The winners will be announced and presented with their awards at an official ceremony on the eve of The smarter E Europe on May 6, 2025 at Messe München.

The categories of the competition demonstrate the diversity and the interconnectedness of the four sub-exhibitions Intersolar, ees, Power2Drive and EM-Power as well as the role of The smarter E as the leading platform in the industry’s key areas.

More about The smarter E Award 2025

The five award categories

The world of energy and mobility is undergoing fundamental and dynamic change, with a focus on deeper and smarter integration of technologies and sectors. The five categories of The smarter E AWARD are a tribute to this diversity and complexity:

Photovoltaics: The Photovoltaics category recognizes “classic” innovations in the solar industry – from solar cells and modules to PV components, mounting and tracking systems, and production technologies.

Energy Storage: Experts are calling this the decade of energy storage, which is a cornerstone of our climate-neutral 24/7 energy supply. For this reason, the Energy Storage category recognizes exceptional innovations in the storage industry – from energy storage technology and components to battery production technologies.

E-Mobility: The mobility sector is key to the success of the energy transition. Prizes in the E-mobility category honor innovations and projects that move the mobility transition forward, especially in the areas of charging infrastructure, intelligent charging solutions, e-vehicles, mobility services or traction batteries.

Smart Integrated Energy: The Smart Integrated Energy category recognizes technologies and solutions for intelligent energy management and cross-sector use of renewable energies in a holistic and flexible system. The focus lies on grid infrastructure, energy services and operator models.

Outstanding Projects: There is an exclusive category for outstanding products and services that were integrated into a global renewable energies project: Outstanding Projects. The products or services eligible for this award can be in any area of the energy system, from photovoltaics, hydrogen, storage technology, mobility to grid operation. Requirement: The project must have been fully realized between January 31, 2023 and January 31, 2025.

Who can apply

Whether you participated in Munich, São Paulo, Mexico City, Gandhinagar or Dubai – all exhibitors of the international event series The smarter E and the associated individual exhibitions can submit their applications for the renowned industry award between November 1, 2024 and January 31, 2025. In the Outstanding Projects category, legal owners of a system or project are also eligible.

See also: Winners of the awards 2024 have been announced

An international panel comprised of industry experts will then thoroughly review and evaluate all submissions in terms of pioneering work, innovative power and economical and ecological benefits. (hcn)





Source link



The rapid price development of solar energy is mainly driven by the photovoltaic modules, whose prices dropped by 93 percent between 2009 and 2023. The price of other components, such as inverters and mounting systems, has also fallen. Battery storage has seen similar developments: The price of this technology, which is essential for a 24/7 renewable energy supply, has dropped by 89 percent between 2010 and 2023.

To ensure solar and wind power deployment continues at a rapid pace, infrastructure must expand alongside and become smarter. Digitalization and flexibilization are key to building powerful grids and markets for tomorrow’s energy world.

Solar overtakes fossil fuels

It is estimated that between 2000 and 2023, the use of solar energy saved around 78 billion US dollars in fossil fuel costs. When all types of renewable energy are considered, an estimated 409 billion US dollars were saved. But that’s not all: The European solar association SolarPower Europe predicts that the construction of PV systems will continue to grow at an extremely dynamic rate in the next few years.

Subsribe to our free newsletter, stay tuned

According to the association, the total installed solar capacity worldwide in 2028 would be 5,117 gigawatts, more than the current installed capacity of all coal, gas, oil and nuclear power plants combined, which is around 4,930 gigawatts.

Over 3,000 exhibitors expected

The organizers are expecting more than 3,000 exhibitors to attend The smarter E Europe’s four sub-exhibitions Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe and EM-Power Europe, including all relevant market and technology leaders such as CATL, Huawei, LG, LONGi, Samsung or Siemens.

Exhibitors can look forward to seeing 110,000 visitors over the three days of the exhibition from May 7–9. A comprehensive and diverse accompanying program, specialist conferences and seven exhibition forums are sure to make these exhibitions a place for debate and discussion. Next year, there will be a novel special exhibit on the future-focused topic of bidirectional charging.

Great anticipation among the organizers

The organizers of The smarter E Europe are looking forward with excitement to the exhibition days in May 2025: Markus Elsässer, Founder and CEO of Solar Promotion GmbH, explains: “Next year, The smarter E Europe and its sub-exhibitions will once again demonstrate that the energy transition is not only possible, but is quickly becoming a reality.“

„Falling costs and technological advances in recent years have put renewables into the fast lane. Each year, our exhibitions offer exhibitors and visitors the opportunity to get an overview of the solutions, business models and applications and to gain insights into global trends and innovations“, Elsässer underlines.

