Avsnitt
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Recorded at the Tandem PV Workshop in Berlin, this weekâs episode explores one of the most exciting frontiers in solar technology: perovskite-based tandem photovoltaics. Featuring two leading researchers from Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB), the conversations dive into why perovskites could unlock the next major step forward in solar efficiency â and what still needs to happen before the technology reaches mass commercialization.
In the first interview, weâre joined by Professor Rutger Schlatmann, Head of the Solar Energy Division at Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, to unpack why silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells are attracting so much attention from researchers and industry. Rutger explains how conventional silicon technology is approaching its physical efficiency limits, and why adding a perovskite layer on top of silicon offers a pathway to significantly higher performance.
In the second half of the episode, we speak with Angelika Harter, Group Lead Industrial-like Silicon Perovskite Tandem Baseline at HZB, about the transition from record-breaking laboratory results toward commercially viable solar products. Angelika shares insights from the Tandem PV Workshop, where the industryâs focus is shifting from simply achieving higher efficiencies toward improving stability, scalability, and reproducibility.
We also explore new opportunities for perovskite technologies beyond conventional solar modules â including flexible PV, indoor applications, and space technologies â and why the next five years could prove critical for bringing the first generation of commercial perovskite products to market.
âïž Questions or feedback? Write us at [email protected]
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Recorded at two recent industry events â the SolarPower Summit in Brussels and the Battery Business & Development Forum in Frankfurt â this weekâs episode explores why batteries have become one of the most dynamic areas of the global energy transition. Featuring two industry heavy hitters, the conversations cover how BESS is transforming everything from electric mobility and charging infrastructure to renewable energy markets and grid management.
In the first interview, weâre joined by Laurent Segalen, clean energy investor and host of the Redefining Energy podcast, to unpack why electrification is entering a new phase of growth. Laurent explains how falling battery costs, improving EV technology, and changing energy economics are accelerating the shift from fossil fuels to electricity â particularly across transport sectors such as cars, vans, and heavy-duty trucks.
The discussion explores why electric trucks are becoming increasingly compelling from a business perspective, with lower operating and maintenance costs driving adoption. Laurent also explains why stationary batteries will play a critical role in supporting high-power charging infrastructure, creating buffers across the electricity system, and enabling the continued expansion of renewable energy.
In the second half of the episode, we speak with Stefan Mueller, COO and co-founder of ENERPARC, about the booming utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) market in Germany and Europe. Stefan shares insights into the wide range of emerging opportunities â from grid-scale batteries and solar-plus-storage projects to behind-the-meter applications supporting industry, EV charging, and energy-cost optimization.
The conversation covers the changing economics of battery projects, including merchant trading, peak shaving, balancing markets, and how energy storage can help companies access more reliable renewable power. Stefan also explains what investors and banks need to see for BESS projects to become financeable, and why predictable regulation and grid connection frameworks remain essential.
We also discuss the role of AI and digital platforms in managing increasingly complex energy assets, the future of hydrogen versus electrification in transport, and why batteries may ultimately help us use existing electricity infrastructure far more efficiently.
âïž Questions or feedback? Write us at [email protected]
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Recorded at the historic Berlin campus of technology and engineering giant Siemens, this weekâs episode explores why Europeâs logistics industry is rapidly accelerating towards electrification â driven not only by decarbonization goals, but increasingly by energy security, operational resilience, and cost control.
Weâre joined by Marcel RĂŒmenapf, Head of Sales for eMobility Europe at Siemens, to unpack how rising fossil fuel prices, dynamic electricity markets, and improving EV technology are transforming fleet economics for businesses across Europe. The conversation explores why logistics operators are now viewing electrification as a strategic advantage, particularly as electricity offers opportunities for smart charging, on-site solar integration, and far greater control over energy costs when compared with fossil fuels like diesel.
A major focus of the discussion is how the complexity of large-scale fleet charging can be overcome. Marcel explains the ways in which smart charging software is becoming essential for managing depots with hundreds of electric buses or trucks that are balancing grid constraints, fast-changing wholesale electricity price dynamics, charging schedules, and operational requirements in real time.
The episode also explores the increasingly important role of stationary battery storage at logistics hubs, both for supporting charging infrastructure and in auxiliary applications such as the participation in electricity balancing markets.
