MILAN, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungrow, a globally leading PV inverter and energy storage system provider, brought together industry partners, installers and C&I energy experts at the iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza for its first Italian Power Connect Day. The Monza event marked the grand finale of Sungrow's regional roadshow initiative, concluding a 16-stop European tour that brought together more than 600 participants across key markets. Designed to engage and empower the local community, the executive gathering highlighted the growing role of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in helping Italian businesses improve energy flexibility, optimize self-consumption, and adapt to an increasingly decentralized energy market.

PV and energy storage: growth reshaping Italy's energy system

The pace of Italy's energy transition is reflected in the latest market figures. According to the latest data from ANIE Rinnovabili, Italyinstalled2.61 GW of new solar capacity in the first half of 2026, bringing total installed PV capacity to 46.8 GW. Over the same period, electrochemical energy storage capacity approached 12 GWh. Solar generation is also accounting for a growing share of the country's renewable electricity mix. In August alone, PV generated 6.15 TWh, representing 51.4% of Italy's electricity generation from renewable sources, according to Terna's monthly report.

"Italy is at a pivotal stage in its energy transition. The rapid growth of photovoltaic generation is creating new opportunities for businesses, while also increasing the need for greater flexibility in how energy is produced, consumed, stored, and managed. More and more customers are viewing storage not as an add-on to PV systems, but as a central component of their broader energy management strategy. The ability to store renewable energy and use it when it delivers the greatest value helps businesses maximize self-consumption while strengthening energy resilience. Events such as Power Connect Day provide an important platform to exchange experiences with partners, better understand market needs, and demonstrate how solar, storage and intelligent energy management can create tangible business value," said Massimo Bracchi, Country Manager at Sungrow Italy.

From technology to real-world applications

During the business sessions, Sungrow showcased its energy storage portfolio and explored how different technologies can address the evolving requirements of C&I and utility-scale applications.

• PowerTitan series for utility-scale applications

Technical sessions explored the role of the Power Titan Series in providing flexibility, efficient energy management, and advanced grid support for utility-scale applications. Engineered for high safety and rapid deployment in large-scale energy storage projects, the platform features a pre-assembled integrated design, liquid cooling, and high energy density to support the integration of renewable energy and enhance power system stability.

• PowerStack for C&I application

For the C&I segment, Sungrow presented the PowerStack Series and its application in Dragone Energy's Renewable Energy Community (CER) project, demonstrating how Sungrow's PowerStack ST225 and ST455 systems, combined with SGCX inverters, can support efficient energy sharing and management within local energy communities.

"Solar Valley was founded with the goal of transforming energy sharing into a tangible opportunity for businesses, citizens, and local communities, by bringing together producers and consumers within CER configurations and maximizing the value of the renewable energy generated by its members' facilities," commented Antonio Prunotto, CEO of Dragone Energy. "A concrete example is the primary substation in Villanova d'Asti, which serves as a hub for several of its members' facilities. Among these is a 764 kW Dragone Energy plant, paired with a 3,200-kWh storage system, which allows energy produced during the day to be stored and made available for sharing even in the evening and at night. We selected Sungrow solutions for their reliability, technological innovation, and ability to effectively integrate photovoltaic generation with storage systems."

• PowerKeeper Series applied to ESPE success story

Based on the 'Ace 007, Ace Profit' concept, the PowerKeeper series features a modular 12.5 kWh design for flexible energy storage. A single hybrid inverter supports capacities from 50 to 1,000 kWh with a duration of 2 to 8 hours, while multiple inverters can be parallel-connected for limitless expansion.

Sungrow, together with ESPE, presented how the PowerKeeper Series is being deployed in a 4.15 MWp PV and 4.60 MWh BESS project along the A4 motorway, demonstrating how tailored energy storage solutions help C&I customers reduce costs, adapt to decentralized energy systems and strengthen long-term operational resilience.

"This project represents a significant achievement for ESPE, as the selection process placed strong emphasis on technical quality, which accounted for approximately 90% of the overall evaluation score," said Enrico Meneghetti, President and Chief Executive Officer of ESPE. "Our collaboration with Sungrow has been an important part of this project. Their expertise in energy storage and their advanced technology complement our engineering and project execution capabilities, enabling us to deliver a solution tailored to the specific requirements of this application."

Beyond the business sessions, participants also had the opportunity to experience the history and heritage of Monza first-hand, with an exclusive GT driving experience and guided tour of the legendary circuit.

Power Connect Day highlighted Sungrow's commitment to supporting its Italian partners as the country's renewable energy market continues to evolve. As solar deployment accelerates and flexibility becomes increasingly important, energy storage is emerging as a critical enabler of a more resilient, efficient and decentralized energy system.

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Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier hat den Festakt zum Tag der Deutschen Einheit in Bremen für eine eindringliche Warnung vor der Gefährdung der Demokratie genutzt. In seiner voraussichtlich letzten großen Rede zu diesem Anlass sprach er von einer angefochtenen demokratischen Ordnung und mahnte, radikale Kräfte entschieden abzuwehren. Angesichts wachsender Erfolge populistischer und extremistischer Parteien sieht Steinmeier nicht nur Freiheit und Demokratie, sondern auch die innere Einheit des Landes unter Druck.

Steinmeier verwies darauf, dass inzwischen „ein Viertel und mehr“ der Wähler mit ihrer Entscheidung deutlich machten, dass sie sich von wichtigen Grundentscheidungen der Bundesrepublik abwenden. Diese Entwicklung werde begleitet von „unerträglicher politischer Demagogie“, in der Menschen verhöhnt und bedroht würden. Die Diskreditierung demokratischer Verfahren, die Radikalisierung der Öffentlichkeit und die Diffamierung des Kompromisses seien Warnsignale, die man nicht ignorieren dürfe. Populistische Parteien aller Couleur destabilisierten die parlamentarische Demokratie, sagte er.

Deutliche Kritik übte der Bundespräsident an der Rolle der sozialen Medien. Eine „Flut der Manipulationen und der Lügen“ trage zur „schrillen Emotionalisierung“ des politischen Diskurses bei und befeuere extremistische Tendenzen. Steinmeier forderte, die demokratische Streitkultur zu verteidigen und den Kompromiss wieder als Stärke zu begreifen. Ob die Demokratie in Deutschland einer Entwicklung ähnlich der Weimarer Republik entgegengehe, sei nicht entschieden – man habe es „in der Hand“.

Zugleich erinnerte Steinmeier an die historischen Grundlagen des Feiertags. Vor 36 Jahren sei mit der deutschen Wiedervereinigung eine „tiefe Wunde“ geheilt worden, die das Land zuvor über Jahrzehnte in einem „unnatürlichen Zustand der inneren Spaltung“ gehalten habe. Der Tag der Deutschen Einheit sei Anlass, die erste friedliche Revolution für Freiheit und Demokratie in Deutschland und ihre Protagonisten im Gedächtnis zu behalten. Die Errungenschaften der Einheit dürften von aktuellen Krisen nicht überdeckt werden, mahnte Steinmeier, und rief die Bürger dazu auf, sich aktiv für die liberale Demokratie einzusetzen. Er zeigte sich überzeugt, dass diese den aktuellen Belastungen standhalten könne: „Wir sind so viel stärker, als wir glauben.“