Recording of Wednesday, May 07, 2025 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 14:32 .
Nadine Wade, product manager at K2 Systems GmbH, discusses advancements and challenges in photovoltaic (PV) mounting systems. She highlights the significant reduction in PV costs compared to conventional power plants in Germany from 2013 to 2024 despite inflationary pressures on materials like aluminum. Technological innovations include using recyclable aluminum for its corrosion resistance and ease of manufacturing complex designs. The evolution of their products is marked by a shift from basic structures to advanced low-ballast solutions that enhance solar yield throughout the day. Challenges such as adapting mounting systems for larger modules with thinner frames are tackled by developing more fault-tolerant components based on modular principles aimed at reducing future revisions. Despite market fluctuations and regulatory uncertainties, K2 Systems emphasizes robust customer service, training programs, exploring new applications like facade solutions while maintaining adaptability towards evolving module designs. Additionally, there is discussion about lightweight PV modules attachable via adhesive; however, no suitable glue exists yet for secure attachment—posing a barrier to widespread adoption until resolved.
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Nadine Wade
Productmanager
K2 Systems GmbH
Germany
The pace of solar system technology advancements has been remarkable in recent years, with major improvements in efficiency, usability, and energy yield across all components - including modules, mounting systems, and inverters. However, with persistent overcapacities and intense price pressure, the race for cost reduction through innovation has never been more crucial. Solar companies must continually push the boundaries of technology to remain competitive. This session will provide: Overview of major technological advancements in solar system components Updates on the latest innovations in modules, inverters, balance-of-system equipment, racking, and tracker solutions Discussion on different technology roadmaps shaping the future of solar deployment.
Further Talks of this session:
Speaker
Jenny Chase
Lead Solar Analyst
BloombergNEF
United Kingdom
Speaker
Dr. Gianluca Coletti
Adjunct Professor
UNSW Sydney
Australia
Recording of presentation not authorized for publication.
Speaker
Liam Coman
Solar Research Analyst
S&P Global
Speaker
Manuel Jimenez Castro
Global Application Engineer, PV + BESS + H2
Siemens AG
Germany
Speaker
Alejandro Cardona Velez
Corporate Engineering Director
Soltec
Spain