Energy storage: behind the data sheets
An annual inspection of the performance of energy storage products that are available in Germany, conducted by the HTW Berlin – University of Applied Sciences, has shown how important it is for buyers to know how effective their devices are at providing electricity during low nighttime loads.
V2G: How soon is now?
The bidirectional flow of electricity to and from the grid and electric-vehicle (EV) batteries, known as “vehicle-to-grid” (V2G), could offer substantial opportunities to integrate more renewables. Deploying V2G services at scale has proven complex, however. We Drive Solar, a Netherlands-based supplier of bidirectional charging technology, is one of several companies that have successfully moved past the demonstration stage. Robin Berg, CEO at We Drive Solar, explains how.
The rapid rise of battery storage
Battery energy storage system (BESS) technology has come a long way since 2012. Kai-Philipp Kairies, CEO and co-founder of Accure Battery Intelligence, reflects on the fast-paced evolution of BESS and asks what will come next for an industry with plenty of stored potential.
A battery of measures to lift grid congestion
The solar market has had a remarkable three years. During a record year for European PV generation, new solar capacity installed in 2023 was almost equally split between residential, commercial and industrial (C&I), and the utility end-customer segments, with a minor share for self-consumption schemes. Grids must be well prepared for the challenges ahead.
PV curtailment in Poland
Owners of solar plants in Poland face increasingly frequent forced outages due to electricity oversupply in the National Power System (abbreviated, in Polish, to KSE). Piotr Mrowiec, leader of Rödl & Partner’s renewable energy team, looks at the specifics of Polish curtailment, the rules on compensation, penalty provisions, and plans for the future.
Making its mark on materials
The European Union has drawn up new regulations to boost the domestic mining of raw materials and support production of renewable energy products and materials at home. Will it be enough to incentivize investment, or will Europe trail other major economies, such as the United States and China?
Antidumping tariffs back in the spotlight
After a two-year pause, antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) tariffs on solar components shipped from Southeast Asia are set to resume in June 2024. pv magazine USA’s Ryan Kennedy explores what the outcome might be this time around.
Final thought: Let’s Flex!
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO, SolarPower Europe
