The German government has set an ambitious goal to balance the contribution of large-scale power plants and roof-mounted systems to the nation’s solar energy landscape. In 2023, the large-scale ground-mounted solar segment saw a remarkable growth of 45 percent. With the introduction of Solar Package I, this growth is expected to continue, driven by measures aimed at reducing bureaucratic hurdles and achieving an annual growth of 22 gigawatt peak starting from 2026. The latest innovations, products, and business models for large-scale photovoltaic (PV) power plants will be showcased at Intersolar Europe, the premier exhibition for the solar industry, held in Munich from June 19–21. This event, part of The smarter E Europe, will feature around 3,000 exhibitors and is anticipated to attract over 115,000 visitors from around the world, occupying 19 exhibition halls and an Outdoor Area.
Hybrid power plants, which integrate PV with wind power or storage, offer significant advantages. These systems leverage the complementary generation profiles of sun and wind, optimizing energy infrastructure and interconnection points. The addition of energy storage further enhances these systems by smoothing out the variability of renewable energy sources. Stored electricity can be fed into the grid when needed or traded for profit, with energy arbitrage allowing for strategic provision and marketing of solar and wind energy on the energy exchange. This approach involves storing electricity when prices are low or renewable production is high and selling it when it becomes profitable.
The solar industry is increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) for operations and maintenance (O&M). AI technology is utilized to detect and analyze operational incidents and deviations, process large volumes of data efficiently, and standardize ticket creation and selection. In O&M, AI frees up human resources for more complex tasks and standardizes operations. Additionally, AI-supported software can process weather data and generate accurate production forecasts.
Special solar systems, such as parking lot PV, agricultural PV, and floating PV, have gained their own tender segment under the German Renewable Energy Sources Act EEG through Solar Package I. These dual land-use concepts are becoming more prevalent, and the tender value has increased to 9.5 cents/kWh. Innovations in this segment include carport substructures, elevated solar technologies for agricultural use, and mounting solutions for floating PV systems.
Intersolar Europe, the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry, underscores the dynamic nature of the solar market. For over three decades, it has been a vital networking platform for industry leaders, focusing on the latest trends and business models under the motto “Connecting Solar Business”. The exhibition will take place from June 19–21, 2024, as part of The smarter E Europe at Messe München. For more information, visit www.intersolar.de.