Watch our pv Guided Tours and CEO Talks from The smarter E 

Hanna Böhme, Managing Director of Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG, adds: “The smarter E Europe 2025 will be a place and space for global discussions and cooperation. Its exhibitions, forums and panels provide a platform for people to work together to create a climate-neutral energy future. Munich is the place where projects are brought underway.” (hcn)





Source link



The residential sector is currently weakening. What effect does this have on your business in Poland?

Michal Marona: The Polish market offers many challenges. We have had strong growth in recent years. In 2022, 4.4 gigawatts of PV were installed in Poland, and in 2023 it was 4.8 gigawatts. In 2024 and 2025, economic experts expect an installed photovoltaic capacity of 3.5 gigawatts for Poland. What I mean by that is: the market in Poland has declined, but we are still talking about 3.5 gigawatts.

That is not a small market. As for your question about the residential market, I would like to look at it in a differentiated way. At SolarEdge, we are talking about micro installations. This is the category of PV systems up to 50 kilowatts peak. This includes the residential sector, but also commercial – and yes, we have seen a decline there since 2023. But that does not mean that there is no longer any business. In total 1.4 million PV systems with up to 50 kilowatts peak were installed in Poland.

Is the private market still leading?

Most recently, there were around 250,000 systems per year. Around 70% of these were residential systems, the rest were commercial systems. In 2024, there will probably be 120,000 PV systems up to 50 kilowatts peak. Of these, 70% will also be residential systems, 30% commercial systems. This means that over 80,000 residential systems will still be installed. The market may feel a lot smaller than it was in 2023. In fact, however, it has only halved. These are normal market fluctuations.

The PV market in Germany faltered between 2011 and 2013 and then stabilized and grew again. In the Polish PV market for residential systems, the dynamics depend heavily on government funding measures. These have just been relaunched in September. The funding of 90 million euros was awarded within a week. The amount was then increased to 300 million euros. It can therefore be assumed that the residential market will pick up. At the same time, it is expected that the area of ​​small commercial PV systems will at least remain stable or even grow, because self-generated PV power is significantly cheaper than grid power.

Also interesting: Market moves up and down, generally with good prospect

What are the challenges in the Polish PV market?

The biggest challenge in the Polish energy market is certainly the transition from coal-fired power to renewable energies. Poland has come from an electricity supply that was over 80% based on coal. Converting this centrally organized supply with large coal-fired power plants to a decentralized, CO2-neutral supply is probably the biggest challenge. At the same time, however, it is also a great opportunity, especially for photovoltaics.

The problem is the distribution networks in the low-voltage range, which were built 40 years ago for a completely different type of supply. The network conversion and expansion will take a long time and will hinder the expansion of photovoltaics in Poland. We already have this problem today. The quick solution can be battery power storage, in all capacities, from domestic power to commercial power storage to grid-serving power storage.

Also of interest: Menlo Electric: 1 GW of PV component deliveries in 2024 to date

What market strategy does SolarEdge pursue in Poland?

Our strengths are maximum flexibility for the user when planning and installing their photovoltaics, monitoring down to the module level, safety through temperature monitoring and maximum visibility of system performance. Due to the data density, we can use our system to implement systems that would not be approved with normal inverters, e.g. in the case of fire protection. What is not an issue in young PV markets, namely fire protection and corresponding demands from insurance companies, especially for commercial PV systems, is an issue in developed markets. This is not a particular danger posed by photovoltaic systems, it is simply due to statistics: more installed systems equal more opportunities for errors.

Another special feature is that our production and company management meet the strict ESG guidelines of the European Union. ESG stands for Environment, Social, Governance and is an assessment of how companies perform in individual areas. Today, ESG mainly affects large companies. In the future, however, ESG will become increasingly relevant for smaller and smaller companies. In the case of commercial PV-systems, this is a competitive advantage from for the company operating the PV-system.

Another advantage especially for our Polish customers is our company office in Katowice. This is where we have our sales and technical centre. All people are concentrated in one place and are in contact with each other. If an employee has a special case, many experts can take it up and work on solutions.

Also of interest: Joachim Goldbeck: “Negative electricity prices are a bad fit with PPAs”

What developments do you expect in the Polish PV economy in the next 12 months?

As mentioned earlier, the Polish PV market offers excellent long-term prospects simply by switching from coal-fired power to CO2-neutral power. An important point that perhaps applies more to Poland and other East European countries than to western EU countries is cybersecurity.  As a former member state of the Eastern Bloc, we have more connections and similarities with the East than, for example, Germany or France from a purely technical point of view. After the outbreak of the Ukraine war, the issue of hacker attacks on energy infrastructure has become a major issue in Poland.

