements, while long-term PPAs are losing ground, according to Pexapark.

Backed by a €230 million investment, Sungrow’s first European factory in Wałbrzych will start operations within 12 months, manufacturing battery storage systems and PV inverters for Europe.

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.

For the twelfth consecutive year, the EU achieved a record level of battery storage installations, driven primarily by utility-scale projects. Residential installations declined.

Podcast: Specialist retailer BayWa r.e. Solar Trade is setting new standards for emissions-free logistics.Suppliers, transport, buildings, and packaging are all being examined, and notable progress has already been made. Dominik Dohr, Vice President of Global Procurement and Supply Chain at BayWa r.e. Solar Trade, has a clear vision in which renewable energy and sustainability go hand in hand. As Europe’s largest solar retailer, the company aims to cut emissions across all areas, from internal processes to logistics and supply chains.

PV on Tour – Conduct Technical Solutions is showcasing the PVshelter alongside a smaller version, a protective enclosure designed for inverters up to 30 kW. Joining the line-up is the Batteryshelter, which enables the safe outdoor installation of home storage systems.

From 17–18 February 2026, Supernova, an EU Horizon Europe-funded project focused on establishing quality and high performance in solar PV projects, will organise three sessions at the Solar Quality Summit Europe 2026 conference in Barcelona.

With module prices currently low, investing in solar is especially appealing – though conditions may not stay this favourable for long. The battery storage market is also heating up, particularly for large-scale systems. We spoke with Dutch market analyst Gerard Scheper about the key players, what’s driving the shift and what change to expect.

The UK government has unveiled its £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, placing solar panels, batteries and heat pumps at the centre of a significant shift away from insulation-heavy retrofit strategies.

With a new branch and a local Technical Sales Manager alongside wholesale operations, My PV is sharpening its focus on Benelux installers as demand for solar-powered heating systems continues to rise.

PV Guided Tours: From the roof and façade to the carport – if you want to harness every part of your building for solar energy, GoodWe has a solution. Barbara Terreni, Senior Technical Solution Manager Europe at the PV Building Materials Division, explains how to turn your building into a solar power plant.

Socomec has launched its new Solive Pro tool for battery storage monitoring. Senec is integrating forecast-based charging into its home storage systems. Ernst Schweizer has introduced a new system to enhance safety for large-format modules, while Lorenz has launched a new mounting solution for green roofs. These are PVE’s top picks this week.

Roofs and flat open spaces aren't the only options for solar power. Applications that pose particular challenges for project planning and installation technology are increasingly coming into focus.