The smarter E Podcast

After a prolonged period of rock-bottom prices and manufacturing oversupply, solar PV pricing is starting to shift – and the implications could ripple across the global industry in 2026.

In this episode of The smarter E podcast, host Jonathan Gifford digs into what’s 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 China’s VAT rebate changes, they unpack how upstream pressures are feeding through to cells, modules, and manufacturer margins – 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.

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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 – and what’s 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 Europe’s energy markets.

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Home may be where the heart is – but it’s 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 – 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 – and a bit of friendly competition – can drive major energy reductions and bring teams together.

If you’d like to learn more about the CUBE Competition, you can reach out to Mark directly at [email protected].

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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 – 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.

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Where China goes, so goes the global energy transition. With its dominance across solar and energy storage supply chains, China’s 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 – and what to expect from China’s renewable energy industry through the end of the decade.

Follow The smarter E podcast for more global insights into the clean energy transition – and don’t forget to rate and review if you enjoy the show!