Europe

Heraeus claims module output increases by 2.1% with new ribbon
The performance of the company’s Selectively Coated Ribbons was measured for more than a year in a field test. Heraeus says the yield gains are achieved by the device’s optical properties – said to enable improved reflection – even at low angles of incidence and in low-light conditions.
Aug 23, 2019 // Manufacturing News, Germany, Europe, Heraeus, Selectively Coated Ribbons, Peter Berghofer
Polish mining company to deploy solar on dead coal sites
Poland’s second largest power company, Tauron, wants to build a 5 MW ground-mounted facility in Jaworzno and is seeking EPC contractors through a tender. The project is part of the company’s plan to deploy PV on its unused sites.
Aug 23, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Poland, tender, Europe, Tauron, coal, Zespół Elektrowni Pątnów-Adamów-Konin SA
Midsummer begins trading for new green bond listed at Nasdaq Stockholm
Midsummer rang the opening bell at Nasdaq Stockholm on Thursday, with the solar energy technology company signaling the start of trading for its new green bond.
Aug 23, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, Sweden, Europe, green bond, midsummer, Sven Lindström
Meyer Burger moves to calm shareholders
Meyer Burger’s new chairman has acknowledged that the outlook remains tense for Europe’s largest solar equipment supplier, but he is urging shareholders to support the company’s plan to reposition itself to focus on high-yield technologies and markets beyond China.
Aug 22, 2019 // Manufacturing News, China, Europe, Asia, meyer burger, Chairman Remo Lütolf, REC Solar
Hanergy’s Solibro unit reportedly set to file for insolvency
Solibro will probably file for insolvency this month, according to German media reports. However, the company has yet to publicly confirm the matter.
Aug 22, 2019 // Manufacturing News, Germany, China, Europe, Asia, Solibro, thin-film PV, CIGS photovoltaic
European subsidy-free markets have ‘developed rapidly’, investor says
One of Europe’s leading utility-scale solar investors has said that the continent’s subsidy-free solar market has “developed rapidly” in recent months.
Aug 22, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, Tariffs, UK, Europe, subsidy-free, Foresight Solar Fund, NextEnergy Solar Fund
Take a break on the solar bench – but not for too long
Engie has raised eyebrows with the installation of several solar benches in Biarritz, southwestern France, as a local official has asked citizens to avoid sitting on them for long periods of time in order to keep their energy yield up. But the authorities over in Cannes are clearly impressed, as the municipal government in the French Riviera resort town has also revealed plans to buy more of the PV benches, which are designed by Croatian startup Include.
Aug 22, 2019 // Solar, France, Engie, pv modules, Europe, Guillaume Barucq, solar benches, Cannes
Perpetum to build world’s largest solar carport in Belgium
The 20 MW plant will feature 62,750 solar panels. Installer Perpetum Energy plans to commission the project in the spring of 2020.
Aug 20, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, France, Solar Panels, Europe, neoen, installer, Perpetum Energy, Paira Daiza, Corbas
How Electric Cars and Renewables Could Beat Oil
This week on The Energy Gang: The economics of oil are beginning to be challenged by EVs paired with wind and solar.
Aug 17, 2019 // Transport, USA, electric cars, Europe, Oil, BNP Paribas, Trump administration
Dear European solar industry: Let’s lead the interconnected platform before it is too late
While China is single-handedly reducing CAPEX for modules and inverters, Europe understands that hardware won’t be the holy grail – generally speaking. But what is? Perhaps it is time for a new strategy to surf in front of the digital wave.
Aug 14, 2019 // Opinions, ABB, Sungrow, China, Amazon, Europe, SMA, Schneider Electric, CAPEX, Solarworld, Kaco, Shunfeng International Clean Energy
German industry body calls for 5 GW cell manufacturing fab in Europe
The VDMA says Europe can restart a solar production sector that can compete on price with Chinese imports by reducing transport costs – provided a Euro supply chain can be established.
Aug 14, 2019 // Manufacturing News, Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Germany, China, Europe, VDMA, Jutta Trube, Von Der Leyen
Cameroon to improve power supply with 25 MW solar projects
Energy of Cameroon wants to build two solar parks to improve power supply in the country’s northern regions. The projects will be developed by a consortium led by Norwegian solar company Scatec.
Aug 14, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Scatec, Europe, Cameroon
Webinar Q&A: Simulating the gains of bifacial and tracking installations, where’s the rub?
Following up on the webinar held with Trina Solar about the new algorithms needed for bifacial and tracking installations, the word is that gains of 20-30% are not unlikely. To attain that, however, the sweet spot of front and rear side yield has to be reached. Trina has showcased a new algorithm alongside its bifacial n-type modules and claims it can do just that.
Aug 13, 2019 // Opinions, bifacial, Europe, tracking, Trina Solar, Kyumin Lee, Klaus Hofmeister
Asian battery manufacturers eye European riches on offer
A report produced by an AI and automation market research company says an anticipated boom in the European storage market – driven by a desire to reduce carbon emissions – will attract producers as demand outside China tails away.
Aug 13, 2019 // Manufacturing News, Storage, storage, China, Europe, Maya Xiao
China holds key to corporate solar take-up but lags way behind Texas at present
The Lone Star State accounted for almost half of the activity witnessed in the world’s biggest corporate clean energy marketplace but analysts are excited about the prospect of Beijing mandating companies to purchase minimum levels of green electricity.
Aug 13, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, Policy, USA, PPAs, Texas, China, Europe, Africa, Lone Star State, green electricity, RPS, Nordic nations