Solar Investors Guide podcast – trends and opportunities for investors

Podcast: The Energy Center from Oregon-based ESS Inc. is an iron flow storage system with 1.16 MWh of capacity and a maximum charging power of 174 kW. 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 based on sustainable materials such as iron, salt and water.

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.

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.

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: 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.

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.