Solar. Storage. Flexibility.
The concept of “too much solar” was inconceivable a decade ago. Today, the picture is quite different. Europe installed 65.5 GW of PV in 2024. Solar is the cheapest energy source across most of the world and will be the world’s largest source of electricity by 2033, according to the International Energy Agency. So our challenges have changed.
On the road with pv magazine
Recent and upcoming events where you can find our team.
What Germany can learn from British BESS
The United Kingdom is arguably Europe’s most mature battery energy storage market, with asset owners free to build revenue stacks from grid ancillary services, a capacity market, wholesale markets, and a revamped balancing platform. Baris Serifsoy of GreenCap Partners examines how the British experience can inform Germany’s energy storage sector.
Seizing new opportunities
Energy storage system (ESS) shipments are expected to surpass 300 GWh in 2025, driven by demand diversification and supply chain collaboration among competitors, says InfoLink storage analyst Robin Song.
Spain’s storage sunrise
Spain had more than 1,100 hours of zero- or negatively-priced electricity in 2024: more than 45 days. Despite this, battery energy storage systems (BESS) remain rare, with grid operator Red Eléctrica España (REE) recording just 3.36 GW of grid-connected energy storage, 3.3 GW of which was pumped hydro. A new capacity market and other policy tweaks may be needed to hit ambitious deployment targets.
Battling battery imbalance
Imbalances – when battery components fail to operate in unison – are a recurring challenge in energy storage projects. Kai-Philipp Kairies, CEO of Accure Battery Intelligence, examines the root causes of imbalances, their effects on operations and return on investment, and actionable best practices to mitigate them.
The birth of Greek energy storage
Greece has made great strides in solar power development and is now focusing on energy storage. Ilias Tsagas examines the opportunities emerging in various segments of the market.
Curaçao’s 100% renewable journey
Islands are showing leadership in the transition to 100% renewable energy, proving it is technically and economically feasible. Among the first movers, Curaçao’s journey continues to accelerate. The path ahead for the Caribbean nation is being paved with strong stakeholder collaboration, targeted international advocacy, and new engagement initiatives designed to crowdsource cutting-edge solutions, write Gianni Chianetta and Francesco Luise of the Greening the Islands Foundation (GTI).
Eyes in the sky
Like solar panels, drones have become cheaper and more sophisticated – fast. ‘Drone-in-a-box’ operations offer PV project owners the option of having a resident drone on site, heralding a new era of automated utility-scale solar operations and maintenance (O&M).
Still fighting the fight
European solar manufacturers are struggling against low-cost competition from Asia and a severely oversupplied market. Many are still pushing for revival, as Valerie Thompson reports.
