Where is Solar Europe heading? Report from Intersolar

Shift in the geography of demand for solar power plants

One of the most notable changes this year was the growing interest in photovoltaic projects in markets that, just a few years ago, were not among Europe’s major centers for solar energy. Increasing attention is being paid, for example, to Ireland, Norway, and the United Kingdom, where new opportunities are emerging for the construction of both ground-mounted and commercial photovoltaic power plants. This development also shows that the European solar market is gradually diversifying geographically and is no longer concentrated solely in traditionally strong countries.

For developers, investors, and construction companies, this means the need to closely monitor local legislation, grid connection options, pricing terms, and the specifics of the construction process itself. The ability to respond flexibly to developments in individual markets and to apply lessons learned from completed projects across Europe is thus becoming an increasingly important competitive advantage.

Massive emergence of battery storage and agrivoltaics

Large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) were by far the most discussed segment of the trade fair this year. Most newly proposed PV projects are now automatically planned with battery storage integration, reflecting not only technical advances but also business realities related to grid supply flexibility and peak balancing. Our team has also seen contact with Faam, a European manufacturer that offers so-called full-EU battery solutions, including cell manufacturing. While the price is higher, the European origin can be a competitive advantage for certain types of orders.

At the same time, there is a growing interest in agrivoltaics, i.e., the combination of agricultural land use with PV installation. This model is proving to be the ideal answer to the question of sustainability, efficient use of the landscape and maximising yield per hectare.

News at PV components

In the world of PV panels, there are no dramatic changes in size or performance. The changes are more in the details: slightly higher efficiency, anti-glare surfaces suitable for airport or roadside installations, design colour variants and an increasing emphasis on EU origin.

In the field of mounting structures, SolarFix anchoring systems for flat roofs and Sunman structures for lightweight panels attracted attention. Both concepts offer solutions that do not require penetration or ballast, making them an ideal choice for roofs with limited load-bearing capacity, among other things. The structures are also optimised for better water drainage, ventilation and easy installation.

In terms of inverters, everything remains more or less the same, but several manufacturers have emphasised their support for grid-forming functionality, which allows for active grid stabilisation. This capability can play a key role in preventing blackouts, such as those we recently saw in Spain. Another interesting development is the partnership between Solsol and Sungrow, which has become the official distributor of the Sungrow brand.

Monitoring, measurement and ecological shift in HV

Simulation and design software is becoming a standard part of the process of designing and optimising PV plant operation. Among the most discussed tools this year were PVsyst, PVcase or Solargis. Their real value is evidenced by the verification of the simulations on real projects, where the production prediction was very close to reality.

Although measurement technology is specialised, its correct deployment can make the difference between early detection of problems and successful operations. This year, a number of suppliers presented new products in the field of transmitters, analysers and meters or transformers with communication interfaces that can be efficiently integrated into existing systems.

From 2026, all manufacturers of high-voltage switchgear will have to switch to alternatives to SF6, an insulator that has a strong greenhouse effect. The new switchgear may be slightly larger, but eliminating SF6 means greater safety, lower operating costs and easier maintenance. For voltages above 22 kV, the status quo will remain at least until 2030.

Solar sector on the threshold of transformation

Intersolar Europe 2025 showed that the PV sector is moving from simple production to smart and integrated solutions. The growing emphasis on energy storage, digitalisation and sustainability is transforming the face of the industry. Stay tuned to our blog, where we will continue to provide more detailed analysis and trends of each segment as well as reports from our specific projects.