We are pleased to bring you our PES preview of Intersolar Europe 2019, the first major Solar/PV event of the year, which will take place in Munich from the 15th to 17th May. The global photovoltaic (PV) market continues to grow. According to analysts from IHS Markit, newly installed PV capacity is set to rise by 18% to 123 gigawatts in 2019, with two thirds of this capacity located outside of China.

Renewable, digital, decentralized: the future of energy supply

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The new installations are expected to be more widely distributed geographically, with demand growing by more than 20% compared with 2018 in 45 countries. The London-based analysts predict that Egypt, Argentina, Spain, South Africa and Vietnam alone will account for 7% of the global capacity added in 2019.

Hybrid power plants, which see photovoltaics, wind power and other renewable energies being paired with a storage system, are on the rise. The world’s largest PV/wind hybrid power plant, a 160megawatt (MW) system, is currently being developed in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. Photovoltaics will contribute 120MW of energy, with wind power producing another 40MW. The system is completed by a battery with a storage capacity of 40MW.

In Andhra Pradesh alone, combined PV/wind power plants with a capacity of 3gigawatts are due to be built by 2022. And Europe is also sending out positive signals. The 2018 decision to end the minimum import price for photovoltaic products manufactured in China, Malaysia and Taiwan has made solar energy more affordable in many EU countries.

In addition, Spain has abolished the ‘sun tax’ previously collected on PV self-consumption, which provides fresh impetus

for decentralized systems. And the Spanish government recently announced ambitious plans for the future that will see the country switch over to 100 percent renewables by 2050.

In Germany, the installation of storage devices will become even more attractive from 2021 as PV systems begin to lose their eligibility for the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) feed-in tariffs – the storage devices will then make it possible to increase self-consumption. The photovoltaic industry is driven by growth, innovation, and a spirit of optimism.

The best place to find out about these developments is the annual event Intersolar Europe, the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry. Intersolar Europe 2019 shows industry professionals the way forward to the energy world of tomorrow, exploring both the opportunities and the challenges expected along the way. This comprehensive overview is made possible by The smarter E Europe.

The innovation hub for new energy solutions is Europe’s largest energy industry platform and brings together four exhibitions: Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe and EM-Power. With 1,300 exhibitors across more than 100,000 square meters of

exhibition space in ten halls, The smarter E Europe is an unmissable international meeting point for the energy industry.

Intersolar Europe brings industry trends to life

In June 2018, the total worldwide capacity of solar and wind energy installations reached the one terawatt mark (1,000 gigawatts) – a milestone for the new energy world. The reasons behind the continuing boom are varied. According to a study by the management and strategy consultant Deloitte, leaving country-specific subsidies out of consideration, the cost of solar and wind power has become comparable to or even lower than that of traditional energy sources in many parts of the world.

Thanks to smart inverters and modern control units, solar and wind energy are able to compete with conventional energy sources in terms of frequency, voltage and expansion. And technical developments are accelerating the deployment of renewable energies: Automation and cutting-edge manufacturing processes are reducing production costs.

Artificial intelligence is improving the accuracy of weather forecasts, which helps to optimize the use of renewable resources.

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Blockchain is revolutionizing the markets for green power certificates, and new materials are improving the physical characteristics of solar and wind power installations.

There are a number of notable technical trends in the solar industry. Monocrystalline cells and modules are achieving higher levels of efficiency compared with polycrystalline technology and are enjoying substantial growth. Modules with half-cut cells are able to reduce electrical losses by up to 75 percent, and the move from 4 busbar to 6 busbar technology has enabled as much as a 0.5 percent increase in capacity.

Not only do new inverters convert direct current to alternating current and act as the electronic ‘brain’ of PV installations, but they are increasingly becoming a digital jack of all trades. Suppliers are using new digital platforms to combine their core expertise in the field of PV inverters with software and cloud services.

Discover the new trends and technologies of the solar industry at Intersolar Europe 2019 in Munich. For the first time, the exhibition is focusing more closely on production technologies. The PV industry will be introducing its production solutions and innovative manufacturing technologies in the newly built hall C1. The Intersolar Europe Conference will focus on markets, technologies and financing for PV projects.

