European Solar Industry: PV Hybrid Systems and New Financing Models in Focus at Intersolar Europe 2026

Munich/Pforzheim (Germany) - 2025 was a strong year for the PV sector in the EU. This is also confirmed by the latest European Market Outlook from SolarPower Europe. At the same time, new financing models and hybrid plant concepts are reshaping the investment landscape. At Intersolar Europe 2026, the industry will discuss current trends and present practical solutions for project developers and investors.

In terms of annual solar capacity additions in the European Union, Germany currently leads, followed by Spain, France, Italy, and Poland. Solar power is playing an increasingly important role in Europe’s energy supply. At the same time, support schemes and financing models are changing in many European countries, presenting investors with new challenges. While regulatory instruments such as Contracts for Difference (CfD) are redefining the framework, the industry is responding with market-based solutions such as PV hybrid power plants and hybrid Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). These technologies and financing approaches will be presented and discussed at Intersolar Europe, taking place in Munich from June 23 to 25, 2026.

Hybrid Power Plants as a Growth Driver of the Energy Transition

Hybrid power plants combining photovoltaics, wind energy, and battery storage are increasingly becoming a focus of the European solar industry. This combination enables new business models, such as energy arbitrage, where electricity is stored when prices are low and sold when prices are high. Often, a mix of different approaches (“multi-use”) is applied to operate the plants in the most economically efficient way.

Hybrid power plants improve system stability, enable new business models, and strengthen the economic viability of projects under changing market and support conditions. In the United Kingdom, the share of such hybrid installations is already high, supported by targeted incentive instruments and efficient permitting procedures.

Prices for stationary storage systems are also continuing to fall: according to BloombergNEF, they dropped to USD 70 per kilowatt-hour in 2025. The drivers include overcapacity in cell manufacturing, intense competition among Chinese manufacturers, and the increasing use of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. In hybrid systems combined with PV installations, these storage solutions can make a decisive contribution to the European and global energy transition. They enhance system stability, enable new business models, and improve project economics under evolving market and regulatory conditions.

New Financing Models and CfD Mechanisms

In addition to technological developments, the financial framework for investors is also changing. Many EU countries are replacing traditional feed-in tariffs with Contracts for Difference (CfD). These are designed to secure stable revenues for project developers, stabilize electricity prices for consumers, and enable the clawback of excess profits. A system change is also being pursued in Germany.

International Exchange at Intersolar Europe

PV hybrid power plants and new financing models will be at the heart of Intersolar Europe 2026. The Intersolar Europe Conference will kick off on June 22 with high-level experts and strategic discussions. From June 23 to 25, the topics will be discussed in practical detail at the Intersolar Forum in the exhibition halls, while exhibitors will present concrete solutions on site. The event is organized by Solar Promotion GmbH and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM). Around 2,800 exhibitors and more than 100,000 visitors from around the world are expected.

Source: IWR Online, 27 Feb 2026