The world’s largest solar energy trade fair, Intersolar Europe, has seen the highest number of exhibitors and visitors than any other year. The event took place in Munich, Germany last week. CGTN’s Natalie Carney went to have a look.
Solar is the most abundant of all renewable energy sources and its use to produce electricity is increasing at a rapid pace.
It may currently only account for a little more than three and a half percent of global generation, but the sector itself saw an unprecedented growth of 22% in 2022, led by China which produced three quarters of that, followed by the United States and Europe.
The race to reduce deadly CO2 emissions and meet global climate neutrality targets, has those in the solar power industry pushing new products and technologies. And all of that was showcased at Intersolar Europe in Munich, the leading trade fair and and conference for all things solar energy related.
“This shoe is the first shoe worldwide that allows you to step on solar panels without producing micro cracks. This is really unique.”
Without these shoes, maintenance work is done by removing individual panels or through the use of a crane.
JOACHIM SAND Sales Associate, Solarco.shoe “Even the manufacture of the panels are very interested in it because at the moment they say’you are not allowed to walk on the panels’.”
Be it innovative ideas, higher voltage solar panels, quicker inverter solutions or increased battery storage, it was all on display by some 1500 exhibitors from around the world.
The rapidly advancing solar energy industry has led to the expansion of Chinese company Clenergy from a single solar module mounting division to four divisions offering a wide range of products and services for an increasing global clientele.
SAMIR JACOB Global Marketing Manager, Clenergy “We’ve just secured about ten new distributors from Ireland to Romania and it’s really encouraging to see that technology every year gets better and better. The advancements that have happened in the last decade and a half has just been amazing.”
Hundreds of gigawatt hours of solar energy production contracts were signed during the three day event including a 1.5 GW supply framework agreement between China’s LONGi Solar and Austria’s Energy3000.
NATALIE CARNEY Munich, Germany “According to international energy agencies, we are going in the right direction. There is great optimism that solar power will replace natural gas and coal as the main source of electricity in just the next few years. However the general overall potential of renewable energies is still quite underdeveloped. That is why Intersolar Europe has been part of a greater trade fair focused on realizing that diverse potential.”
Under the umbrella brand THE SMARTER E, events also took place relating to energy storage systems, intelligent energy use in industry and buildings and electromobility, proving that a complete energy transition away from fossil fuels is possible with solar energy playing a defining role. Natalie Carney, CGTN, Munich.