If we think of the conversion from a strongly analogue and centralized energy supply system to a smart, AI-controlled decentralized supply, I think the relevance of cybersecurity becomes clear. These concerns increase the further east you go. They are very high in the Baltic States. How important the issue is in Poland can be seen from the position on cybersecurity. This responsibility lies with none other than the Deputy Prime Minister. The second man in the state also holds the position of Minister of Digital Affairs. Here, we offer maximum security with our system. In our view, cybersecurity in decentralized renewable energy supply will be one of the greatest challenges of the future, to which we will be very committed and for which we are well-prepared.

Interview conducted by Manfred Gorgus.





Source link


In October, the PV Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) slightly declined, settling back to 68, which matches the level from August. This decrease comes after a brief uptick in September, indicating a cautious approach as the industry moves towards year-end. Buyers are adjusting their purchasing plans with the season’s end in sight, yet confidence remains relatively stable, with 50% of respondents planning to increase their orders, 37% intending to maintain current levels, and only 13% anticipating a reduction. This steady demand outlook suggests that, despite price fluctuations, optimism persists across Europe’s solar market.

This confidence reflects resilience in the European PV market, even as the sector contends with seasonal and economic factors. As noted by Krzysztof Rejek, Head of Business Development at sun.store: „The stable PMI at 68 shows that the demand for solar components remains strong, yet slighltly decreasing versus previous months. Seasonal factors, coupled with a reduction in installation activities as winter approaches, have influenced purchasing behavior. However, the industry is still vibrant, and we’re seeing a steady demand for high-quality components.“

sun.store

The PV Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) slightly declined in October 2024.

Panel and inverter pricing

Panel prices show mixed trends

October continued the downward price trend across most PV panel categories. Notably:

Monofacial modules:

N-type: prices fell by 15%, landing at €0.098/Wp, down from last month’s €0.105/Wp, as oversupply persists.

P-type: prices for P-type modules showed a modest decrease of 1%, now at €0.090/Wp, compared to €0.091/Wp in September, suggesting relative price stability in this segment.

Bifacial modules:

N-type: modules saw a notable 10% drop, reaching €0.103/Wp, down from €0.114/Wp in September, indicative of competitive pressures and market saturation.

P-type: sample size was too limited to determine a conclusive trend this month.

Full black modules:

Full black modules experienced a price decline of 9%, moving to €0.099/Wp, compared to €0.109/Wp last month, reflecting a steady oversupply and competition among suppliers.

PV inverters prices in October 2024.

sun.store

PV inverters prices in October 2024.

Inverter prices reveal nuanced shifts

For the first time inverters are included in the pv.index. “We’re excited to introduce a more detailed breakdown in the inverter market”, Agata Krawiec-Rokita, CEO of sun.store, commented.

Hybrid Inverters:

 <15kW: Prices have decreased by 7% over the last three months, from €128/kW to €119.25/kW. This reduction aligns with slightly lower-than-expected demand for residential installations, coupled with constant oversupply, prompting suppliers to adjust prices for smaller capacity units.

15+ kW: Larger hybrid inverters experienced a 5% price drop between August and September, stabilizing in autumn (September to October) with a slight 1% increase to €90.69/kW, up from €90.18/kW last month. This increase reflects a shift towards premium brands, such as Huawei, indicating a preference for high-quality products in larger-scale projects.

On-grid Inverters:

<15kW: A 13% drop in string inverters for residential use shows both a shift to hybrid options and downward pricing trends in the residential segment. The average price for smaller on-grid inverters fell by 2%, reaching €67.85/kW from €69.21/kW in September, suggesting a price recalibration as the market stabilizes following the summer peak.

15+ kW: Inverters over 15 kW in the on-grid category experienced a 2% rise, with prices increasing to €27.11/kW from €26.49/kW. As with hybrid inverters, this increase is largely driven by a preference for higher-performance brands, reinforcing the trend toward premium choices in larger installations.

Krzysztof Rejek, Head of Business Development at sun.store, comments on the current pricing dynamics: „The trend of module stock devaluation continues with sellers trying to increase their sales figures. We expect for that situation to remain actual especially due to upcoming Black Friday promotions and year-end clearances. This trend allows buyers to secure top-quality components much below regular costs, fueling demand and opening up new opportunities for projects across Europe. We anticipate these attractive prices will continue, providing a unique chance for our users to capitalize on some of the best deals of the year.“

Also see: Battery revenues forecast to rebound in 2026

October’s most preferred brands

In terms of brand preference, Jinko Solar dominated across all panel categories (Monofacial, Bifacial, and Full Black), continuing its streak as a top choice among sun.store users. For inverters, Solis emerged as the preferred brand for systems under 15kW, while Sungrow led in the 15+ kW category, demonstrating a strong demand for reliable, high-performance equipment in larger installations.

