GW-scale Solar Module Factories for the Residential and Utility Scale Markets

Agricultural PV is on the rise - in many European countries, this application, which combines agriculture and PV on the same piece of land, is on the verge of a market breakthrough. The beneficial effects of PV systems on many types of crops as well as dual land use and protecting agricultural activity by avoiding competition for land are some clear advantages. In this session, pioneering agricultural PV companies will present their projects and best practices, demonstrate the profitability of agricultural PV and the benefits of this combination for agriculture and power generation.

The smarter E AWARD is one of the most prestigious awards in the energy industry. Once again, numerous companies that have developed visionary and pioneering products and projects are among the finalists in 2024. They will present their products and projects to the exhibition audience in ten-minute pitches at the Intersolar Forum. Innovations in the Photovoltaics category include advancements in module technology, inverters, mounting solutions, and monitoring tools. The finalists in the Smart Integrated Energy category will also be featured.

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) blurs the line between architectural element and solar installation by integrating PV modules into building envelopes. More construction than energy technology, it has great potential - especially in the urban sector, where it expands the potential areas beyond rooftops to include façades while increasing the acceptance of energy technology in public spaces by offering creative solutions. In this session, we will provide an overview of this topic and highlight the potentials. We will present numerous examples of integrations on rooftops and façades. The session will also shed some light on the topic of colored PV modules, the impact of cutting-edge planning tools for implementing projects and technological scenarios for the PV modules of the future. At the end of the session, partners that provide information and support for BIPV projects will be introduced.

European research institutes are leaders in solar cell research, as evidenced by impressive results in TOPCon, SHJ, and IBC cells. Promising laboratory results paint a bright future for the technological development, with the next frontier involving the integration of clean room technologies into production lines. Additionally, innovative approaches by forward-thinking companies aim to conserve resources, such as silicon, silver, and process consumables, through consumption reduction or the use of alternative materials and processes. This session brings together pioneering approaches, alongside steady and robust R&D development on the journey from lab to fab. Solar device development is high-tech.