Smart & Super Essential: The Growing Role of Solar Inverters as the Brain of Solar Power Systems & Beyond

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Recording of Wednesday, June 14, 2023 | The smarter E Europe 2023 | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 17:26 .

Dr. Sönke Rogalla
Head of Department Power Electronics and Grid Integration
Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme
Deutschland

The advances of technology along the solar value chain in recent years have been breathtaking: Innovations have included considerably larger wafers, new cell technologies, much higher-efficiency solar modules, smarter inverters with management systems that can control fully electrified high-tech homes and less material-intensive fixed or tracking mounting systems that can be installed faster and boost system yields.

This session will provide an overview of the latest technologies:

  • Wafer-to-module technology innovations
  • Grid-connection and system control devices
  • Mounting technology for solar system installations

Further Talks of this session:

Speaker

Prof. Dr. Rutger Schlatmann
Head of the Division Solar Energy
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH
Deutschland

To Talk

Speaker

Christian Salzeder
CSO Projects
Schletter Solar GmbH
Deutschland

To Talk

Speaker

Dr. Bertrand Paviet-Salomon
CSEM SA
Schweiz

To Talk

Speaker

Dr. Bertrand Paviet-Salomon
CSEM SA
Schweiz

Prof. Dr. Rutger Schlatmann
Head of the Division Solar Energy
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH
Deutschland

Christian Salzeder
CSO Projects
Schletter Solar GmbH
Deutschland

Dr. Sönke Rogalla
Head of Department Power Electronics and Grid Integration
Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme
Deutschland

To Talk

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Photovoltaic prices have fallen continuously in recent years - a trend that should translate into a growing market for off-grid solutions. Declining costs are crucial for rural electrification in particular, making sustainable energy supply economically viable in remote regions. However, so far many of these price advantages have not yet reached the people that need them most. Do existing framework conditions to foster rural electrification still work in this new market reality? Which measures are needed to ensure that cost reductions reach our target group? This session discusses strategies for improving the availability of low-cost off-grid solutions, financing and innovative business models. A look at successful practical examples shows which political, economic and technological levers need to be pulled to make off-grid PV accessible on a large scale.

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Setting the Scene "Off-Grid"

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The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program

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Photovoltaic prices have fallen continuously in recent years - a trend that should translate into a growing market for off-grid solutions. Declining costs are crucial for rural electrification in particular, making sustainable energy supply economically viable in remote regions. However, so far many of these price advantages have not yet reached the people that need them most. Do existing framework conditions to foster rural electrification still work in this new market reality? Which measures are needed to ensure that cost reductions reach our target group? This session discusses strategies for improving the availability of low-cost off-grid solutions, financing and innovative business models. A look at successful practical examples shows which political, economic and technological levers need to be pulled to make off-grid PV accessible on a large scale.

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Q&A Session of of the Session Off-Grid: Rural Electrification Based on Solar Systems - Lessons Learned

Wednesday, May 07, 2025, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program

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Off-grid solar systems are often the least expensive option for rural electrification. Solar home systems can power individual households, while mini-grids can supply entire villages. Each comes with its own advantages, disadvantages, and challenges. The aim of this session is to explore challenges as well as success stories. It takes well-functioning components such as battery systems, charge management and inverters to make projects successful. Proper system sizing, maintenance and repair management, as well as a robust financial concept are also necessary. If one of these elements is missing, the electrification will not be sustainable. This session will focus on the aspects mentioned above. The speakers will present successful and unsuccessful approaches and discuss what can be learned from them.

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