Recording of Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026 | Language: English | Duration: 28:25 .

Significant Advancements and Future Directions in Solar Energy

The solar industry has witnessed remarkable success over recent decades, driven by substantial cost reductions and technological advancements. While costs have plummeted from estimates of 5 million euros per megawatt, integration of storage solutions, such as batteries, is increasingly seen as vital for future growth. The sector has matured, moving from simple technological applications to sophisticated, integrated systems that include diverse revenue streams. However, challenges such as regulatory hurdles, market competition, and resource dependency persist, particularly concerning funding from local banks. Regulatory clarity is crucial for investor confidence, especially as varied market needs create complexity in implementing effective solutions. Looking ahead, the transition towards co-located business models and hybrid projects is inevitable, emphasizing collaboration across energy sectors. The discourse around cybersecurity, geopolitical independence, and financing frameworks continues to shape the future landscape of renewable energy, with anticipation that solar energy will reach 80% adoption in Europe by 2030. Stakeholders are encouraged to navigate these changes actively, ensuring that solar energy remains a cornerstone of the energy transition.

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Speaker

Barbara Flesche
Executive Vice President, Europe
Statkraft AS
Norway

Stefan Müller
COO
Enerparc AG
Germany

Talk of session: Solar Power Plants and Storage IV: Going Hybrid - Overview of Real-World Revenue Models for Solar + Battery Projects

Hybrid PV projects are transforming Europe's utility-scale solar sector. As battery sizes grow and grid constraints intensify, co-location and hybrid operation are becoming the key to accessing the grid and unlocking new value streams - from merchant optimization to industrial energy supply. This session examines real-world revenue models, policy trends and grid-forming requirements,providing background on how hybrid projects truly pay off.

This session will address:

• Business cases for co-location, overplanting and shared grid connections of hybrid solar plants
• Grid-forming and related services with regulatory drivers shaping hybrid economics
• Revenue-stacking strategies in merchant and contracted markets
• Industrial optimization and storage-led value creation in practice

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome and Introduction

Speaker

Rebecca McManus
European Renewables Lead Expert
Aurora Energy Research
Germany

To Talk

Hybrid Horizons: Co-Location in Europe - Trends, Policy, and Business Models

Speaker

Rebecca McManus
European Renewables Lead Expert
Aurora Energy Research
Germany

To Talk

Hybrid Power Plants in Europe: Reshaping the Growth With Grid-Forming Requirements

Speaker

Cecilie Kristiansen
Research Analyst
Wood Mackenzie
United Kingdom

To Talk

Turn Grid Bottlenecks Into Business Potential: With Hybridization, Overplanning, and Shared Substations

Speaker

Andreas Nitsch
Senior Solution Engineer
Opoura GmbH
Germany

To Talk

Storage Beyond the Queue: Business Models That Work Under FCAs and Hybrid Operation

Speaker

Laura Hoffmann-Ostenhof
Central Europe Industry Lead
Gridcog
United Kingdom

To Talk