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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Beim Winterthurer Textilmaschinenhersteller Rieter kommt es zu einem abrupten Führungswechsel. CEO und Verwaltungsratspräsident Thomas Oetterli gibt beide Ämter per Ende Oktober ab. An die Spitze der Geschäftsführung rückt Anfang November der Branchenkenner Daniel Lippuner, während Carl Illi mit sofortiger Wirkung das Präsidium des Verwaltungsrats übernimmt. Rieter begründet den Schritt damit, dass nach der Umsetzung zentraler strategischer Projekte nun der Zeitpunkt gekommen sei, die Verantwortung in neue Hände zu legen.

Lippuner gilt als ausgewiesener Experte für Spinnmaschinen, Garnverarbeitung und Textilkomponenten. Er leitete früher den Textilmaschinenhersteller Saurer und zuvor den Bereich Oerlikon Textile Components. Zudem ist er Verwaltungsratspräsident und Miteigentümer von Heberlein Technology und damit weiterhin eng in der Chemiefaserindustrie verankert. Illi gehört dem Rieter-Verwaltungsrat seit 2017 an und wird vom Unternehmen ebenfalls als Textilexperte charakterisiert. Er soll das Präsidium mindestens bis zur nächsten Generalversammlung führen.

Oetterli, Jahrgang 1969 und früher Chef des Lift- und Rolltreppenherstellers Schindler, war im März 2023 zu Rieter geholt worden, um den bereits damals kriselnden Maschinenbauer zu stabilisieren. Noch im selben Jahr lancierte er das Performance-Programm «Next Level», das ein massives Kostensenkungs- und Restrukturierungspaket umfasst. Der Plan sah unter anderem vor, bis 2025 rund 1400 Vollzeitstellen vorwiegend in Deutschland, der Schweiz und weiteren europäischen Ländern abzubauen und Standorte zu konsolidieren. Parallel dazu übernahm Rieter im Februar die Textilmaschinensparte Barmag von OC Oerlikon, was mit einem deutlichen Anstieg der Verschuldung einherging.

Trotz dieser einschneidenden Massnahmen blieb die erhoffte Trendwende aus. Die Amtszeit Oetterlis war von einem ausserordentlich schwachen Marktumfeld mit anhaltender Nachfrageschwäche geprägt. 2024 hatte er zusätzlich das Präsidium des Verwaltungsrats übernommen – ein Doppelmandat, das den Aktionären ursprünglich als Übergangslösung zur konsequenten Umsetzung von «Next Level» verkauft worden war. Grösster Anteilseigner bei Rieter ist der Schweizer Industrielle Peter Spuhler mit einem Anteil von 33,1 Prozent; er sitzt ebenfalls im Verwaltungsrat. Der Führungswechsel in Winterthur folgt zeitlich auf eine ebenfalls angekündigte Neubesetzung an der Spitze von Stadler Rail, einem weiteren Unternehmen, an dem Spuhler die Kontrolle hält.