Battery and battery tech developments in brief from the floor of Intersolar 2025
Europe’s largest solar power event filled 18 very large halls in Munich, and new launches ranged from balcony solar to cow poop innovations.
Cow poop (and more) on the floor at Intersolar
Cow dung battery binder, a beautiful electric moped, parking lot level car charging, big rig charging, and “balcony solar” energy storage on the floor at Europe’s largest solar power show.
Breakdancing on the floor at Intersolar
Europe’s largest solar power event now fills 18 very large rooms at the Munich trade show. Intersolar predicts greater than 200,000 visitors will see the almost 5,000 unique exhibitors showing off their hardware and services.
Utility-scale solar corruption in California
Researchers have found seven perceived patterns of corruption tied to the utility-scale solar boom in southern California from 2010 to 2024.
Panasonic exits solar and battery storage
Panasonic has told its installation partners that it will no longer produce products for the residential solar and storage markets, but will continue to offer warranty and installation support for existing and ongoing projects.
Balcony solar gains US foothold with plug-and-play systems
Bright Saver, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, aims to bring the European balcony solar trend to US homes with low-cost, plug-in systems that require no interconnection approvals or permits in some jurisdictions.
Solar cells not exempt from US tariffs despite media reports
Solar cells are not exempt from the recent US reciprocal import tariffs, and recent reporting by major media outlets appears to be a misinterpretation of government documentation.
US solar module prices rise as market absorbs tariffs
US solar module prices rose in December 2024 for the first time since last summer, driven by tariff adjustments and patent litigation uncertainty, according to Anza. While prices have since stabilized, module type, cell origin, and geopolitical factors continue to shape the market.
C&I solar grows 18% in the United States in 2024
Distributed solar fell 11% in 2024, dragged down by the residential segment, according to Ohm Analytics’s report on the fourth quarter of 2024. However, signs of recovery emerged with a strong fourth quarter and increasing installation volumes throughout the year.
US solar generation up 27% in 2024, accounting for 6.8% of all electricity
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) says that utility-scale solar grew by 32%, while distributed solar increased by 15%, bringing their respective shares to nearly 5% and 2% of total electricity generation. Overall, US electricity generation rose by 3.1% year over year.
