Europe

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.

Statkraft and Infinis have signed two seven-year PPAs for two solar farms in England, covering 92MW of installed capacity. Unity, Statkraft's VPP system, will actively manage the output of the farms to ensure optimal efficiency. Statkraft and Infinis hope to continue the partnership for future projects.

Midsummer AB has been awarded an EU grant of EUR 32 million to build a 200-MW CIGS solar cell factory in Sweden. The CIGS solar cells are lightweight, flexible and able to be installed on lightweight roofs. The project is expected to solidify Midsummer AB's foothold in the European solar market.

Akuo recently inaugurated O'MEGA 1 Bis, a 22MW extension of the power plant creating a plethora of new opportunities for local communities. With the extension already generating 25,500GWh of electricity and a successful crowdfunding initiative, the project also serves as an initiative for local agriculture.

MCPV announces plans to build 3 GW solar cell and module factory in Netherlands, with SolarNL receiving €412 million in grants and loans for the project. Factory will employ heterojunction cell technology for up to 26.5% efficiency, and tandem perovskite-silicon modules for over 30% efficiency. Expected to start operations in 2021, with the capacity expanding to 3 GW by 2026.

Forestalia secures EUR 65 million from IKAV Group to construct 19 wind and solar projects in Aragon, Spain. Banco de Sabadell structures pre-construction debt for major equipment and construction expenses. Forestalia targets 1.2GW of direct operations in the next few years.