We also discuss the future of electric trucks versus hydrogen, why fleet operators are beginning with phased pilot projects before scaling, and how electrification could even help logistics companies attract drivers by improving the driving experience itself.
âïž Questions or feedback? Write us at [email protected]
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Recorded on-site at the SolarPower Summit in Brussels, this weekâs episode captures the market developments and innovative young companies shaping Europeâs clean energy transition.
We kick things off with renowned BloombergNEF solar analyst Jenny Chase, who joins us to unpack why batteries have become the defining technology conversation across Europeâs solar sector. As PV penetration rates continue to increase and negative pricing events become more common, Jenny explains why in this next phase of development, the industryâs challenge is managing flexibility, storage, and increasingly volatile power markets.
The conversation touches on anticipated developments like changing energy-trading models, EV smart charging, and long-duration storage, while also exploring how software and intelligent asset management are becoming as important as the hardware itself. And Jenny flags battery revenue cannibalization as a trend to keep an eye out for.
The second half of the episode features interviews with the four finalists of the European Solar Startup Award, recorded directly after the competition finals at the summit:
We speak with Swedenâs Qurrent about hybrid solar and battery optimization platforms designed to unlock new revenue streams for renewable assets.
Finlandâs Polar Night Energy explains how high-temperature sand batteries could provide low-cost industrial heat and long-duration storage using excess renewable electricity.
Gridio discusses the growing importance of seamless EV smart charging and integrating electric vehicles with home solar systems.
And finally, we hear from reLi Energy â the winner of the competition â on one of the battery sectorâs most urgent emerging challenges: degradation management and how smarter operation of battery assets could dramatically improve long-term revenues and asset lifetimes.
From the summit location in Brussels, this episode of The smarter E podcast provides a snapshot of where the European energy transition is heading next.
Thank you to SolarPower Europe for the event invitation.
âïž Questions or feedback? Write us at [email protected]
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With the Strait of Hormuz disruption continuing to drive fossil-fuel costs higher, businesses big and small have been left looking for ways to cut energy costs.
But, in contrast to energy crises of the past, todayâs clean energy technology is mature, cost competitive, and ready to fill the gap.
This week on the pod, we speak to James Allston of Orkestra Energy for a view on how European businesses are responding to sustained high electricity prices and growing volatility. Rather than reacting to headlines, he explains how structural forces â from rising network charges to falling battery costs â are accelerating the business case for solar and storage.
We unpack how local market dynamics, in leading commercial and industrial (C&)I marketplaces such as the United Kingdom and Germany, are shaping very different âvalue stacksâ for batteries, including managing peak demand, navigating negative pricing, and optimizing behind-the-meter savings.
We also explore the next frontier for commercial energy users: EV fleets with integrated on-site solar and storage. As grid capacity tightens and electrification accelerates, this convergence will likely shape how businesses think about both energy costs and transportation.
Then, we shift from deployment to innovation with renowned solar researcher Professor Marko TopiÄ from the University of Ljubljana, who takes us inside one of the most promising areas of solar research: perovskite solar cells.
With record-breaking efficiencies already achieved, industry focus has turned to the next challenge for the emerging solar technology: durability. We dive into the perovskite degradation mechanisms, surprising âself-healingâ behaviors, and the painstaking work required to understand, and ultimately control, these processes in real-world conditions.
Professor TopiÄ discusses indoor perovskite-powered IoT devices and even space applications, providing a glimpse into an exciting future â but one that will only be realized if researchers can bridge the gap between lab performance and long-term reliability.
âïž Questions or feedback? Write us at [email protected]
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As global energy markets face renewed volatility â from geopolitical flashpoints to supply disruptions â a key question is back in focus: how do we deliver energy security when fossil-fuel supply is no longer guaranteed?
In this episode, we explore how flexibility â powered by EVs and batteries â is emerging as a frontline solution to energy security challenges.
First, Gautham Ram (TU Delft) changes the narrative on EVs as a grid liability. Instead, he outlines how millions of electric vehicles could act as a vast, distributed storage network, effectively turning transport into a strategic energy asset.