Also see: “A company cannot be on hold for a year”

About – pv.index & The PV Purchasing Managers’ Index (PV PMI)

pv.index traces current trading prices for solar components on a monthly basis. Data is recorded on sun.store, a online PV trading platform with 7.8 GW+ of components on offer. Trading prices are weighted by the power of components involved in the transactions to arrive at a reliable estimate for the whole market.

The PV Purchasing Managers’ Index (PV PMI) is a measure indicating the overall sentiment towards the demand in the PV industry. PV PMI shows whether demand is expected to expand (above 50), remain stable, or contract (below 50), as perceived by purchasing managers.

The PV PMI was calculated as: PMI = (P1 * 1) + (P2 * 0.5) + (P3 * 0), where: P1 = percentage of answers reporting an improvement, P2 = percentage of answers reporting no change, P3 = percentage of answers reporting a deterioration. Survey is based on a sample of 800+ sun.store buyers. (hcn)





Source link



SolarEdge is considered the global market leader in PV-optimization in the residential sector. This sector is currently weakening. What effect does this have on your business in Poland?

Michal Marona: The Polish market offers many challenges. We have had strong growth in recent years. In 2022, 4.4 gigawatts of PV were installed in Poland, and in 2023 it was 4.8 gigawatts. In 2024 and 2025, economic experts expect an installed photovoltaic capacity of 3.5 gigawatts for Poland. What I mean by that is: the market in Poland has declined, but we are still talking about 3.5 gigawatts.

That is not a small market. As for your question about the residential market, I would like to look at it in a differentiated way. At SolarEdge, we are talking about micro installations. This is the category of PV systems up to 50 kilowatts peak. This includes the residential sector, but also commercial – and yes, we have seen a decline there since 2023. But that does not mean that there is no longer any business. In total 1.4 million PV systems with up to 50 kilowatts peak were installed in Poland.

Most recently, there were around 250,000 systems per year. Around 70% of these were residential systems, the rest were commercial systems. In 2024, there will probably be 120,000 PV systems up to 50 kilowatts peak. Of these, 70% will also be residential systems, 30% commercial systems. This means that over 80,000 residential systems will still be installed. The market may feel a lot smaller than it was in 2023. In fact, however, it has only halved. These are normal market fluctuations.

The PV market in Germany faltered between 2011 and 2013 and then stabilized and grew again. In the Polish PV market for residential systems, the dynamics depend heavily on government funding measures. These have just been relaunched in September. The funding of 90 million euros was awarded within a week. The amount was then increased to 300 million euros. It can therefore be assumed that the residential market will pick up. At the same time, it is expected that the area of ​​small commercial PV systems will at least remain stable or even grow, because self-generated PV power is significantly cheaper than grid power.

Also interesting: Market moves up and down, generally with good prospect

What are the challenges in the Polish PV market?

The biggest challenge in the Polish energy market is certainly the transition from coal-fired power to renewable energies. Poland has come from an electricity supply that was over 80% based on coal. Converting this centrally organized supply with large coal-fired power plants to a decentralized, CO2-neutral supply is probably the biggest challenge. At the same time, however, it is also a great opportunity, especially for photovoltaics.

The problem is the distribution networks in the low-voltage range, which were built 40 years ago for a completely different type of supply. The network conversion and expansion will take a long time and will hinder the expansion of photovoltaics in Poland. We already have this problem today. The quick solution can be battery power storage, in all capacities, from domestic power to commercial power storage to grid-serving power storage.

Also of interest: Menlo Electric: 1 GW of PV component deliveries in 2024 to date

What market strategy does SolarEdge pursue in Poland?

Our strengths are maximum flexibility for the user when planning and installing their photovoltaics, monitoring down to the module level, safety through temperature monitoring and maximum visibility of system performance. Due to the data density, we can use our system to implement systems that would not be approved with normal inverters, e.g. in the case of fire protection. What is not an issue in young PV markets, namely fire protection and corresponding demands from insurance companies, especially for commercial PV systems, is an issue in developed markets. This is not a particular danger posed by photovoltaic systems, it is simply due to statistics: more installed systems equal more opportunities for errors.

Another special feature is that our production and company management meet the strict ESG guidelines of the European Union. ESG stands for Environment, Social, Governance and is an assessment of how companies perform in individual areas. Today, ESG mainly affects large companies. In the future, however, ESG will become increasingly relevant for smaller and smaller companies. In the case of commercial PV-systems, this is a competitive advantage from for the company operating the PV-system.

