Europe ’24

December 5

Our free virtual RTEU 2024 is over!

Our virtual RTEU returned with an exciting program and in-depth content sessions about the European solar and storage industry. Our editors spotlight key issues, from EU policy updates to the latest in cell and module tech. We also explore European and Global markets, energy market trends, and pressing challenges in PV and storage quality, with special insights from our ESS News team.

Throughout 8 program sessions, we welcomed around 50 experts to discuss the future of the dynamic European solar and storage landscape.

Below, you can find out more about the Roundtables sessions, expert speakers, moderators, and event partners. Looking for the presentations? See below!

Download the whole RTEU2024 agenda

Opening Session: From Baku to Europe: The future of Solar PV

The opening pv magazine roundtable will take place shortly after COP29 in Azerbaijan, where countries will negotiate the next steps in climate protection. In the opening session, we’ll assess whether global markets are meeting key milestones and can continue to do so in the photovoltaics sector. This will include examining selected countries in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe, where pv magazine is active. We’ll discuss necessary actions from policymakers, industry contributions, the joint expansion of photovoltaics and storage (a COP29 topic), and the role of financing.

Session 2: Supply chain in disarray: Where next for prices for modules and more?

Prices of photovoltaic modules have fallen rapidly. But what’s next? In the second session of Roundtables Europe, we will discuss the past year’s supply chain developments from silicon to module, the prospects for 2025, and whether medium-term “sustainable prices” are achievable. Today, it is no longer just about prices, but also about security in many respects. We examine customer options, the impact of politics in India and the United States on supply, and whether the “Made in Europe” discussion is truly as irrelevant as it seems to many. A lot is happening in the background, not least due to the Net Zero Industry Act, which has finally been passed.

Session 2_Presentation_Jonathan Gifford_pv magazine

Session 2_Presentation_Edurne Zoco_SPGlobal

Session 3: Leading edge: What next for solar cells?

TOPCon cells have quickly risen to represent the largest share of PV cells and modules on the market. But this market is crowded, and manufacturers are looking to the next evolution in cell technology to help stand out from the pack. In 2024, we have seen the first commercial perovskite-silicon PV modules introduced to the market, though there is still plenty of skepticism surrounding this technology. And we have seen some large manufacturers already take the alternate routes of heterojunction or back contact technologies, in search of higher efficiency.

Session 3_Presentation_Jason_Xia_Tongwei

Session 03_Presentation_Johanna Bonilla_JinkoSolar

Session 3_Presentation_Mireia_Beltra_Trinasolar

Session 3_Presentation_Chaowei Xue_LONGi

Session 4: Quality connection: Attention to detail in electrical BOS-components 

Informed component choices, rigorous technical planning, and construction ensure solar power plants can be the lucrative and viable assets investors need them to be. In this session, we will tackle the quality of ground-mount solar power systems. We’ll look at how asset managers, project developers, and investors can handle the reliability risk that can be found in poor electrical balance of system choices. Moreover, we will look at how AI and robotics can elevate O&M practices and leverage them to overcome any remaining quality risks and provide assurance to solar lenders. These topics will come together on a panel as we explore the evolving industry that is continually trying to do more with less.

Session 4_Presentation_Christian Düschner

Session 4_Presentation_Thomas Sauer_EXXRGY

Session 5: Negative electricity prices: A showstopper for utility scale solar?

The number of hours with negative electricity prices has risen sharply in 2023, putting significant strain on solar system operators and installers. Negative prices devalue their solar power, with the impact varying depending on individual business models and regulations. If this trend persists, existing systems may become unprofitable, and fewer new ones will be built. We explore the causes of this situation, discuss potential solutions, and consider how to improve the outlook for operators, project developers, and independent power producers (IPPs).

Session 6: BESS in Europe: From local manufacturing to new offtake opportunities

Europe’s battery energy storage fleet is growing in leaps and bounds on the back of growing demand for clean firm capacity and rapidly falling battery prices. There is hope that a part of that demand will be met by locally made products. With Northvolt on the brink of survival and some hopefuls turning their attention to the US,however, dark clouds are gathering. Will the European battery manufacturing dream end before it has begun? In the second part of this session, we are casting a look across the BESS offtake ecosystem. With tolling agreements entering the space earlier this year, and concurrent growth in PPAs, new opportunities are emerging. Meanwhile, public procurement and capacity market auctions are generating additional demand. 

Session 6_Presentation_Evan Hartley_Benchmark Mineral Intelligence

Session 6_Presentation_Anna Darmani_Wood Mackenzie

Session 7: Agrivoltaics: Between promises and performance

Agrivoltaics has real economic and energy generation potential in Europe, but there are still questions to answer on regulation and implementation. In this session, we’ll catch up on the latest developments in key European markets, discuss how regulations may impact deployment, examine new opportunities, and ask what gaps still need to be plugged to ensure farming and PV progress in harmony. We will also see leading manufacturers introduce solutions they have designed with agrivoltaics applications in mind.

Session 7_Presentation_Christian_Comes_Huasun

Session 7_Presentation_Guluma Megersa_Huawei

Session 8: Startup lightning pitch session

Images: Stefanie Loos

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