From smart charging to V2G, we explore how intelligent coordination â and not just new infrastructure â can ease grid congestion, absorb renewable generation, and reduce reliance on imported fuels. We also unpack the use cases driving AC vs. DC charging, bidirectional technology, and battery lifetimes â and why scaling these solutions will depend on standards, interoperability, and consumer confidence.
Then, live from the Battery & Business Development Forum 2026 in Frankfurt, Ruben Valiente of Maxxen Energy shares a ground-level view of Europeâs rapidly expanding battery storage market.
His message is timely: while battery cells remain dominated by global supply chains, Europeâs strength lies in system integration, local engineering, and getting projects deployed rapidly. As markets grapple with uncertainty, new approaches like vendor-backed financing are helping to de-risk investments and accelerate deployment, which is absolutely critical in these moments when resilience is thrown into question.
With EV fleets increasingly acting as mobile energy reserves and utility-scale batteries stabilizing grids, this episode connects the dots across a rapidly evolving storage landscape and shows how, in an era of disruption, flexibility may be the ultimate hedge against energy insecurity.
With a focus on smarter inverters and the power of distributed energy systems, this episode looks at how solar is redefining energy security â and why resilience may be its most important role yet.
âïž Questions or feedback? Write us at [email protected]
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Energy security is back at the top of the global agenda and new ways to secure supply are evolving fast. In this episode of The smarter E Podcast, we explore how solar is moving beyond generation to play a critical role in stabilizing power systems and delivering energy security.
First, Wood Mackenzie analyst Timothy Shen breaks down the rapid evolution of solar inverters â and how they are well equipped to meet the challenges of todayâs changing power mix. Once seen as passive components, todayâs advanced inverters can actively support the grid managing voltage, frequency, and providing reactive power in real time. As the energy transition accelerates, these capabilities are becoming essential to keeping power systems reliable, especially during disruptions.
We also examine what recent grid failures reveal about the gap between older infrastructure and newer, more resilient technologies, and why the latest generation of inverters could help prevent future blackouts.
In the second half of the episode, Dr Rethabile Melamu from the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association shares insights from Africaâs rapidly accelerating solar market. With hundreds of millions still lacking access to electricity on the continent, solar and storage are an increasingly essential factors to support economic growth, energy access, and resilience. From community-led microgrids to innovative financing models, new approaches are enabling decentralized, secure power systems to scale quickly across Africa.
For more for insights into Africaâs energy grid, check out the GSCâs recently released Africa Market Outlook for Solar PV: 2026â2029: https://www.globalsolarcouncil.org/resources/africa-market-outlook-2026-2029/
With a focus on smarter inverters and the power of distributed energy systems, this episode looks at how solar is redefining energy security â and why resilience may be its most important role yet.
âïž Questions or feedback? Write us at [email protected]
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As geopolitical tensions once again send shockwaves through global energy markets, the pressure to accelerate the energy transition has rarely been greater. In this episode of The smarter E Podcast, we explore how digital technologies and electrification are reshaping the energy systemâand why smarter, more connected grids are becoming essential in navigating todayâs crisis.
Our first guest, Simon Evans, Global Digital Energy and Digital Twin Leader at Arup, explains what digitalization really means for electricity networks. As renewables, rooftop solar, EVs, and distributed assets multiply across the grid, traditional operating models are becoming increasingly complex. Digital technologies, including improved data sharing to digital twins and machine learning, can help system operators manage this growing complexity. But as Evans argues, the biggest hurdles are not technical. Regulatory frameworks, trust between stakeholders, and new approaches to secure data exchange will ultimately determine how quickly digitalization can scale.
We also explore how smarter networks could unlock flexibility across the system like coordinating EV charging and distributed storage and reducing renewable curtailment. In some cases, digital tools could even help direct excess renewable generation toward households facing energy affordability challenges.
In the second half of the episode, Bloomberg climate reporter Akshat Rathi joins the podcast to unpack the geopolitical context behind todayâs volatile energy markets. As disruptions to oil and gas supply chains push prices higher, governments are once again confronting energy security concerns. But unlike past crises, there is now a third option: accelerating electrification and renewable energy deployment.
From digital grids to geopolitics, this episode looks at how todayâs energy shocks could reshape the power system and why smarter infrastructure may be key to building a more resilient, electrified energy future.