Added to market development in Europe, experts will be shining a light on markets in Africa and in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). Attendees will also learn about new applications such as solar installations in façades, on agricultural land and on water.

At the Smart Renewable Systems Conference, taking place at the same time, the spotlight is turned on intelligent energy systems, from virtual power plants and microgrids to smart markets. Experts will

present examples of how private, commercial and industrial customers can optimize local resources, as well as exploring trends in this area and discussing developments and business opportunities for linking decentralized energy resources with the power grid.

The Intersolar AWARD is an indicator of the innovative strength of the industry. The Photovoltaics category honors pioneering photovoltaic technologies and services that are propelling the worldwide success of solar energy. The smarter E AWARD was presented in the categories Outstanding Projects and Smart Renewable Energy last year for the first time. The ees AWARD pays tribute to leading products and solutions for stationary and mobile electrical energy storage systems. The prizes will be awarded on the 15th May 2019 at The smarter E Forum in hall B3, booth B3.570.

ees Europe: Energy storage systems are on the rise

The energy storage market is booming worldwide. All kinds of systems – be they virtual power plants, PV power plants, or hybrid power plants – are increasingly being coupled with large energy storage installations. Continually sinking prices for photovoltaic systems make solar power increasingly economical, and these savings create more scope for investing in supplementary storage solutions. The combination of PV and storage systems provides important services for supply security and grid stability for the energy world of the future.

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The latest examples of PV and energy storage combinations will be firmly in the spotlight at this year’s ees Europe, the continent’s largest and most international exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems. At the ees Europe Conference, participants will also discuss the impressive dynamics of the energy storage market, and explain how improvements in costs and technologies, changes in policy and regulation, and innovative business models contribute to the progress of the industry.

Power2Drive Europe: Charging infrastructure is key

The key to the transportation transition on European roads is comprehensive charging infrastructure. Interconnecting e-mobility and renewable energies is absolutely essential, as this is the only way to ensure a benefit to the climate. A number of companies have now announced their intentions to enter the market. Spanish energy producer Endesa aims to install over 108,000 charging stations within the next five years.

In Italy, innogy plans to install 300 charging stations in multi-story parking garages this year, and Deutsche Telekom is set to convert 12,000 distribution boxes into public

charging stations in Germany. The international exhibition Power2Drive Europe presents charging solutions and technologies for electric vehicles and reflects the interaction between electric vehicles and an environmentally friendly energy supply.

The Power2Drive Europe Conference offers an overview of the most important market and technological trends for e-mobility in the renewable energy system. The conference provides answers as to how this comprehensive charging infrastructure is developing globally and where to find promising markets. Further topics include successful business and billing models and legal frameworks.

EM-Power: cost efficiency with smart metering

Digitalization is essential for the smart coupling of the electricity, heating and mobility sectors. A decentralized energy system which is based on renewable energies, and involves a multitude of stakeholders and small PV installations, storage devices, heat pumps and charging points for electric cars, will only be possible with digitalization. Intelligent measuring systems – smart meters – enable

connection, communication and automation between the people, devices and systems involved, and ensure that all of this is done at the necessary speed.

Smart metering systems are an important precondition for efficient energy monitoring and for energy management in industrial enterprises, singular properties, building complexes and neighborhoods. From smart building automation to energy management, EM-Power, the exhibition for intelligent energy use in industry and buildings, puts the spotlight on professional energy customers.

At The smarter E Europe, 50,000 trade visitors from 165 nations come together to explore new technologies and solutions for the modern energy world. As the foremost industry platform, The smarter E Europe does not just bring together four energy exhibitions under one roof. A single ticket will also gain you entry to four conferences – the Smart Renewable Systems Conference, Intersolar Europe Conference, ees Europe Conference and Power2Drive Europe Conference – where you can learn more about every aspect of the renewable, decentralized and digital energy supply of tomorrow.

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