Another advantage especially for our Polish customers is our company office in Katowice. This is where we have our sales and technical centre. All people are concentrated in one place and are in contact with each other. If an employee has a special case, many experts can take it up and work on solutions.

Also of interest: Joachim Goldbeck: “Negative electricity prices are a bad fit with PPAs”

What developments do you expect in the Polish PV economy in the next 12 months?

As mentioned earlier, the Polish PV market offers excellent long-term prospects simply by switching from coal-fired power to CO2-neutral power. An important point that perhaps applies more to Poland and other East European countries than to western EU countries is cybersecurity.  As a former member state of the Eastern Bloc, we have more connections and similarities with the East than, for example, Germany or France from a purely technical point of view. After the outbreak of the Ukraine war, the issue of hacker attacks on energy infrastructure has become a major issue in Poland.

If we think of the conversion from a strongly analogue and centralized energy supply system to a smart, AI-controlled decentralized supply, I think the relevance of cybersecurity becomes clear. These concerns increase the further east you go. They are very high in the Baltic States. How important the issue is in Poland can be seen from the position on cybersecurity. This responsibility lies with none other than the Deputy Prime Minister. The second man in the state also holds the position of Minister of Digital Affairs. Here, we offer maximum security with our system. In our view, cybersecurity in decentralized renewable energy supply will be one of the greatest challenges of the future, to which we will be very committed and for which we are well-prepared.

Company website: SolarEdge TECHNOLOGIES Poland sp. z o.o.

 Interview by Manfred Gorgus





Source link



In their study on the European energy transition, researchers from the Jülich System Analysis have for the first time also included the decarbonization needs of air and sea transport in order to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality in Europe by 2050 in line with the Green Deal. Accordingly, the demand for green hydrogen for the production of synthetic fuels (Power to Liquid, PtL) is half higher than in previous studies.

The Jülich research team estimates that in 2050, Germany alone will need 700 terawatt hours (TWh) of hydrogen annually to produce PtL. This estimate takes into account the high efficiency losses in PtL production. The basic demand for hydrogen, which is needed for the decarbonization of industry, to cover periods of dark and cloudy weather, and for other applications, is in line with earlier studies in 2050 at around 400 TWh per year. Overall, it is expected that green hydrogen production in Europe in 2050 will require about 44 percent of electricity generation (4600 TWh).

However, institute director Detlef Stolten expects that from 2050 onwards, the direct, more efficient use of hydrogen via fuel cells will also increasingly come into play – at least in shipping – and that the high proportion of hydrogen for PtL production can thus be reduced again.

Strong together

To meet the high demand for green hydrogen and the correspondingly higher demand for renewable electricity, the Jülich research team is counting on the expansion of the European energy network. This could make Spain, Norway, Italy and Greece important hydrogen exporters for other European countries in the future. According to the study, the main customer is Germany, with an import quota of 77 percent (550 TWh, 2050), followed by the Netherlands.

Also see: Spain – DH2 Energy receives environmental permit for green hydrogen plant

However, a central prerequisite for such a European hydrogen market, with an estimated volume of 100 billion euros, is an even more massive expansion of renewable electricity generation in Europe. The study calculates that the expansion rates for renewables in Europe would have to be increased by a factor of five. The Jülich research team also emphasizes the advantages of a European network for renewable electricity, both for reasons of security of supply and economic efficiency. For Germany, a domestic electricity supply of 66 percent is forecast for 2050 (430 TWh of imports).

European hydrogen production competitive

The study concludes that Europe could cover its own demand for electricity and hydrogen at low cost. This would give Europe the option of securing its own supply without relying on imports from other countries.

European hydrogen production would be competitive up to an import price of 3.20 euros per kilogram in 2030. However, this would only apply if renewable energies were expanded more. Otherwise, the import of green hydrogen or its products would be necessary, which would increase the total costs by six percent compared to a European solution.

More transport networks and H2 storage

In estimating the costs, the Jülich researchers also take into account the need to expand the infrastructure, especially the transport networks and the interconnection capacities (between countries). For Germany alone, additional interconnection capacities of 90 gigawatts (GW) for electricity and 200 GW for hydrogen are estimated by 2050. Stolten emphasized that the implementation of existing grid expansion plans is now crucial as a first step.

Also see: IEA calls for more investment in grids and energy storage

In addition, hydrogen could be stored in salt caverns to bridge dark and cloudy periods and seasonal fluctuations in wind and solar power. According to the study, existing underground storage facilities for natural gas could be converted for hydrogen storage. Nevertheless, the construction of more than 50 TWh of additional storage capacity in Europe would be necessary, which would correspond to the construction of around 200 salt caverns, 80 of which would be in Germany.

