Europe

BBOXX closes US$50 million funding round led by Mitsubishi
BBOXX has successfully closed a US$50 million Series D funding round that will see the next generation utility company accelerate its global expansion efforts.
Aug 29, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, Germany, Europe, Africa, bboxx, mitsubishi, Mansoor Hamayun, PowerGen Renewable Energy, Rafiki Power, E.on SE
JA Solar provides 33.1MW of mono-PERC panels to Scythia-Solar-2 project in Ukraine
‘Silicon Module Super League’ (SMSL) member, JA Solar has supplied 33.1MW of mono-PERC panels to Ukraine-based project developer, UDP Renewables for the Scythia-Solar-2 PV power plant in the Zaporizhia region of the country.
Aug 29, 2019 // Manufacturing News, Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Ukraine, UDP Renewables, pv power plants, SMSL, JA Solar, pv modules, Europe
THEE, CEE in joint 500MW subsidy-free PV push in Germany
Hamburg-based companies Thüga Erneuerbare Energien GmbH (THEE) and the CEE Group have signed off on a memorandum of understanding that will see both entities jointly operate large-scale photovoltaic plants in Germany without subsidies.
Aug 29, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Germany, Europe, THEE, cee, Dr. Björn Keßel
SolarEdge’s Guy Sella dies days after stepdown
SolarEdge Technologies’ founder and former long-time CEO Guy Sella has passed away two years after revealing a colon cancer diagnosis, the firm has confirmed.
Aug 27, 2019 // Solar, Europe, Asia, solaredge technologies, inverter, Guy Sella, Zvi Lando, Nadav Zafrir
European consortium develops advanced contamination-repellent solar panel coating
A European consortium of partners has developed an easy-to-clean solar panel coating that repels environmental forces. SolarSharc was created by the Advanced Resins and Coatings Innovation Centre (a strategic partnership between London South Bank University and TWI), Opus Materials Technologies, Onyx Solar, CEA – LITEN, Millidyne and TWI.
Aug 26, 2019 // Technology, Europe, SolarSharc, advanced Resins, Coatings Innovation Centre, Geraldine Durand
ReVision Energy installs 130.6-kW of rooftop solar for Boys & Girls Club
The Boys & Girls Club of Manchester has transitioned to solar energy. ReVision Energy installed 408 solar panels this summer on three rooftops, at the Union Street Clubhouse (81.3 kW) in Manchester, New Hampshire, and the Pool House and Stebbins Family Hall buildings at Camp Foster in Bedford (49.3 kW).
Aug 26, 2019 // Rooftop PV, UK, Europe, Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, ReVision Energy, rooftop solar, Diane Fitzpatrick
Mini series: Campaigning from rooftops to industrial sites
Walburga Hemetsberger joined SolarPower Europe as its new CEO around six months ago. It’s been a busy time, with the European elections and attempts to implement net zero emissions strategies that have kept Brussels hustling and bustling. At the same time, Europe’s solar industry association has been trying to push its industrial policy and rooftop campaign. Hemetsberger sat down with pv magazine for an update.
Aug 26, 2019 // Rooftop PV, Walburga Hemetsberger, rooftop, Europe, SolarPower Europe
French scientists try to uncover the secrets of black perovskite
X-ray analysis is said to have solved the mystery of how to preserve optical absorption in perovskite layers. Researchers say the discovery could help stabilize the material and speed up the launch of a new ingredient for PV research.
Aug 23, 2019 // Technology, Manufacturing News, Europe, Belgium, Julian Steele, KU Leuven University
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