Europe

Essent takes over Belgian solar installer Aralt
The Essent business of German utility RWE wants to widen its clean energy offer for Belgian clients. Last year Aralt achieved a €5 million turnover.
Sep 12, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Residential, Markets & Finance News, Germany, Europe, Belgium, Aralt, Essent, Benelux
Discovery challenges accepted wisdom on organic PV
Researchers at the University of Warwick in the U.K. have made a discovery that could lead to new designs for organic PV devices. Their findings could open up a new range of materials for the electrode layer and bring low cost, flexible organic PV devices a step closer commercial reality, say the academics.
Sep 12, 2019 // Technology, UK, Europe, University of Warwick, flexible organic PV, Dinesha Dabera, Ross Hatton
Luxembourg launches 40 MW solar procurement
The exercise will be open to PV projects ranging in size from 200 kW to 5 MW.
Sep 12, 2019 // Plants, Commercial, Residential, Tariffs, tender, Europe, Luxembourg, Claude Turmes
Top EU financier to refocus on market-based renewables, energy storage
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is debating plans to shift its multi-billion energy funding firepower to back energy storage and free-market renewables more decisively.
Sep 12, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Storage, Grids, solar pv, Europe, subsidy-free pv, BESS, European Union, european investment bank, eib, green finance, storage systems bess
ABB and Fimer respond to UK criticism of products and customer service
The inverter businesses have responded to the letter published by the UK Solar Trade Association which was critical of the former’s products and customer service record.
Sep 11, 2019 // Inverters, ABB, UK, Europe, Fimer, Mr Chris Hewett, Filippo Carzaniga
Interview: PV Hardware chief operating officer Rodriguez talks heat dust and wind
Emilio J Garcia Rodriguez, from tracker manufacturer PV Hardware, spoke to pv magazine about the company’s activity in the Middle East and North Africa market. Dust, heat and heavy storms complicate the installation and operation of trackers.
Sep 11, 2019 // Solar, Spain, Europe, Emilio J Garcia Rodriguez, Hardware
HZB hits 23.26% efficiency with CIGS-perovskite tandem cell
Scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin research institute this morning presented a new world record efficiency for a tandem cell combining CIGS and perovskite technology at the EU PVSEC conference in Marseille. The development of an organic coating layer between the two semiconductors was key.
Sep 11, 2019 // Technology, Germany, Europe, eu pvsec, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Amran Al-Ashouri
New methods for fault detection revealed at EU PVSEC
Quality control and problem detection and classification was brought into focus at the conference in Marseille. A packed house at a session focused on the latest fault detection techniques indicated the high level of interest in the field.
Sep 11, 2019 // Technology, Solar, France, Engie, pv modules, Europe, eu pvsec, Marseille, Jay Lin, PV Guider, UVFL, Stijn Scheerlinck, Chantelle Clohessy, Nelson Mandela University
Recovering interest rates may raise large scale solar electric price 11%
Renewables investment may by hit by rising interest rates despite the falling cost of clean energy tech just as fossil fuels avoid the impact of rising base rates.
Sep 11, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, Policy, LCOE, Europe, ETS
Solar pioneer Pierre Verlinden: The big problem is apathy
On the first day of this year’s EU PVSEC conference, veteran solar researcher Pierre J Verlinden won the Becquerel Prize for Outstanding Merits in Photovoltaics. The award recognized more than 40 years as a leading PV researcher in academia and at leading companies including Sunpower and Trina Solar. Its recipient spoke to pv magazine about what is needed from solar to stave off catastrophic climate change.
Sep 11, 2019 // Opinions, SunPower, China, Europe, Asia, wafers, Trina Solar, PERC, eu pvsec, Pierre Verlinden
Opportunities for integration: EU PVSEC 2019
Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE is presenting a wide range of solutions for integrated PV – alongside farming, vehicles, the built environment and more, at the 2019 EU PVSEC show happening this week in Marseille.
Sep 10, 2019 // Technology, Germany, floating PV, Europe, Fraunhofer ISE, eu pvsec, integrating PV, Andreas Bett
French start-up launches solar engine
The invention converts the energy produced by PV cells directly into mechanical motion without the need for batteries or power electronics. Its developers claim the robustness of the solar motor can drive water pumps and ventilation turbines for more than 20 years without the need for maintenance.
Sep 10, 2019 // Technology, France, Europe, PV cells, Saurea, Isabelle Gallet-Coty
Solar powered elevator unveiled in Spain
The ‘green’ version of the ION Green Solar lift – designed, developed and manufactured in Spain by Fain Ascensores – can cut carbon emissions 86%. That figure rises to 100% with the PV-powered ‘solar’ model.
Sep 10, 2019 // Technology, Spain, Europe, ION Green Solar, Fain Ascensores
Enel pegs $1.5bn bond to clean energy performance
The Italian energy company has committed to paying higher returns on today’s fundraising bond if it fails to ramp up its installed renewable energy generation capacity to 55% of its overall total by the end of 2021.
Sep 10, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, Italy, Enel, Europe
Lithuanian energy ministry issues timeline for renewables auctions
The Baltic nation is heavily dependent on energy imports. A plan for energy independence by 2050 foresees the large scale deployment of renewable energy resources.
Sep 10, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, Europe, Lithuania, Žygimantas Vaičiūnas