Nuclear power too expensive

According to the analysis by the Jülich researchers, nuclear energy does not play a significant role in a secure, climate-neutral and cost-effective European energy supply. It is not competitive compared to photovoltaics and wind power, even when storage and increased transport costs are taken into account. This applies at least as long as the real investment costs for nuclear power plants do not fall below 6,600 euros per kilowatt (kW).

Subscribe to our montly investors newsletter

Even the newest Finnish nuclear power plant, Olkiluoto 3, is above this threshold at €6,875/kW. The French reactor Flamanville-3 is at €10,875/kW, and Hinkley Point C (Great Britain) is at €17,500/kW. Stolten emphasized that this calculation does not include the costs for disposal, which has not yet been clarified.

At a panel discussion held in Berlin to present the study “European Energy Transition – Germany at the Heart of Europe” of Jülich Research Center (Forschungszentrum Jülich), Stolten also recently expressed skepticism about the much-hyped Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). According to the Jülich institute director, it is not to be expected that these could be operated economically in Europe by 2050 with the appropriate safety standards. (hcn)





Source link


In a cross-company cooperation, the real estate group Goodman, the renewable energy company BayWa r.e. and the wholesaler Metro are setting a clear example for more sustainability and climate protection. At the Metro logistics site in Marl, a solar rooftop installation with around 6 MW was opened on the two existing buildings, and on the second building, with around 12 MW, the largest solar rooftop installation in Germany at present. In total, the two plants correspond to an area of 14 soccer fields with 43,000 installed photovoltaic modules and a total output of 18 MW. At the same time, the companies are making a significant contribution to the promotion of renewable energies and the implementation of the ambitious climate targets of the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy and Deputy Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia: “Germany’s largest rooftop photovoltaic plant is now located here in Marl in the Ruhr region. As a lighthouse project, the project realized in close cooperation is exemplary for the sustainable energy generation of the future and for the accelerated expansion of solar energy here in North Rhine-Westphalia. Inexpensive, locally produced electricity is now key location factor for companies and a key for our state on its way to becoming the first climate-neutral industrial region in Europe.“

Self-consumption – excess energy into the grid

The photovoltaic system generates enough clean electricity to meet Metro Logistics’ own needs at the site and feed excess energy into the grid. In addition, the entire building complex has already been awarded the Gold Certificate of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). In the process, Metro Logistics, as operator of the property, has worked with Goodman as an international real estate group, and BayWa r.e. as a developer, service provider and solution provider in the field of renewable energies.

Also interesting: Fully climate-neutral PV logistics centre

Christof Prange, Managing Director of Goodman Germany GmbH, emphasizes: “We are consistently expanding capacities for the generation of green energy and thus making our contribution to a rapid energy turnaround. The 18 MW we are operating in Marl is roughly equivalent to the electricity requirements of 5,100 households.”

Goodman

Logistics centre in Marl/Germany, powered by solar PV.

And Günter Haug, COO at BayWa r.e. adds: “Large industrial and commercial real estate groups such as Goodman play a key role in helping companies to make optimal use of their large roof areas to generate renewable energy. This lighthouse project serves as an important signpost and showcase for industrial and logistics companies that want to make a real difference when it comes to sustainability.”

Important step for the climate strategy of Metro

For Metro as an international wholesaler, climate protection is of particular importance in many areas. With 102 stores in Germany alone, the challenges are manifold, for example in topics such as the renewal of the heating infra- structure, the conversion of cooling systems to natural coolant as well as an expansion of the electric vehicle fleet and the increased use of photovoltaic systems. Christiane Giesen, Chief People & Culture Officer, Labor Director and Member of the Executive Board of Metro AG: “The commissioning of the PV plant in Marl is an important step for our climate strategy. Metro has set itself the goal in 2021 of consistently reducing its carbon footprint worldwide and being completely climate neutral in its own business operations by 2040. An ambitious goal – but with good partners and the right framework conditions from policymakers, we are confident that we can achieve this goal and make our contribution to greater climate protection.” (hcn)





Source link



With 12,500 properties worldwide, measures are being taken on existing properties to achieve the 2050 climate target, with the integration of solar energy playing a central role.
Due to the considerable roof areas of DHL’s large warehouse buildings, substantial solar installations can be installed there, enabling DHL to maximize the use of solar energy on the properties.

