Events

Italy’s PV industry raised concerns over new regulatory measures and funding cuts as Gestore dei servizi energetici (GSE) published results of the FER X auction showing significant price reductions and strong participation in Sicily.

In its latest monthly for pv magazine, the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) promotes the biennial Solar World Congress (SWC), which took place in Fortaleza-Brazil in November 2025, a few days before the COP30. The SWC scientific program has traditionally been dominated by presentations on solar radiation and solar thermal applications, but this year, photovoltaics was the focus of most of the presentations. This reflects the massive adoption of PV all over the globe, which, at the current pace, will dominate the electricity mix by the end of the decade.

Spain’s Genera 2025 trade fair highlighted advances in solar, storage and grid-forming technologies, along with industry calls for clearer regulation, stronger market design and faster permitting to support future deployment.

At the Modules and Material Worksop in Konstanz, organized by solar manufacturing engineering company RCT Solutions and ICS Konstanz, experts from the European PV equipment production industry gathered to discuss the current and future trajectory of manufacturing costs, technology advancements and equipment and raw material capabilities. RCT Solutions CEO, Peter Fath, told pv magazine that a European 1 GW module assembly facility using the same supply chain as Chinese Tier 1 counterparts could reach module manufacturing costs of €0.11-0.12/W.

A smaller-than-expected trade show underscored mounting exhibitor fatigue, even as high-integration and safety-focused storage products showcased where the industry is heading.

The first edition of Solar Solutions Torino drew 35 exhibitors and 930 visitors, underscoring growing regional engagement between academia and industry in Italy’s solar sector.

Solar & Storage Live UK 2025 took place over three days from September 23 to 25 at the NEC venue in the outskirts of Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city. pv magazine spoke to hundreds of industry players keen to optimize existing solar and storage capacity and be at the forefront of the nationwide rooftop PV expansion.

At the Solar & Storage Live trade fair, Swiss and European wholesalers were represented with products from manufacturers in Germany, Lithuania, Norway, Switzerland, and, of course, China. Some manufacturers also had their own booths, and there was also a new area for installers.

Chinese solar manufacturers showed resilience at the 2025 SNEC PV Power Expo in Shanghai despite a deepening supply glut, as strong demand for energy storage and emerging technologies offset a steep drop in new PV module launches. Tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) stayed dominant, while back-contact, perovskite, and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) storage solutions gained traction.

Installers at France’s recent 2025 BePositive trade show embraced storage to boost self-consumption, as new PV tariffs and regulatory shifts are stirring concern among smaller companies.