Intersolar Europe

It remains Europe’s biggest solar and energy storage event, and with a resurgent market, The smarter E in 2019 is shaping to be no different. Accordingly, pv magazine is rolling out a full program of events and launches, and of course is inviting you to party with us.

In the run-up to pv magazine’s quality roundtable at Intersolar Europe, we look at a case where a production error resulted in cold solder joints in 5% of the solar modules across a 50 MW project portfolio. We consider how to come to an agreement with a manufacturer to replace modules in such a situation and how such a solution compares with a production audit before installation.

The expansion of The smarter E Europe exhibition and conference continues apace in 2019, with the growth of power-to-gas as well as solar and battery storage’s increasing competitiveness capturing new territory. It is managing to meet both system requirements and customer demand.

At last week’s Intersolar Europe show in Munich, Norwegian headquartered manufacturer REC Group unveiled its latest module innovation, the N-peak series. The new solar PV modules will be the first to combine n-type, mono-cSi and half-cut cell technologies.

Following Monday’s announcement, pv magazine spoke to Lior Handelsman, of SolarEdge. The company VP is adamant Huawei has infringed the Israeli firm’s intellectual property, and says defending IP will see the PV industry grow.

At the smarter E-Intersolar Europe trade show this week, awards have been given to the technologies driving the energy transition to a low carbon future. Prizes include the Intersolar Award, recognizing PV technology; the EES prize for storage innovation; and the smarter E awards – one of which was given to an off-grid agricultural project in Australia.

Underlining India’s commitment to becoming the global renewable energy leader, Shri Anand Kumar, Secretary of India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, said the country plans 500 GW of capacity by 2030. He also underlined India’s plans for becoming a solar and storage manufacturing hub; and said the International Solar Alliance needs to widen its membership.

While tariffs may inhibit India’s ability to benefit from anticipated record low Chinese panel prices, Japan already has a strong pipeline and two of the world’s solar pioneers – Spain and Italy – could be given a shot in the arm by new administrations.

With Solarworld’s recent insolvency announcement, questions regarding the potential for trade disputes to affect the global solar industry have once again been brought to the fore. At Intersolar Europe 2017 in Munich, pv magazine spoke with Benjamin Attia of GTM Research about the organization’s latest research into this broad reaching topic.

This year’s Intersolar Europe exhibition and conference attracted encouraging crowds, plenty of innovation and a growing sense of confidence in solar’s importance to the world. With a little help from storage, of course.