“Everything we do is geared towards achieving zero emissions by 2050. We have a clear policy on solar energy – every location is screened for solar potential. For existing locations, factors such as the size of the property and the length of the lease are taken into account when considering solar installations. However, we install solar panels on all new sites,” says Jussi Jylhä, Infrastructure Manager, Operations at DHL Supply Chain (Finland) Oy.

Locally generated energy also offers marketing advantages

Currently, 56% of DHL’s energy comes from renewable sources, 94% of the electricity it uses is predominantly green. With the goal of energy self-sufficiency and locally generated electricity, DHL is installing solar panels on every property.

In Pirkkala, DHL owns a property of approximately 4,000 square meters, where Solnet Group installed a solar energy system in 2019. DHL was involved in the tender for this project, but an external contractor managed the construction of the building. Solnet Group then worked with the construction company.

Also interesting: Virtual power plant for solar companies to participate in balancing markets

“It is crucial for us to meet our emissions targets while also generating electricity right on site. We have also noticed the marketing benefits of solar energy in building our brand. For example, we use pictures and videos of our Pirkkala site in our sales materials,” mentions Jussi Jylhä.

Security as top priority

When selecting partners for the Pirkkala project, security was already an important factor. Since then, security has become even more important and is clearly one of the most influential factors in decision-making. Solnet Group’s intelligent solar system, with remote management and the ability to disconnect power to the panels, were deciding factors.
“The security features and credentials of the Solnet Group solution convinced us, along with its price-performance ratio and suitable guarantees. In addition, Solnet provides production data displayed on screens in our lobby, which generates positive feedback and makes the solar installation visible. Despite its size, the solar array is not visible from the roof, so this way we can demonstrate its effect in reducing emissions and generating electricity,” Jylhä points out.

Also see: Best possible utilisation of a logistic property for PV

As advice for those implementing solar arrays for the first time, Jylhä recommends bringing in an experienced consultant. A company that understands the variables that affect yields and system size, and knows the technical specifications.

“If you have a reliable partner and a solar plant has been built with high-quality equipment, it is relatively maintenance-free to operate. Solnet Group does maintenance once or twice a year. We monitor and report on the system’s output ourselves, and Solnet Group handles maintenance and monitors operations at the panel level. Integrating production overview has also been effortless,” Jylhä emphasizes. (hcn)





Source link


A few wooden row houses are already standing, wooden frames and prefabricated wooden walls are being erected next to them, excavators are hoisting pallets of insulation material and busy hands with grinders, drills or hammers are at work everywhere on this sunny October day: 4,000 volunteers are involved in the Carter Work Project in Saint Paul, the capital of the US state of Minnesota, for a week. They are helping to build the first 30 houses in the new district of The Heights.

The largest urban renewal project to date in the city is being built on a 45-hectare former golf course. By the summer of this year, 147 affordable and ecologically oriented residential units are to be built on almost five hectares in an initial construction phase, mainly semi-detached, three- and four-family houses as well as some detached houses.

PV and LEED Platinum certification

All buildings will be awarded LEED Platinum certification, the highest award for highly efficient buildings. To generate electricity, they will each be equipped with 8 kW photovoltaic systems or solar shingles, which are designed to generate 60% of their own electricity, with the remainder being covered by grid power (battery storage is not yet planned in the current construction phase).

Also see: Land O’Lakes cooperative and C2 Energy Capital join forces for community solar projects

In addition, there will be air heat pumps for the heat supply – supplemented by geothermal energy, charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and other measures to reduce the burden on the environment, such as water-saving measures.

Hans-Christoph Neidlein

The volunteers who helped with the Carter Work Project are a colorful mix.

Community spaces and facilities, parks, public art installations and links to public transport and nearby hiking trails are also planned. Once the entire new district of The Heights has been completed, around 1,000 apartments and around 1,000 new jobs will be created there.

Focus on low- and middle-income households

In addition to the city administration, the project is backed by the internationally active US non-governmental organization (NGO) Habitat for Humanity with its regional branch in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul), various sponsors and the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project 2024, an initiative of the former US President and former First Lady of the USA.

The concept for The Heights was developed in an intensive participation process in which the residents of an adjacent existing neighborhood were also closely involved. The houses will be available to first-time buyers on low and middle incomes.

Hustle and bustle in The Heights.

Hans-Christoph Neidlein

Hustle and bustle in The Heights.

“This project is a great opportunity to expand the supply of housing and homeownership in our city,” emphasized Melvin Carter, Mayor of St. Paul. This is especially true for households of color. Their share of home ownership in Minnesota is only 42 percent, compared to 76 percent for white households.