âïž Have comments or questions? Get in touch at [email protected]
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Recorded live in Barcelona at the Solar Quality Summit in February, this episode of The smarter E Podcast examines a critical question for the PV industry: are todayâs solar modules built for long-term durability?
As manufacturers push for higher efficiencies, larger formats, and lower costs, quality data is flashing warning signs. Drawing on insights from Kiwa PI Berlinâs latest Module Manufacturing Report, we explore a record 3.36% defect rate observed during pre-shipment inspections in 2025, and whatâs driving it.
Rear-side breakage in large-format, glass-glass modules is emerging as a major concern, with thinner 2 mm strengthened glass proving more fragile under real-world stress. At the same time, thinner frames, rapid factory ramp-ups, and geopolitical supply chain shifts are adding new layers of risk.
The episode also dives into degradation challenges linked to TOPCon technology, including UV-induced degradation â and module meta-stability, which is proving challenging for accurate characterization.
In the second part of the episode, we turn to polymers â present in the encapsulants, backsheets, and adhesives that quietly influence whether modules last 30 years or fail early. New materials like POE and TPO are improving performance in some areas, but increasing complexity across the bill of materials. Meanwhile, emerging tools such as near-infrared field analysis and AI-supported inspection may help be a helpful root-cause analysis tool and enabler of predictive maintenance.
If solar is scaling at unprecedented speed, quality assurance must keep up. Covering a wide range of the important quality topics at hand, our live conversation Barcelona puts the spotlight on what it will take to ensure todayâs modules truly stand the test of time.
âïž Have comments or questions? Get in touch at [email protected]
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Battery capacity is getting bigger, storage duration longer, and batteries more central to how power systems operate.
In this episode of The smarter E Podcast, we look at whatâs driving the surge in battery capacity and why expectations for storage are shifting so quickly.
Projects that would have seemed unrealistic just a few years ago are now moving into planning and achieving financial close. Lithium-ion batteries are expanding well beyond traditional short-duration applications, as falling costs and ongoing technical progress make longer discharge durations commercially viable.
At the same time, rising renewable penetration is exposing a new challenge: extended periods when the power output from wind and solar output is low, for extended periods, and at the same time (the dreaded Dunkelflaute). These events are forcing system operators, utilities, and policymakers to rethink how much storage is needed â and for how long.
The episode also explores the structural side of the transition: how market design, revenue certainty, and permitting timelines could ultimately decide how fast large-scale storage rolls out, and which technologies win the arms race.
If the last decade was about proving that storage can, in fact, work â the next may be about proving that it can actually play a central role in helping manage power systems.
âïž Have comments or questions? Get in touch at [email protected]
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In this episode of The smarter E podcast, we unpack how bidirectional EV charging is reshaping Europeâs energy and mobility landscape, from market signals to real-world deployment at scale.
We begin with a policy perspective, speaking with Adriana Fricke from Hubject â a company that is working at the intersection of e-mobility, regulation, and energy systems.
As Europe pushes toward electrification, regulatory standardization and cross-industry alignment are emerging as critical enablers of bidirectional charging. And with hundreds of billions already invested into the EV ecosystem, the sector is moving beyond theory to now positioning EVs as the mobile energy assets that will support grid stability, cut system costs, and strengthen energy resilience across Europe.
In the second part of the episode, we speak to Robin Berg, the Founder and CEO of We Drive Solar, about the shift from concept to practice by exploring how V2G is being deployed on the ground. We look at the rapid scale-up of bidirectional EV fleets in the Netherlands and what they reveal about the future of distributed storage.
Fleet vehicles â stationary for most of their lifetime â are proving uniquely suited to providing grid flexibility, helping manage winter demand peaks and absorb excess solar during high generation periods. As projects scale from pilots to hundreds of vehicles, they are offering a glimpse of how V2G could become a core part of future power systems.
These conversations show how V2G is transitioning from experimentation to commercial rollout â and why standards and policy clarity will be crucial to shaping how fast it scales.
đ§ Follow The smarter E podcast for expert insight into solar, storage, e-mobility, and the global energy transition â and donât forget to rate and review if you enjoy the show!
