Applications & Installations
Among energy technologies, solar is unique in its flexibility and range of applications. Rapidly growing niches including floating PV and agrivoltaics are proving their worth alongside the more established rooftop and ground mount market segments.
Hybrid systems combining solar with energy storage and other generation technologies are also becoming more common, in the pursuit of 24/7 emissions free energy. And this brings our industry into more frequent contact with other concerns, that need to be carefully managed.
Advertisement
Latest News
Holistic approach wins for agrivoltaics
There is growing interest across many regions in integrating solar installations into land already being used for agriculture. Lessons learned from early projects in both livestock and crop farming are stacking up. While best practices are emerging, it’s clear that each project requires an individual approach. pv magazine spoke with Jake Morin, chief product officer at Nextpower, about the state of the art in agrivoltaics.
Jul 17, 2026
Advertisement
How to protect residential batteries from heat waves
An expert from Kiwa PI Berlin recommends installing batteries in thermally stable locations, ensuring proper ventilation, following manufacturer guidelines, and using certified equipment to reduce heat-related risks. During heatwaves, shifting daytime electricity consumption to direct solar use can help limit battery stress and prevent overheating.
Western Europe sees strong irradiance gains during record June heat
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that record June heat was accompanied by a stark north–south split in Europe’s solar resource, with persistent high pressure boosting irradiance by up to 25% across western and southern Europe while Atlantic weather systems reduced irradiance by as much as 25% across Scandinavia, the UK and Ireland. The observed pattern broadly matched seasonal forecasts but with stronger-than-expected regional contrasts, highlighting exceptional solar gains in France, northern Spain and northern Italy alongside significant deficits in northern Europe.
AI-powered 9-ton tracked robot for large-scale PV construction
China-based Relu Robotics has developed a 9-ton robot that reportedly delivers accurate module handling and installation. The company says its tracked chassis, extended-range power system, and all-terrain capability enable operation across deserts, sand, wastelands, hills, and slopes under extreme conditions.
Advertisement
Advertisement
All Applications & Installations news
Port of Valencia activates first 500 kW floating offshore PV unit
Spain’s first offshore floating PV platform has arrived at the Port of Valencia, where a 500 kW pilot unit developed by BlueNewables will undergo testing. The PV-bos platform is part of a 1 MW project designed to advance modular floating solar technology for future large-scale offshore deployment.
Advertisement
Two injured in fire at photovoltaic plant in Spain
A vegetation fire at a photovoltaic plant in Spain’s Palencia province injured two people but was quickly contained, with authorities reporting no confirmed damage to the solar installation. The incident comes amid misinformation linking wildfires to solar developments, despite Spanish law prohibiting the conversion of burned forest land for such projects.
How EPCs can de-risk solar carport projects
Commercial solar carports represent an immense, high-growth market opportunity, but their complex heavy construction demands rigorous engineering, upfront soil risk pricing, and specialized expertise to protect thin margins from catastrophic project failures.
Smart controllers help Brazilian PV projects bypass reverse power flow constraints
Brazilian solar installer Alba Energia is using smart power controllers combined with Aneel’s simultaneity rules to overcome reverse power flow restrictions and enable larger distributed solar arrays. The approach allows PV system owners to maximize on-site solar generation while keeping grid exports within utility-approved limits.
Advertisement
Germany energy provider builds 50 MW power-to-heat system
Enercity is building a 50 MW power-to-heat plant in Hanover to support its coal phase-out, decarbonize district heating, and absorb surplus renewable electricity. The facility will expand the utility’s flexibility by converting excess power into heat for the district heating network and storage systems.
Multi-drone platform for autonomous solar inspections, digital twin creation
Israeli startup vHive’s has created an autonomous multi-drone platform that streamlines utility-scale solar inspections through coordinated drone flights, thermal imaging, RGB mapping, and automated data collection. The system creates digital twins of PV assets, enabling faster, more efficient monitoring without requiring specialized drone pilots, according to the company.
Agrivoltaic facility supplies traction power directly to Austrian rail network
Austria has inaugurated its first tracking agrivoltaic system designed to feed solar power directly into the railway grid. The 6.6 MW facility in Donnerskirchen combines renewable energy generation, organic farming, and biodiversity measures on the same site.
Advertisement
Advertisement