A diverse mix of volunteers  

The Carter Work Project volunteers were a diverse mix of skin color, age and gender. Many of the more than 4,000 volunteers were employees of corporate sponsors, including from the construction, energy and insurance industries, as well as several hundred volunteers from all over the world. However, the electrical installations, e.g. the photovoltaic systems, were carried out by professionals without exception.

Also see: Community solar innovation in Minnesota despite Trump

One of the highlights of Volunteer Week was the 100th birthday of Jimmy Carter on October 1. In his honor, country music greats Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, who have supported the Carter Work Project, which has been held annually at different locations since 2007, performed in the evening.

Hans-Christoph Neidlein





Source link


One of the fastest growing photovoltaic markets in Europe is currently Romania. In 2023, systems with a capacity of around 1 gigawatt (GW) were installed, an increase of over 300 percent compared to the previous year. At the end of 2023, solar power systems with a capacity of almost 3 GW had been installed in Romania. This figure is expected to double by the end of 2025.

According to the National Institute of Statistics, energy production from PV systems rose by more than 60 percent to 2.57 billion kilowatt hours between January and August of this year alone. High levels of solar radiation, falling costs, various incentive programs and the desire for greater energy independence and climate protection are driving the expansion of photovoltaics in the EU country.

Already over 200,000 prosumers in Romania

The Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association (RPIA) currently has over 60 companies as members, including German project planners such as BayWa r.e., as Policy Officer Irene Mihai reported. More than 200,000 prosumers in Romania generate some of their own electricity using solar power and are increasingly using battery storage.

Also see: Central and Eastern Europe increasingly in the solar gigawatt class

PV systems on commercial buildings and solar parks are also on the rise. In the second week of October alone, the energy regulatory authority ANRE approved licenses for the commercial use of solar park power generation capacities with a total output of 62 megawatts (MW).

Expansion of PV production must be flanked

However, the rapid expansion of photovoltaics and wind power is creating a number of challenges, as is also the case in other regions. “Grid capacity and grid connections are one of the biggest hurdles for the further expansion of photovoltaics, not only in Romania,” says Mihai.

Also see: Market moves up and down, generally with good prospect

This must be accompanied by the expansion of battery storage, demand-side management (load control), the promotion of energy communities, power purchase agreements (PPAs) and the reduction of bureaucracy, as other industry representatives emphasized at the CISOLAR & GREENBATTERY 2024 conference (October 15-17, 2024) in the Romanian capital.

Karl Moosdorf

Discussion panel at CISOLAR & GREEN BATTERY 2024 in Bucharest: Hans-Christoph Neidlein (pv Europe),  Gabriel Avacaritei (Energyomics), Bianca Dragusin (Keno Energy) v.l.

Among other things, regulations for the implementation of PPAs and large PV battery projects, as well as a reform of the double grid fee for storage projects and fewer bureaucratic hurdles for energy communities (as actually provided for by EU law) are urgently needed, it was stated at the three-day event (October 15 to 17).

Moldova relies on resilience and renewables

Carolina Novac, Secretary of State in the Moldovan Ministry of Energy, made similar comments. From 2023, the small country will be completely independent of Russian gas supplies for the first time. By 2025, Moldova will also no longer be dependent on electricity supplies from a major power plant in the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria. The expansion of the country’s own renewable energy supply, the expansion of the energy infrastructure and the increase in energy efficiency played an important role in this, Novac emphasized.

Subcribe to the pv Europe newsletter now

According to the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced by 68.6 percent by 2030, while the share of renewable energies in total energy consumption is to be increased to 27 percent and in the electricity mix to 30 percent. Primary energy consumption is to be limited to under 3,000 kilotons of oil equivalent (ktoe) and final energy consumption to under 2,800 ktoe. The potential of wind energy for electricity generation from renewable energies is estimated at around 20.8 GW, with photovoltaics at 4.7 GW, plus 840 MW of hydropower and 850 MW of biomass. In 2023, wind turbines with 132.7 MW and photovoltaic systems with 76.9 MW will be installed.

Focus on an integrated approach

“We are taking an integrated approach to expanding the renewable energy supply,” emphasized Novac. This includes, on the one hand, the recently launched first tender for wind and solar projects, coupled with 15-year PPAs and CFDs (Contracts for Differences), and, on the other hand, the promotion of storage projects, energy communities and active energy consumers, biogas and energy generation from waste for dark and cloudy periods and peak times, as well as the expansion of the electricity grid.

Also see: EBRD supports renewables in Romania and Moldova

An important role is played by the expansion of the grid connection with Romania and thus with the EU. These plans are also influenced by the country’s increased European orientation, which a narrow majority of voters in an EU referendum on October 20 voted in favor of, as it stands now. (hcn)





Source link