âïž Have comments or questions? Get in touch at [email protected]
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After a prolonged period of rock-bottom prices and manufacturing oversupply, solar PV pricing is starting to shift â and the implications could ripple across the global industry in 2026.
In this episode of The smarter E podcast, host Jonathan Gifford digs into whatâs changing beneath the surface of the PV supply chain, and why pricing dynamics are becoming impossible to ignore.
In the first part of the episode, Jonathan is joined by Alex Barrows, Head of PV at CRU, and Molly Morgan, Senior Analyst, for a deep dive into the forces reshaping module costs. From surging silver prices to Chinaâs VAT rebate changes, they unpack how upstream pressures are feeding through to cells, modules, and manufacturer margins â and what this means for technology choices in the years ahead.
The conversation also explores the evolving competitive landscape between TOPCon, heterojunction, and back-contact cell architectures, and asks whether pricing discipline can realistically return to a sector still wrestling with structural overcapacity.
In the second segment, recorded in London, Jonathan speaks with Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council, to zoom out to the global deployment picture. They discuss the rapid rise of residential solar-plus-storage, the political power of distributed energy, and the market and grid reforms needed to unlock the next phase of solar and battery growth worldwide.
Follow The smarter E podcast for expert insight into solar, storage, and the global energy transition â and donât forget to rate and review if you enjoy the show.
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Big batteries are taking off in Europe and are set to become a major contributor to the energy transition worldwide.
In Europe, deployment has now reached a critical inflection point. Annual utility-scale BESS installations doubled between 2024 and 2025, while cumulative capacity surpassed 100 GW for the first time over the same period.
These insights come from new analysis by Wood Mackenzie, led by EMEA principal analyst for energy storage Anna Darmani. Anna joined The Smarter E podcast to reflect on recent developments â and whatâs next for utility-scale BESS deployment heading into 2026.
Join host Jonathan Gifford for an overview of the key utility-scale battery trends and their impact on Europeâs energy markets.
Follow The smarter E Podcast for more global insights into the clean energy transition, and donât forget to rate and review if you enjoy the show!
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Home may be where the heart is â but itâs also becoming a major player in the energy transition.
In this episode of The smarter E Podcast, we explore how smart home energy management systems (HEMS) help households get the most out of distributed energy assets such as rooftop solar, home batteries, EV chargers, and heat pumps â making for lower energy bills, deeper decarbonization, and meaningful support for the wider energy system.
Our first guest on this week'a pod, Irene Guerra Gil, Energy Market Expert at gridX, joins host Jonathan Gifford to break down the latest HEMS legislation in Europe and explain the real-world impact these technologies can have.
We also turn to the commercial sector, where office buildings represent a huge opportunity for savings. Mark Bruno, CUBE Competition Chief Ambassador and Partner at Ampersand Partners, shares how behavioural change â and a bit of friendly competition â can drive major energy reductions and bring teams together.
If youâd like to learn more about the CUBE Competition, you can reach out to Mark directly at [email protected].
Follow The smarter E Podcast for more global insights into the clean energy transition, and donât forget to rate and review if you enjoy the show!
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UNSW has played an outsized role in the development of crystalline-silicon solar technology and the modern solar industry. Through its leadership of the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP), it continues to help shape the future of solar innovation.
ACAP brings together leading Australian solar research programs, works across the entire solar value chain, and collaborates closely with major global manufacturers â including industry giants in China.
In this episode, UNSW researcher and ACAP Executive Director Professor Renate Egan joins host Jonathan Gifford to share the latest developments in solar research and discuss how technology will continue driving the PV industry in 2026.
Follow The smarter E podcast for more global insights into the clean energy transition â and donât forget to rate and review if you enjoy the show!
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Where China goes, so goes the global energy transition. With its dominance across solar and energy storage supply chains, Chinaâs every policy shift ripples through global clean tech markets.
In 2025, that landscape is shifting fast: after nearly 200 GW of new solar capacity added early in the year, installations have slowed as the industry adapts to new policies. Meanwhile, manufacturers are facing overcapacity and hunting for new export markets.
Frank Haugwitz, Senior Analyst at cleantech advisory Apricum, joins host Jonathan Gifford to break down the latest trends â and what to expect from Chinaâs renewable energy industry through the end of the decade.
