Energy crises and rising fossil and nuclear prices are making solar and battery storage more attractive than ever, driving demand across industrial rooftops, open land and car parks – find out more in the latest guide.
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.
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.
Solar park construction is picking up pace worldwide, but the bottleneck is not materials or components. It is land, grid connection points and the people to do the work. Sign up for our investor newsletter to receive this digital edition directly.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Dutch market analyst Gerard Scheper talks about the drivers behind the shift and what changes to expect.
Podcast (German): Valuable agricultural land can serve two purposes: as pasture or arable land and for generating clean solar power. Stephan Schindele has played a central role in industrialising agrivoltaics, both at Fraunhofer ISE and at BayWa r.e. He explains the advantages these systems offer farmers and where the pitfalls lie.
Podcast: Elevated solar modules and solar fences let farmers generate clean power on pastures and arable land. Stephan Schindele has played a central role in industrialising agrivoltaics at both Fraunhofer ISE and BayWa r.e., and explains how agricultural transformation and the energy transition connect, benefiting farmers and investors alike, with several European countries already leading the way on large-scale projects.
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.
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.
