Recording of Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026 | Language: English | Duration: 12:25 .

Overview of Innovations in Energy Systems and Cost Efficiency

Recent discussions highlighted the optimization of hybrid energy systems, particularly comparing DRECKER and fixed tilt systems. Johannes Linder from Belectric emphasized that comparing outputs based on specific land usage can yield more reliable results. Agrivoltaics emerged as a promising solution for combining agriculture with photovoltaics, especially in areas like Germany where adoption is increasing. The potential financial impact of automated systems on installation costs, currently estimated at 60 to 65 euros per kilowatt peak, could reduce costs by 50%, targeting a new range of 15 to 20 euros for automated components. Testing and development of steel frames in the North American market focus on durability against elements like lightning strikes. Innovations in battery energy storage have improved grid resilience, allowing for synthetic inertia and enhanced incorporation of photovoltaic inverters. Recent advances include a new 6.25 megawatt-hour battery and upgraded grid-forming inverters, demonstrating significant progress in power electronics and their applications.

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Talk of session: What's Hot in Solar Technology - Latest Product Trends in Rooftop and Utility-Scale PV Systems

Solar technology is advancing rapidly as manufacturers balance intense price pressure with rising performance and system demands. From higher-efficiency modules and smarter inverters to innovative mounting systems and trackers, new products aim to cut costs, simplify installation and enhance grid compatibility. This session highlights the latest trends shaping rooftop and utility-scale PV systems and their role in performance optimization and system integration.

Key topics:

• Latest module, inverter and mounting innovations
• Product trends in rooftop and utility-scale system design
• Perspectives on performance optimization, system integration and grid functionality
• Discussion on developments supporting long-term cost competitiveness for different solar applications

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome and Introduction

Speaker

Dr. Harry Wirth
Director, Division Power Solutions
Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme

To Talk

International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic (ITRPV) 2026 Launch

Speaker

Dr. Markus Fischer
VP R&D Operation
Hanwha QCells GmbH
Germany

To Talk

Solar Cell & Module Trends - Towards Higher Efficiencies and Better Performance

Speaker

Dr. Alex Li
Head of Product Management, LONGi Utility
LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd.
China

To Talk

From Rooftops to Gigawatts: Emerging Solar and Storage Technology Trends in Modern Solar PV System

Speaker

Ussama Rai
Chief Technology Officer
Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
China

To Talk

Maximising Value for PV + BESS Co-Located Assets: Trackers vs. Fixed-Tilt

Speaker

Philipp Kunze
Vice President Business Development and Sales Europe
Nexpower LLC
Germany

To Talk

Automation and Innovations in Racking Systems for Solar Installations

Speaker

Ralf Steinheiser
Head of Innovation and Technologies
Goldbeck Solar

To Talk