Follow The smarter E podcast for more global insights into the clean energy transition â and donât forget to rate and review if you enjoy the show!
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Today, we dive into one of the most exciting areas of the energy transition: the expansion and optimisation of our power grids and the role that startups play in this. There's no question that the big players in the energy industry are important. But more and more often, it's the young, courageous companies that are driving change in the system with fresh ideas, new technologies, and unusual business models.
However they need tackle quite a few hurdles on their way. How do start-ups manage to assert themselves in a highly regulated and technically demanding industry? How do they work with grid operators, municipal utilities, or energy suppliers, and where do they encounter resistance?
We talk about this with Johan Söderbom, Thematic Leader for Smart Grids and Energy Storage at EIT InnoEnergy.
About Johan Söderbom
Between 1995 and 2014, Johan worked at the northern European Utility Vattenfall AB in various positions in R&D. From 2014 to 2019, Johan was heading a section at RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden) responsible for electrical and optical measurement technology, and he now holds the position of thematic leader for Smart Grids and Energy Storage at EIT InnoEnergy.
About INNOENERGYInnoEnergy is industrialising clean tech innovation to enable and grow a global net-zero economy. Active in Europe and the US, the company invests in early-stage start-ups and in the current and future workforce, building resilient clean-tech value chains that drive sustainable economic growth. Through its ecosystem â with 1,400 partners including 39 shareholders spanning industry, finance, public policy, and academia â the company scales the energy transition at speed.
Since 2010, InnoEnergy has supported 540+ companies, helping 4 of them grow into industrial unicorns. These companies have raised more than âŹ34 billion to date, created over 47,000 jobs, and are on track to generate âŹ110 billion in revenue and reduce 2.3 gigatons of CO2e by 2030. Currently, InnoEnergy is invested in 160+ start-ups and scale-ups.
In support of the EUâs climate and industrial goals, InnoEnergy leads industrial alliances in batteries and solar, and accelerates the uptake of green hydrogen. Pinpointing market gaps, InnoEnergy launches new industrial champions in sectors including batteries, steel, and fertilisers. InnoEnergy was established in 2010 by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, as one of its first Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC). In 2025, the EIT and InnoEnergy entered into a new partnership, continuing their collaboration on specific projects.
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In Deutschland leben ĂŒber 60 Prozent der Bevölkerung in MehrfamilienhĂ€usern, so viele wie in kaum einem anderen EU-Land. Rund 3,3 Millionen MehrfamilienhĂ€user gibt es hierzulande. Gleichzeitig entfĂ€llt rund ein Viertel des gesamten Endenergieverbrauchs in Deutschland auf private Haushalte, 2022 waren es etwa 630 TWh. Das Potenzial von MehrfamilienhĂ€usern und ihren Bewohnern, einen entscheidenden Beitrag zum Gelingen der Energiewende zu leisten, ist groĂ. Wie lĂ€sst sich dieses Potenzial nutzen?
DarĂŒber sprechen wir mit Axel Hoffmann, Marktmanager bei der Haager Vertriebsgesellschaft.
Ăber Axel Hoffmann
Axel Hoffmann ist seit 2018 Marktmanager bei der Hager Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG in Blieskastel. Nach dem Wirtschaftsingenieurstudium an der HTW Saar schloss er 2022 den Masterstudiengang Energiemanagement an der UniversitĂ€t Koblenz-Landau ab. Bei Hager ist er Ansprechpartner fĂŒr Netzbetreiber und Experte fĂŒr Mieterstrom, Wandleranlagen und die Stromversorgung im AuĂenbereich. Zudem ist er aktiv an Forschungsprojekten zur Umsetzung von § 14a sowie an Smart-Grid-Anwendungen beteiligt.
Ăber Hager
Als inhabergefĂŒhrtes Familienunternehmen begleitet Hager Projekte vom Schalterkonzept ĂŒber Energiemanagement- und Raumanschlusssysteme sowie Smart-Home-Lösungen bis hin zur TĂŒrkommunikation. Die Unternehmensgeschichte von Hager begann vor 70 Jahren mit innovativen SchaltschrĂ€nken, die heute immer mehr zu Herz und Hirn von GebĂ€uden avancieren. Hager denkt Energieverbrauch und -produktion ganzheitlich und bietet sĂ€mtliche Komponenten, die es dafĂŒr braucht.
