Europe

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.

Bord na Móna and ESB join forces to develop a 108-megawatt solar farm in Kildare, Ireland. Providing enough energy to power 25,000 homes, this is the first of four projects with a target of 500MW and furthers the government's commitment to solar energy.

Eku Energy is set to construct two 130 MWh battery storage systems in Basildon, Essex and Loudwater, Buckinghamshire. Completion is expected by the end of 2024 with 1.2GWh of battery storage currently in delivery across six sites. NHOA Group is partnering with Eku for this project.

Vattenfall acquires German solar developer Solizer, gaining a 4GW project pipeline and experienced team. Solar projects will be ready for construction as early as 2024, helping Vattenfall meet the growing demand for cost-competitive solar power. Part of the company's plan for further investment in renewable energy sources.

Discover how Bulgaria is navigating land use disputes for solar power projects in Novo Selo, Ledenik, Kardzhali, Vratsa and Vishovgrad. Learn how Eurohold is addressing environmental concerns and prosumers.

Dale Vince's Ecojet is the UK's first electric airline powered by renewable energy, set to launch in 2024. Ecojet flights will feature sustainable meals, uniforms, and no single-use plastics. Flying with Ecojet will reduce carbon emissions by 90,000 tonnes annually and contribute to decarbonizing the aviation industry.

Boralex has inaugurated a 15.9-MWp solar park in France, which will produce 23 GWh of electricity annually. Metro France has signed a 20-year PPA for the output, helping it reach its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.

Research team at Fraunhofer ISE has developed a layer to boost the efficiency of organic solar cells. This could be a major step towards making renewable energy more accessible and cost effective.

Revolutionizing the world of renewable energy, SeaVolt is a collaboration between Tractebel, DEME, and Jan De Nul’s first floating solar energy test platform, set to be installed in the Belgian North Sea by August. New technologies to assess waves, rain, salt spray, and marine environment are being tested.

RES wins contract to provide O&M and HV services for 13 Downing LLP solar sites. RES Head of Solar O&M Brian Darnell expresses delight while Danielle Strothers from Downing LLP looks forward to working together on asset efficiency.