The development of alternative energy – in particular, alternative sources of electricity production – has gained momentum in recent decades, notably following the oil crises that hit the European Union in the 1970s and early 1980s. 
This momentum has only accelerated with the climate crisis and, in Europe, with Ursula von der Leyen’s Green Deal – not to mention the latest geopolitical developments, 
This is great on paper, of course, but how does it look in practice? Our Europe-wide team of journalists speak to experts and stakeholders across the Union.

Roumen Petrov, Bulgarian Solar Association, Interview By Bulgarian National Radio

https://www.premiumbeat.com

Robert Habeck, German vice-chancellor, clip by Sina Wollgramm, ams

Rein Vaks, Estonian Ministry Of Climate, Interview By Mart Valner, Kuku Raadio 2

Rein Vaks, Estonian Ministry Of Climate, Interview By Mart Valner, Kuku Raadio 1

Nina Hojnik, Slovenian Photovoltaic Association, Interview By Mateja Arnuš, RTV Slovenia

Michele Benvenuti, Manager Of RAEE, A Treatment Plant, Interview By Giulia Cannizzaro, Radio 24 2

Michele Benvenuti, Manager Of RAEE, A Treatment Plant, Interview By Giulia Cannizzaro, Radio 24 1

Cosmin Cârstoiu, Solar Panel Factory, Interview By Mirabela Afronie, Radio România

Agrivoltaics is a set of practices that allow photovoltaic energy production and agricultural production to coexist on the same land, at the same time. In the current context of fluctuating energy bills, the solutions proposed by the solar power industry are beginning to gain more traction in Europe’s agriculture sector.

But there’s much still that’s unclear – and this appears to be cause for hesitation. What impact do solar panels have on yields? Are photovoltaic solutions adapted to all types of culture and breeding? How should we supervise this nascent, but promising, sector so that farming does not become sacrified on the altar of solar power?

The 37th epsiode of Food for Europe travels to France, an agrivoltaics pionneer, to meet Benoît Bougler, a farmer from Picardy who hosts one of the first solar panel installations above a cereal crop. 

Cédric Cogniez, head of agricultural partnerships for one of France's leading solar energy producers, TSE, takes stock of agrivoltaics in France. Lina Dubina, sustainability policy advisor at Solar Power Europe, the trade association for the European photovoltaic industry, discusses efforts at European level to promote the deployment of agrivoltaic solutions. Finally, Antanas, Karbauskas, policy coordinator for economic sustainability for the Common Agricultural Policy at the European Commission's DG AGRI, discusses the possibilities for agrivoltaics in the current European regulatory framework and the potential of solar energy in agriculture.

37. #Agrivoltaics: a promising alliance between solar power and farming

Trina Solar US, the domestic arm of the global PV module manufacturer, is ramping up production in the United States. On this episode of Solar Spotlight, Adam Macaluso, national accounts manager for US channel business at Trina Solar, shares an update on Trina’s U.S. manufacturing footprint, as well as the company’s near future plans.

Solar Spotlight: Playing the long game in domestic solar panel manufacturing

On this episode of Solar Spotlight, Benjamin Heitmann, marketing manager, and Madeline Acri, applications engineer with Sungrow North America discuss the company’s history of manufacturing solar inverter technologies and dive into some of the specific features of string inverters. 


Solar Spotlight: An introduction to string sizing optimization with Sungrow

James Mason, VP of renewable energy for ABC Supply, a national roofing and solar product supplier, talks global and domestic factors impacting solar industry’s growth, insights on federal and state incentives, unique challenges in commercial and industrial solar installations and more.

Solar Spotlight: Navigating supply chain bottlenecks in the commercial PV market

The Trump Administration has reversed Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives that have bolstered solar’s domestic manufacturing and installation footprints. While they technically are still active, these credits are operating with a shorter runway. On this episode of Solar Spotlight, Liz Reicherts, global head of government affairs, and Kleber Facchini, Director of CC&I Products & Applications at SolarEdge, discuss the state of domestic solar subsidies and how to use them while they’re still intact. Additionally, SolarEdge has partnered with solar mounting company Enstall and its subsidiaries, IronRidge and Panelclaw, to help PV contractors qualify for domestic content incentives. 

Solar Spotlight: Building a domestic content strategy

The U.S. solar industry is constantly remaking itself to adapt to market demands, and so too are the manufacturers producing these renewable technologies. Following that notion, Jinko, a prominent PV module company, recently expanded its manufacturing operations to include battery energy storage systems. With the two complementary technologies under one umbrella, Jinko is supplying the utility and C&I segments with 24-hour energy from a single source. 

On this episode of Solar Spotlight by Solar Power World, Adam Detrick, director of product management and technical services at Jinko, discusses the company's strategic expansion into energy storage and how it's ensuring solar + storage projects deliver reliable, long-term performance. He also highlights Jinko's focus on providing safe, smooth and secure energy storage solutions through its comprehensive pre-integration services, robust long-term service agreements (LTSAs) and strong commitment to cybersecurity, giving customers confidence in the durability, reliability and security of their systems.


Solar Spotlight: Safe, smooth and secure energy storage

Contractor's Corner is part of the Solar Power World network of podcasts. Solar Power World is the premier media outlet for the U.S. solar market and has the largest solar installer, contractor and developer audience in the industry.  In this podcast series, Solar Power World editors talk with the U.S. solar industry’s biggest newsmakers.

EURANET PLUS NETWORK:
UNDERSTANDING EUROPE BETTER

Euranet Plus is composed of 15 leading public and private broadcasters within the European Union reaching more than 15 million listeners in a daily cumulated reach.

Producing and broadcasting in 15 official EU languages, Euranet Plus broadcasts EU related content through its international, national and regional radios in 15 EU states of the European Union.

Have you ever wondered how food in Europe is produced or where it comes from? ‘Food for Europe’ brings you stories, analysis, and in-depth interviews on agriculture, rural development, and the developments that are transforming the way we shop, eat and cultivate our precious, scattered farmland. 

Brought to you by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, the podcast will shed light on the most important European policies for food and agriculture and discuss the ambitions to become a greener and more sustainable Europe.
© European Union, 2021

New tracks tagged #photovoltaics