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Today, we're examining a region that's rarely in the spotlight in the international energy debate, yet has enormous potential: Central Asia. Specifically five countries characterised by a long tradition of fossil fuels, but also by an abundance of sun, wind, and water: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Are these countries already tapping into their potential for a sustainable energy future? Weâll get up to speed in regards to their political strategies and investment programs driving the transformation. What are the biggest hurdles in terms of regulation, financing, and infrastructure? How important are international partnerships in making this region a key player in the global energy transition? We talk about this with Elena Metzger.
About Elena Metzger
Elena Metzger leads the German Energy Dialogues with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE). She has been the driving force to shape the Energy Dialogues into a key platform for political and technical exchange on energy efficiency, industrial decarbonization, renewable energies, and green hydrogen.
She is also team leader for Central Asia, TĂŒrkiye, and the South Caucasus in the International Cooperation Department at the German Energy Agency (dena).
About the bilateral Energy Partnership Central AsiaWith regard to cooperating in the field of energy policy, achieving international climate goals and making climate neutrality a reality by 2045, the German Governmentâs bilateral Energy Partnerships (EPs) have become one of its most important international energy and climate policy instruments. The growing network strengthens political dialogue on climate protection and energy system transformation between Germany and partner countries worldwide. The declared aim of this cooperation is to shape a successful global energy transition that combines security of supply, decarbonisation of industry and foreign trade promotion with effective climate protection.
Today's episode is supported by WeidmĂŒller, a specialist in electrification, automation, digitalisation, electrical connectivity and renewable energies. The family-owned company celebrates its 175th anniversary this year and is a true solar pioneer, boasting over 20 years of experience in PV.
With more than 80 locations worldwide, WeidmĂŒller markets combiner boxes, communication infrastructure and installation accessories for utility-scale and rooftop systems. -
Betreiber von Solaranlagen kommen kĂŒnftig kaum an PV-Heimspeichern vorbei. GrĂŒnde sind das Auslaufen der EEG-Förderung, das neue Solarspitzengesetz und variable Stromtarife. Damit sich PV-Anlagen weiterhin rechnen, muss der Solarstrom zwischengespeichert werden. Dabei werden zumeist traditionell DC-Speicher und Wechselrichter verbaut. SAX Power bietet dazu eine Alternative: Einen AC-Stromspeicher, der direkt 230 Volt Wechselstrom liefert, ohne den sonst ĂŒblichen Hybridwechselrichter.
Ăber diese Innovation unterhalten wir uns mit Marc Gretzinger, leitender Elektronikentwickler bei SAX Power.
Ăber Marc Gretzinger
Marc Gretzinger hat sich schon wÀhrend seines Elektrotechnikstudiums intensiv mit der Auslegung und dem Aufbau von PV-Anlagen beschÀftigt und ist mittlerweile als leitender Elektronikentwickler bei SAX-Power tÀtig.
Ăber Sax Power
Die AnfĂ€nge des Unternehmens liegen in Ulm. Als langjĂ€hriger Partner der Deutschen Bahn hat die Firma SAX vor ĂŒber 25 Jahren als einziger Lieferant die Entwicklung und Produktion der Regeleinrichtungen fĂŒr Umrichterwerke im deutschen Bahnstromnetz ĂŒbernommen. Das Unternehmen hat die Erfahrung aus den Bahnstromumrichtern genutzt, um die SAX-Technologie fĂŒr Lithium-Ionen-Batteriespeicher entwickelt.
SAX Power hat den weltweit ersten Heimspeicher erschaffen, der direkt 230 Volt Wechselstrom liefert. Seine intelligente Multi-Level-Technologie wandelt die Gleichspannung der Lithium-Eisenphosphat-Batteriezellen im Speicher direkt in Wechselspannung um. So entfÀllt die aufwendige Installation eines Hybrid-Wechselrichters, der bei allen bisherigen Heimspeichern zwischen Batterie und Hausstromnetz notwendig ist.
- Visa fler
