Patrick Schmidt-Bräkling of BayWa r.e. explores uncertainty and future prospects in Europe’s solar PPA market and co-location sector.
CEO Talk: The market for mounting systems is tough. Competition is fierce and price pressure is high. Manufacturers including K2 Systems are responding with smart innovations. But who – or what – is KAI? And what's behind the motto ‘From Base to Peak’? Let’s find out!
Photovoltaic systems represent an essential component of the energy transition. As investments, operators naturally expect regular returns. This makes technical defects and damage all the more vexing – in particular when they are the result of avoidable mistakes.
Energy costs matter. They shape competitiveness, whether a company is trading internationally or serving the local market. And with fossil and nuclear prices heading in only one direction, renewable energy from sun and wind is looking less like an alternative and more like the smart money.
The renewable energy provider has confirmed construction of four new solar parks in northern and central England, marking its first major venture into solar and expanding its energy mix.
The floating neighbourhood of Schoonschip shows how households can pool solar, batteries and heat pumps, transforming a community into a flexible, market-ready virtual power plant in Amsterdam’s waterways.
PV on Tour – The Evercore series from Solis integrates inverter, battery and energy management in a single unit, offering 100 kW power and 120 kWh capacity. The larger version delivers up to 261 kWh, paired with a hybrid inverter rated at 50 or 60 kW.
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.
Industry leaders at the summit will discuss how AI can drive efficiency, strengthen quality assurance and support operational excellence in Europe’s solar sector.
Efforts to diversify imports, increase production and expand recycling are losing momentum within the EU, says the European Court of Auditors, which urges swift corrective action.
Mounted vertically as four wings around a central column, the modules avoid snow accumulation, maintain high yields, and are now entering commercial deployment.
PV on Tour – Sunman Energy presents its ultra-lightweight, semi-flexible solar modules, designed for lightweight roofs and balcony PV systems, and achieving up to 520 watts. Managing Director Nancy Yell lays out the advantages of the technology.
Energiepark Witznitz: With an output of 650 megawatts, the solar park south of Leipzig marks a milestone in project development. Register now to download our special edition free of charge. Investor newsletter subscribers receive it directly to their desktop.
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.
CEO Talk: Uniper brings decades of experience in the energy sector. But what role can such a strong partner play in the solar park and battery storage business? And how important is this expertise in integrating renewable energies into supply systems? Let’s find out.
As farms confront grid constraints and fluctuating energy use, manufacturers are engineering smart inverters that provide reliability, flexibility, and secure power for even the most demanding agricultural applications.
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.
PV Guided Tours: Industry and commercial enterprises can reduce electricity costs in various ways using storage systems – but security is key. Luis Haya, Solution Manager Chint Power Systems, explains which features are needed to ensure security is safeguarded.
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.
Market volatility and price cannibalisation are accelerating flexibility purchase agreements, while long-term PPAs are losing ground, according to Pexapark.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Investing in solar parks, expansive rooftop systems and cutting-edge battery storage requires patience and a genuinely long-term outlook. Such projects are generally designed to run for twenty years or more, making it crucial to safeguard them against a broad spectrum of risks over their lifespan – an important issue that is still too often neglected.
