Europe

Scientists in Sweden have integrated a PV device with a molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage system, which acts as as a solar cell optical filter and cooling agent. The proposed combination achieves a 0.2% higher PV efficiency and solar storage efficiency of 2.3%.

A German research team is conducting practical tests to see how solar modules with integrated radio technology can be linked to form an overall network. The “communicative” panels should represent a simple and cost-effective solution for monitoring and controlling small-scale photovoltaic systems.

Time-of-use and type-of-use tariffs for heat pump customers launched to support technology adoption in market where gas heating remains competitive on price.

Naked Energy has obtained GBP 17 million ($22 million) in new equity. The UK-based photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) system supplier says the investment, led by E.ON and supported by Barclays, will help “supercharge its global expansion.”

PV analyst Wannes Demarcke tells pv magazine that solar deployment in the Belgian region of Flanders slowed in the first months of this year. Initial figures show a decline from 2023 levels following the expiration of subsidies and reduced value-added tax on buildings less than 10 years old.

Germany-based Energielenker has developed a “self-learning” energy management system that controls energy flows in buildings with PV systems, using AI algorithms to analyze data from all relevant components.

At The Smarter E Europe event – recently held in Munich, Germany – Growatt shared insights on the European market. It reports a slowdown in the residential segment in Central Europe due to lower demand, but Growatt VP Lisa Zhang said she expects more growth in the commercial and industrial (C&I) solar and storage sectors.

New figures from Ireland’s ESB Networks reveal that the country has surpassed 1.2 GW of cumulative installed PV capacity, with the residential segment accounting for 20% of the total capacity installed over the past six months.

New research from Switzerland showed that alpine floating PV systems can outperform lowland or ground-mounted counterparts in terms of energy yield and sustainability. The scientists found that the main material-reduction potential of such floating PV installations lies in the resource-intensive mounting system.

Germany’s AEG is selling new stackable, high-voltage batteries with usable capacity of 5 kWh. They come with a 10-year warranty and reportedly have a lifecycle of more than 4,500 cycles.