Effective responses to power markets in flux – with Edurne Zoco and Barbara Rubim

An increasing number of solar marketplaces have entered a new
phase – one where achieving strong, ongoing installation rates
depends heavily on system flexibility. Recorded live at
The smarter E Europe 2026 in Munich, this
episode of pod brings together two conversations that examine how
solar marketplaces are changing in the face of this new reality,
which includes falling capture prices and the rapid rise of
battery energy storage.


Host Jonathan Gifford is first joined by Edurne
Zoco, Executive Director of Clean Technologies and
Supply Chain at S&P Global, for a
wide-ranging look at the major trends in global solar in 2026.
Zoco explains why a temporary slowdown in installations masks a
future continued growth trajectory, how batteries are becoming
indispensable as solar penetration increases, and why the
distributed market segment is gaining momentum across Europe.


The episode then shifts to Brazil with Barbara
Rubim, recently elected President of AB
Solar, who outlines the obstacles facing what was one of
the world's fastest-growing solar markets. Rubin reflects on
Brazil's rapid expansion to nearly 70 GW of installed capacity,
the growing impact of renewable-energy curtailment, and the
pivotal role that the country's first large-scale storage
auctions could play in unlocking the next wave of development.


Taken together, these conversations reveal the urgency of a shift
towards energy storage, and how smarter market design and
technologies will allow that storage to deliver greater value and
flexibility across electricity networks.


️ Questions or feedback? Write to us at
podcast@thesmartere.com