An investment for a place in the sun

Never has a place in the sun been more sought after than today – both private households and companies are pointing their photovoltaic systems at the sky in order to capture as much renewable energy as possible. Because after a while, your own wallet will be happy – and nature, too. Or to put it more prosaically: There’s a good reason for the use of solar energy remaining on a record course. The cable and tube industry therefore has a lot on their plate.

The atmosphere is all sunshine and light: Globally, 447 GW of new solar capacity was connected to the grid in 2023. This industry therefore reported an exceptional growth rate of 87% for that year, with solar capacity breaking all previous records, according to “Solar Power Europe”. Solar energy thus once again dominates newly-added global electricity generation capacities, “Solar Power Europe” reports in its “Global Market Outlook for Solar Energy 2024–2028”.

Pioneers of the global energy transition 
Solar energy in comparison: Its share of all new renewable energy capacity also increased significantly, by 12 percentage points compared to 66 percent in 2022 and by 22 percentage points compared to 56 percent in 2021. “This new record confirms the role of solar energy as an established pioneer of the global energy transition which still continues to grow, with more than three times more capacity installed than all other renewable technologies combined,” Solar Power Europe sums it all up.

Both citizens and companies join in, supporting the ramping up of solar energy use by installing PV systems. By now, it is normal to have your own solar system. In addition to small balcony power plants, photovoltaics also contribute to the energy transition in larger open spaces and on rooftops.

China is breaking all records 
Geographically, the largest share of global market expansion can be attributed to China. China, for years the world's largest supplier and market for solar products already, has broken all previous records by adding 253 GW of new solar PV capacity in 2023, representing a growth rate of 167%, according to Solar Power Europe.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world “only” installed 194 GW of new solar PVs; a 35% increase on the 144 GW installed in 2022. After all, the USA recorded a growth rate of 48% in 2023 with 32.4 GW of photovoltaics connected to the grid, according to Solar Power Europe. Germany installed 15 GW in 2023 – marking a new record for a European country.

Transforming into a solar powerhouse 
But not before long, there could also be a new “solar superstar”. According to Benjamin Clarke, Global Markets Manager at Solar Power Europe, Oman is “well on its way” there. The country is said to be on the right track to move away from fossil fuels and to have a unique opportunity to show the world “how to manage the transition from an oil and gas world power to a solar one”.

The solar industry is therefore a gigantic market of the future – something the cable industry also benefits from, since 80% of all global investments in clean technologies in 2023 went into photovoltaics and batteries. According to the “Energy Technology Perspectives 2024” of the International Energy Agency (IEA), global investment into manufacturing in the five main supply chain sectors for clean technologies – solar PV, wind, electric vehicles (including batteries), electrolysers and heat pumps – increased by 50% to $235 billion in 2023, up from $160 billion in 2022.

Exposed to adverse weather conditions 
However, without essential solar cables to connect solar modules to inverters and other system components, the solar industry cannot grow. It also depends on the right size, because the diameter of solar cables differs with varying consumption levels of the systems. With larger cross-section cables, more electricity is transferred. With thin cables, dangerous overheating can occur.

Different types of cables are required. Therefore, the portfolio of “Helukabel” – a manufacturer of conduits and cables – ranges from direct current string cabling for connecting solar panels to low, medium and high voltage cables to connect and provide power to fibre optic and data cables for networks and communication. In addition, this company offers integrated cable management systems consisting of connectors, plugs, pipes, screw connections, housings and tools.

Solar cables however are exposed to considerable adverse weather conditions. Therefore, Helukabel uses special sheath and insulating materials that are “not only flame-retardant and halogen-free, but also resistant to ozone, UV, acids and alkalis, hydrolysis and ammonia”. 

Investments in extensions 
Battery storage systems are commonly used to store energy. “They can absorb the energy generated in a photovoltaic system during the day and provide it for use at night when the sun is not shining. In this way, users can optimize the efficiency of their plant, increase their self-consumption rate, minimize load peaks and further reduce their dependence on fossil fuels,” Helukabel explains. Of course, battery storage also requires power and data lines.

In order to meet market requirements, the cable industry is evolving. The Lapp Group for example is investing a sum in the high double-digit million range into the comprehensive expansion and modernisation of their logistics centre at Ludwigsburg, Germany. On the one hand, new halls will be built on their existing site; “on the other hand, the entire layout will be streamlined from scratch, and the degree of automation significantly increased,” explains Lapp. Construction work is to be completed in 2026.

Growth through balcony systems and major projects  
Holosolis is also investing and – according to the company – will build Europe's largest photovoltaic module factory at Hambach in eastern France. A state-of-the-art 5 GWp factory is being built, which will commence production in 2025. Holosolis will produce 10 million PV modules per year, equivalent to the energy needs of 1 million households.

An investment that could also pay off with a view to major projects: The second largest photovoltaic power plant in the world for instance has now been built in China. CHN Energy invested the equivalent of almost 1.6 billion Euros into a 3-gigawatt plant, which is expected to generate 5.7 terawatt hours per year. It is large-scale projects such as these, but also smaller “balcony projects” which are likely to help solar energy grow further in the future – and the cable industry with it.

Trends and highlights from the industrial sectors of wires, cables, tubes and pipes will be presented at the world's leading trade fairs wire & Tube from 13 to 17 April 2026 in Düsseldorf. Current industry and product information can be found on the Internet portal at www.wire-tradefair.com and www.tube-tradefair.com and on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/wire-and-tube-leading-international-trade-fairs/.