As a company specializing in cooling solutions for power electronics, we keep a close eye on the renewable energy industry's rapid evolution. This spring has been particularly eventful as we attended several trade shows, events, and workshops dedicated to power electronics. These gatherings allowed us to meet hundreds of professionals, exchange ideas, and gain invaluable insights into the industry's future.
In this article, we summarize the key takeaways and trends shaping the future – and why advanced cooling solutions are at the heart of reliable, efficient power electronics.
Intersolar 2025: A Hub for Renewable Energy Innovation
The world’s largest renewable energy event, Intersolar Europe, took place in Munich, Germany, from May 7–9, 2025. CooliBlade’s Chief Commercial Officer, Klaus Mäntysaari, and Head of Strategic Applications, Vesa Pentikäinen, attended the event to connect with partners and customers, explore the latest trends, and discuss the future needs and drivers shaping the power electronics industry.
At Intersolar, the critical role of thermal management was evident. With nearly 3,000 exhibitors and 120,000 visitors, this year’s event grew by 50% compared to last year, highlighting the rapid acceleration of the sustainability and electrification megatrends. Several emerging trends highlighted why thermal management will play an even more critical role in the years ahead.
Solar Industry: Explosive Growth Demands Robust Cooling
The solar industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with global installed capacity projected to increase by over 45% in the coming years. Europe alone saw a 47% surge in new solar installations last year. This rapid expansion means more inverters, power optimizers, and energy storage systems are being deployed - often in compact, high-density configurations.
Why It Matters:
Higher power densities and compact designs generate more heat, which can lead to reduced efficiency, shorter lifespans, and even system failures without effective cooling. As installations scale, the need for reliable, scalable, and cost-effective thermal management solutions grows exponentially.
CooliBlade’s phase-change based NEOcore cooling technology offers superior performance for demanding power electronics applications. Our solutions, particularly for power inverters and energy storage systems exceeding 100 kW, garnered significant attention at the event for their unique combination of performance and cost-effectiveness.
Technological Innovation Raises the Bar
The industry is rapidly adopting next-generation PV modules, including bifacial, TOPCon, and HJT technologies, alongside advanced inverters and hybrid systems. While these innovations push the boundaries of performance, they also increase the thermal load on power electronics.
Why It Matters:
New module types and inverter topologies often operate at higher voltages and currents, requiring precision cooling to maintain safe operating temperatures. Advanced cooling solutions, like CooliBlade’s NEOcore, empower manufacturers to safely push the limits of efficiency and power output.
European Manufacturing and Supply Chain Localization
A clear trend at Intersolar was the renewed focus on local European manufacturing to reduce supply chain risks and ensure consistently high quality. Political and economic factors are driving companies to prioritize European engineering and local production, reflecting a growing demand for reliability, traceability, and sustainability. Power electronics manufactured in Europe are expected to meet stringent reliability standards and perform efficiently across a wide range of climates and conditions.
Why It Matters:
Thermal management solutions must be adaptable and robust enough to support diverse applications, from industrial systems to utility-scale solar farms. As climate change introduces more extreme and unpredictable conditions, high-performance cooling becomes indispensable.
CooliBlade, based in Finland, is uniquely positioned to support this shift. Our expertise in European design and manufacturing ensures our solutions meet the highest standards of quality and sustainability. Our expertise in European design and manufacturing ensures our cooling solutions meet the highest standards of quality and sustainability, perfectly aligning with the needs of customers who value innovative, reliable, and environmentally responsible products for power electronics. Our NEOcore platform delivers competitive solutions for varying demands. For example, our AURORA platform, with its lightweight and narrow form factor, is designed for seamless integration into diverse power electronics applications and challenging environments.
Integration and Decarbonization: More Complexity, More Heat
The global push for energy transition and decarbonization is driving the integration of solar energy with storage systems, EV charging, and smart grids. These increasingly complex systems feature multi-port converters and bidirectional inverters, which generate more heat in smaller spaces.
Why It Matters:
Greater integration means more components packed into smaller spaces, increasing the risk of thermal hotspots. Effective cooling ensures system stability and safety, enabling seamless integration of renewables and storage. Once again, CooliBlades products like AURORA cooling solution are a perfect match for power electronics devices with limited cooling spaces. The modularity and the design freedom gives more opportunities for power electronics and mechanical engineers to manage high temperatures across various product concepts.
Cost Pressure and Innovation
As inventory builds up and prices drop, manufacturers face increasing pressure to optimize costs without sacrificing quality. The Intersolar AWARD highlighted the importance of innovative, reliable solutions in maintaining competitiveness.
Why It Matters:
Cost-effective, high-performance cooling is essential to maintain competitiveness of power electronics applications. NEOcore-based solutions deliver both increased reliability and value, helping manufacturers stay ahead in a competitive market.
Critical Applications for Thermal Management in Power Electronics
Thermal management is essential for the following applications:
- String and central inverters for utility-scale solar farms
- Hybrid inverters combining PV and energy storage
- Power optimizers and microinverters for residential and commercial rooftops
- EV charging infrastructure
- Battery energy storage systems (BESS)
- Smart grid and grid-forming inverters
The Bottom Line: Critical role of Thermal Management
As the solar and whole renewable energy industry evolves, thermal management is no longer just a supporting technology - it’s a mission-critical enabler. From maximizing efficiency and lifespan to ensuring safety and compliance, advanced cooling solutions are essential for the next generation of power electronics.
CooliBlade is committed to developing the most innovative cooling technologies to power the renewable energy revolution - today and tomorrow.
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