Open Energy Systems and Increased Flexibility – Trends from Intersolar Europe 2026

3 July 2026

What does the next phase of the energy transition look like? One way to find out is by visiting Intersolar Europe – the world's largest exhibition for the solar industry and energy systems. This year's event brought together around 2,800 exhibitors and more than 100,000 visitors from around the world in Munich, making it an important barometer of developments across the energy sector.

When Glava Energy Center visited this year's exhibition, one thing was clear: innovation continues at a rapid pace. At the same time, the focus is shifting away from individual products and towards how different technologies can work together in open, flexible and resilient energy systems.

This year's exhibition also took place at a time when energy is increasingly linked to competitiveness, energy security and geopolitics. These themes were reflected in many of the solutions presented throughout the exhibition.

Representing Glava Energy Center in Munich were Project Managers David Olsson and Oliver Ingwall King. Here, they summarise five key trends from this year's Intersolar Europe.

1. Open energy systems are becoming the new standard

One of the clearest trends is the shift towards more open and integrated energy systems. More and more suppliers are offering solutions where solar PV, battery storage, EV charging infrastructure and heat pumps can work together—even when supplied by different manufacturers.

Interoperability has evolved from being a competitive advantage to becoming an expected feature, giving customers greater freedom to build flexible energy systems.

2. Flexibility is becoming a key issue – but standards are still evolving

Flexibility was a recurring theme throughout this year's exhibition and conference programme. The ability to control and optimise energy use is becoming increasingly important as more distributed energy resources are connected.

At the same time, common standards are still under development. OpenADR is emerging as a promising solution, including for the Swedish market, but has not yet achieved widespread adoption. Progress is currently being driven primarily in countries where flexibility markets are more mature.

3. Solar panels are being designed for longer lifespans

Solar panel development is no longer focused solely on higher efficiency. Several manufacturers showcased panels offering higher power density, longer product warranties and lower degradation over time.

The trend highlights how long-term performance and lifecycle costs are becoming increasingly important when evaluating investments in solar energy.

4. V2X is moving towards broader market adoption

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and other Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) solutions had a much stronger presence at this year's exhibition. More manufacturers now offer inverters, chargers and energy management systems prepared for bidirectional charging.

Although regulations and business models are still evolving, the growing range of products indicates that the market is beginning to mature. Electric vehicles are increasingly viewed as valuable energy assets—not just as a means of transportation.

5. More players are entering the hydrogen storage market

Small-scale hydrogen storage systems for seasonal storage of surplus solar electricity are not new, and similar solutions have been showcased before. What distinguished this year's Intersolar was the growing number of suppliers presenting their own systems.

As more companies enter the market, competition is increasing, which is expected to reduce costs over time and make the technology accessible for a wider range of applications.

The energy systems of the future are built through collaboration

This year's Intersolar Europe demonstrates that the energy transition continues to accelerate. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly clear that the energy systems of the future will not be defined by individual technologies, but by how different solutions work together.

Open platforms, greater flexibility, V2X solutions and new energy storage technologies all point towards a future where the real value lies not in individual components, but in how they interact to create resilient, flexible and efficient energy systems.

Trends reflected in our projects
This year's Intersolar confirms many of the areas that Glava Energy Center is already addressing through its projects and collaborations:
Elflexibel Industri – developing smart electricity use, flexibility and collaboration between industry and the energy system.
GränsEnergi – exploring energy communities, local energy sharing and cross-border collaboration between Sweden and Norway.
LOKEN – Local Energy Leadership in Värmland – strengthening strategic energy planning and local energy leadership in municipalities across Värmland.
We invite you to explore more of our projects and collaborations aimed at creating a smarter and more sustainable energy system.