Trend spotting from Intersolar 2025
Intersolar Europe, held every year in Munich, took place this year from May 7–9. With 1,450 exhibitors and around 100,000 visitors, it is one of the world’s biggest trade fairs in this field. The event shows the latest innovations in solar energy and energy storage.
David Olsson, sub-project manager for LOKEN, visited the fair to find out about the most interesting news and trends in the industry. Here's his report:
Components “talk” more with each other
Many companies have developed smart energy management systems that can communicate with many different parts of an energy system. It’s no longer just about measuring electricity use or production – it’s about actively controlling and optimizing the energy flow in real time.
These systems can connect with inverters from both solar panels and batteries, as well as EV chargers, heat pumps, and other devices that use or produce electricity. This makes energy use more efficient, increases self-sufficiency, and lowers costs through smart control.
Communication between the components happens either through physical connections like RS485/MODBUS, or wirelessly via the internet, often using cloud-based platforms. This gives users – both individuals and companies – a full overview of their energy systems and helps them make smarter decisions.
More car brands ready for V2G
In the field of electric car charging, more and more car brands and models are becoming ready for V2G – Vehicle-to-Grid. This means that electric cars don’t just charge from the grid, but can also send electricity back to the grid when needed.
The trend is expected to grow, but many countries are still facing challenges related to rules, warranties, and standardization. Denmark is one of the countries furthest ahead and already allows V2G to some extent. The UK has invested over 300 million SEK in 20 different V2G projects and is now working hard to develop standards. Several other countries are starting pilots or preparing to do so.
Thermal drone technology improves solar maintenance
There is growing focus on monitoring and troubleshooting solar systems to make sure they perform at their best. At the fair, companies showed how drones with thermal cameras can quickly find problems in solar panels.
By flying over solar installations and collecting heat data, the system can automatically detect “hotspots” – signs of overheating, shading, or faulty cells.
This kind of automated check saves time, reduces downtime, and helps solar systems last longer – especially useful in large solar parks where manual inspections are slow and expensive.
Hydrogen to store solar energy
More companies are now offering hydrogen solutions. Some of the world’s biggest manufacturers of solar panels and inverters are starting to invest in hydrogen as a way to store solar energy.
We will likely see more complete systems from these companies in the future. This could help lower the production cost of electrolyzers – the machines that make hydrogen – and lead to cheaper energy storage over time.
Caption: The photos from the exhibition held on May 7–9, 2025, are from Intersolar Europe, © Solar Promotion.