Europe

REVKOR and H2GEMINI partner to construct a 5GW solar cell and module production facility, beginning production in Q2 2024. The project will utilize HJT/Perovskite technologies and mark a milestone for renewable energy.

DTEK Renewables have successfully restored the Niko Solar power plant in the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine, despite heavy damage from Russian shelling. They also restored the Trifonivskaya solar plant to 100% capacity within a few weeks. Oleksandr Selishchev, CEO of DTEK Renewables, is committed to providing energy supply and security for the region.

Enel Green Power Romania has successfully powered up its 63-MW Lumina solar park in Romania. Expected to generate 99 GWh of energy annually, the facility is also connected to the high-voltage grid of the concessionaire. Additionally, Greek companies PPC SA and Mytilineos SA are investing to further the growth of renewable energy in Romania.

Pad Res, an innovative Polish developer, is set to construct two 117MW solar photovoltaic farms in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. Kajima Europe and Griffin Capital Partners acquired majority shares in Pad Res to drive their renewable energy portfolio to 500MW. Electrum Holding is the general contractor for the project, which marks a major shift in Poland's green transformation.

RWE and PPC joint venture Meton Energy have made the final investment decision to build 3 solar projects totalling 259MW in northern Greece. Construction set to start in autumn 2021, with projects due to be operational by 2024. €196m investment provided by EU funds, finance from Alpha Bank, Eurobank & NBG, plus €39m in equity. Meton Energy & RWE developing solar farms with capacity up to 2GW in Greece.

Pathfinder Clean Energy plans to build a 45.48-hectare solar farm outside the village of Paulton in Somerset. Generating 26 megawatts of power, it will provide 10% of the 300MW needed to reach net zero in Bath and North East Somerset. Grazing sheep are welcome under the solar panels, and battery storage will store energy for peak times. A planning application is yet to be submitted.

Explore Hybridkraft: a project funded by the German government to combine solar thermal & photovoltaics. Harness 1 megawatt solar-powered heater to increase efficiency & reduce energy costs for industrial applications.

This research breakthrough makes it possible to develop water-stable perovskites for perovskite solar cells. An innovative additivization strategy was used to achieve this, with the lowest formation energy for a 3C phase with exceptional stability against water infiltration, humidity and thermal stresses. A game-changer for solar cells!

First Solar and Matrix Renewables have come together to deliver 2.1 GW of advanced thin film modules to power projects in the US and Spain. First Solar's technology is low-carbon and EPEAT-approved, with US and India factory expansions along with framework agreement with Energix Renewables. Responsibly powering the future!

A French-Egyptian consortium is exploring the potential of building two solar energy plants to serve Egypt's metal and aluminum industry. Orascom Construction PLC and Engie met with Egypt's public business sector minister to discuss the renewable energy projects, which could further the country's renewable energy goals.

TotalEnergies SE (EPA:TTE) has agreed to take full control of Total Eren, a French energy major, for an enterprise value of about EUR 3.8 billion (USD 4.22bn). TotalEnergies will benefit from Total Eren's 3.5 GW renewable energy capacity and 10 GW project pipeline in 30 countries.

DIF Capital Partners has announced a £200 million investment into Field, a London-headquartered developer and operator of battery energy storage systems, to expedite the development of its 4.5 GWh pipeline of grid-scale projects in UK and Western Europe. Field is already operating a 20 MWh battery project in Oldham, and has four other sites totalling 210 MWh.

RES, a UK-based renewables developer, has been granted approval to build the 35MW Limbach Solar Park in eastern Germany. The project will produce 38 million kWh of energy annually, enough to power 19,000 people, and reduce emissions by 30,000 tonnes each year. RES will hold a public event to inform local citizens and expects a permit in Autumn 2024, with commissioning in Q2 of 2026.

RheinEnergie AG is constructing Germany's largest 32 MWp solar park with 7 MWh battery storage. Subsidized 20 MWp of capacity will power 10,000 households, while remaining 12 MWp will be unsubsidized. RheinEnergie currently operates 57 MWp PV and 172 MW wind capacity across Germany.

EnFoil, a European startup, is revolutionizing the solar industry with their innovative 2mm thick CIGS-based flexible solar panels. With an efficiency of 17% and 150 Wp/m², talks to integrate their panels onto truck roofs have begun. The European Research Council has supported this project and UHasselt is recruiting a researcher - a recognition of the product's potential.