As a rule, one to three percent of the total investment should be allocated to operation and maintenance expenses over a 20-year period. Solar parks are therefore considered low-maintenance assets, with O&M costs significantly lower than those of fossil fuel or nuclear power plants.
Large-scale storage systems are gaining ground across Europe, driven by growing demand for grid stabilisation and peak load shifting. Italy, Great Britain and Germany are leading the charge. Download our latest free e-paper now.
Professor Martin Green of the University of New South Wales is a leading figure in solar research, holding numerous patents and efficiency records dating back to 1974. Now Chief Scientific Officer at Euronergy, he is focused on developing glass-free, lightweight modules that are exceptionally thin and easy to install.
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.
Podcast: Elevated solar modules and solar fences are helping farmers generate clean solar power on their pastures and arable land. Stephan Schindele, head of the agri-PV division at BayWa r.e., explains how agricultural transformation and the energy transition are interconnected, offering clear benefits for both farmers and investors. Several countries across Europe are already leading the way with large-scale agri-PV projects.
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.
Podcast: Cybersecurity is a critical issue for inverters and solar storage. Uri Sadot, Cybersecurity Programme Director at SolarEdge and Chair of Digitalisation at SolarPower Europe, outlines system vulnerabilities, recent incidents and the urgent need for preventive action. He warns: caution blocks criminal access, while hesitation invites costly failures and grid disruptions.
Energy costs shape competitiveness in both global and local markets. As fossil and nuclear prices continue to rise, solar and wind are no longer marginal technologies but increasingly represent the smart money in power generation.
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.
The updated European Long Term Investment Fund regulation broadens access to solar projects for institutional and private investors, while PPAs now offer returns independent of public subsidies.
Podcast (German): Valuable agricultural land can serve two purposes: as pasture or arable land and for generating clean solar power. Stephan Schindele, head of the agri-PV business unit at BayWa r.e., explains the advantages these systems offer farmers, and where the pitfalls lie.
The world’s leading innovation hub for solar investors, The smarter E Europe in Munich, represents a key platform for trailblazing products and solutions driving the global energy transition. The event showcases cutting-edge innovations in PV, energy storage, e-mobility, system integration and project development. Download the free e-paper now.
