Solar & Storage Live returned to Birmingham this year, bringing together the UK’s most influential clean energy players.
Power Electronics, the global leader in energy storage inverter manufacturing and the leading manufacturer of solar inverters for photovoltaic plants across Europe, Oceania, and America, has been supporting the UK renewable energy sector for more than 15 years.
With 37 years of experience and operations in 36 countries, the Spanish multinational has delivered over 3,000 solar and storage projects worldwide.
We sat down with Luigi Bariani, Business Development Manager for Solar and Storage at Power Electronics, to discuss the company’s role in shaping the utility-scale market, its latest technology launches, and why the UK remains a key hub for renewable energy innovation.
What is Power Electronics’ role in the industry?
Luigi: Power Electronics is the global leader in utility-scale solutions, specialising in energy storage inverters (Power Conversion Systems, or PCS) and solar photovoltaic inverters, which are essential for large-scale renewable energy projects. We actually started in the UK 15 years ago – it was the first country in Europe where we installed our equipment.
Now, we have about 6 GW of capacity installed across the UK, and we’re looking forward to showcasing our new products here at Solar & Storage Live in Birmingham, which is the best exhibition in the UK.
In particular, our PCSM storage inverters are already equipped with advanced grid-forming functionalities, a feature that enables greater system stability and flexibility—widely regarded as the key technological trend in the UK market today.
What new products are you launching at Solar & Storage Live UK?
Luigi: Our PCSM and HEM solutions share the same structure and platform. We’ve enhanced our current range and will introduce the new Generation 3 Plus models at the end of next year.
These systems integrate either a solar PV inverter (which converts direct current from solar panels into alternating current for the grid) or a battery storage inverter, together with medium-voltage equipment, all housed within the same enclosure.
This creates a highly competitive and compact turnkey solution: the input is direct current (DC) and the output is medium voltage, making it ideal even for projects with restricted layouts.
Why is the UK market important to companies like Power Electronics?
Luigi: The UK market has always been a driver of technological innovation in Europe – and globally, alongside markets such as Australia. This leadership is largely due to the functionalities required by the grid to provide ancillary services, such as fast frequency response and grid-forming capabilities.
That’s why these features are embedded by default in our solutions– Over the past 15 years, we’ve built extensive experience in the UK market.
What is Power Electronics’ strong point in the UK?
Luigi: Our strongest asset in the UK is definitely our service presence. We have about 60 field service engineers located across the country. Although our main service hub is in Milton Keynes, our service team is deployed nationwide, supporting around 6 GW of installed capacity.
This makes us, I would say, the leading technical service provider in the country. On top of that, we’re also supplying equipment for some of the largest projects under construction in Scotland – so you’ll be hearing from us very soon.
Why is Power Electronics a returning international exhibitor at Solar & Storage Live events?
Luigi: This is the main show in the UK – it’s the benchmark. You find a bit of everything here: utility-scale, which is our bread and butter, as well as commercial & industrial and residential segments.
All the major players are here, as always, so we’re very happy to be back and already keen to return next year. Beyond showcasing technology, the event is also about relationships – partners, clients, and even friends stop by to connect, because everyone in the industry is here during these days.
Missed out on Solar & Storage Live UK? Get your free ticket to Solar & Storage Live London – the capital’s most exciting solar event. Or, find a Solar & Storage Live event near you.
