manufacturing

China’s solar industry has entered a new phase. After years of cut‑price competition and unchecked capacity expansion, the market now faces higher costs, explains Gerard Scheper, CEO of European Solar.

The Japanese group is committing €320 million to enlarge its heat pump giga‑fab in Pilsen, while establishing a supporting research and development hub.

Top executives from more than 150 European EV businesses have issued an open letter urging Ursula von der Leyen to uphold the EU’s 2035 zero‑emission target for cars and vans and strengthen Europe’s e‑mobility position.

Stronger cybersecurity alone will not secure Europe’s solar industry. A new industrial policy is needed, says Jan Osenberg, Head of System Integration at SolarPower Europe.

The new licensing agreement grants HoloSolis access to the TOPCon patent portfolio in Europe, as part of a partnership to build large‑scale solar cell and module production capacity in Hambach, northeastern France.

Europe’s battery supply chain is accelerating, with more projects now moving into construction, commissioning or securing long-term investment support. The trend marks a shift from announcements to tangible industrial progress.

The California-based startup is securing gigafactories and expertise in Europe, and has announced plans to resume battery production at several Northvolt sites.

The battery storage system on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast will enhance grid stability and renewable energy integration.

The collaboration will focus on rethinking battery life cycles, with new pilot projects and policy dialogues aimed at scaling up reuse, remanufacturing and recycling across the supply chain.

Lyten has acquired Northvolt’s 25,000 m² battery storage factory in Gdańsk, marking a major step in its European expansion and a boost to regional supply of lithium-sulphur systems.

New battery developments and the use of machine learning could make energy systems more streamlined, efficient and sustainable, according to consultancy IDTechEx.

Technological progress and rising demand are accelerating the development of solid-state batteries. The sector is expected to gain significant market traction by 2025, according to a new report from IDTechEx.

Maia Benstead, technology analyst at Oxford-based research consultancy IDTechEx, outlines recent advances in perovskite PV durability  and the decisive role of advanced encapsulation.

SolarPower Europe has welcomed the EU energy ministers’ renewed commitment to renewables, but criticised the lack of tangible proposals to support domestic production and advance other key measures.

Europe is home to more than 40 solar mounting system manufacturers, a new report finds. SolarPower Europe says EU legislation must reinforce this critical link in the solar supply chain.

At SolarPower Europe’s annual summit, French panel manufacturer Heliup received the Gold European Solar Startup Award 2025 for its innovative, lightweight and high-performance rooftop PV modules.

The solar businesses signed an exclusive patent licensing agreement covering the manufacture and sale of perovskite-based photovoltaic products in China, with the additional right to sublicense.

Wavelabs Eternal Sun, a newly established subsidiary based in Leipzig, will provide a complete range of solar testing technology, from R&D to mass production.

The highly automated factory will boost Sigenergy’s annual output by over 300,000 units, including inverters, battery storage systems and energy gateways.

This year‘s trade fair in Munich once again demonstrated the dynamic pace of innovation in photovoltaics, energy storage and other technologies driving the energy transition. The industry presented itself with confidence and a wealth of new products.

The European Commission has adopted the NZIA Secondary Legislation, outlining how Member States should factor in sustainability and resilience in renewable energy auctions.

A tsunami of cheap Chinese solar panels flooding Europe, a growing taste for rooftop solar and a boom for small, medium and large-scale battery storage – these are the three overarching trends for 2025 as predicted by Midsummer Executive VP Sven Lindström.

The module manufacturer has begun construction of a new 300 MW factory in Germany, marking its return to domestic production for the first time since 2018. Further expansion is already planned.

A new market analysis from SolarPower Europe highlights the potential of European solar production to underpin the resilience of the European sector.

SolarEdge rode the the ups and downs of the 2024 solar market. Newly appointed General Manager Europe Christian Carraro reflects on  that year and the year ahead, and predicts steady rising demand.