Europe

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
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