Patrick Jowett
Flanders adds over 646 MW of solar in 2024
Belgium’s Flanders region installed at least 646 MW of solar in 2024, bringing total installed capacity to nearly 7 GW. The region marked its 1 millionth solar panel installation this month, driven by industrial rooftop projects.
Increased solar, wind production helps European electricity prices fall
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting’s latest analysis found weekly average electricity prices fell during the last week of January, despite an increase in gas and CO2 futures prices, thanks to an increase in solar and wind production and drop in electricity demand.
MENA region on track for 75 GW of solar by 2030
Dii Desert Energy, an energy transition think tank, has reported the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will have a cumulative solar capacity of 75 GW at the end of the decade if the current project pipeline is fully realized. It adds an additional 40 GW of solar projects need to be planned and executed in the next five years to match the region’s pledged 2030 targets.
Somalia opens solar-plus-storage tender
The Somali government has kicked off a tender for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a 55 MW solar plant with a 160 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Mogadishu. The deadline for applications is April 14, 2025.
Israel introduces tool to calculate rooftop solar potential
Israel’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, in collaboration with the Israel Mapping Center, has launched a tool that calculates the potential and expected income from rooftop solar installations on residential, industrial, and public buildings.
Sharp to withdraw solar business from European market
Sharp says that its Sharp Energy Solutions Europe (SESE) unit will halt business operations on March 31 due to challenging conditions in the European solar market.
Jordan opens tender for solar at water facilities
Jordan’s Water Authority has kicked off a tender for solar plants at water facilities to improve energy efficiency in the sector. Contractors must request pre-qualification questionnaires by email by Feb. 20, 2025.
Fraunhofer technology connects Dutch energy community to flexibility markets
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics (Fraunhofer ITWM) has linked an energy community on a canal near Amsterdam to the day-ahead and Dutch imbalance markets, cutting energy costs.
Liberia seeks consultancy services for solar, battery storage auction
The government of Liberia is seeking transaction advisers to develop the legal, technical, commercial and financial mechanisms for the country’s first solar and battery energy storage auction. The deadline for expressions of interest is Feb. 25, 2025.
Uganda opens tender for 40 MW of ground-mounted solar
Companies interested in an engineering, procurement and construction contract for two 20 MW ground-mounted solar plants in eastern Uganda must request pre-qualification questionnaires by Feb. 21, one week before a deadline for expressions of interest.
