Sandra Enkhardt
Vattenfall to combine wind and solar with new connection concept
Vattenfall says it will connect a 7.6 MW solar plant to a 17 MW wind farm in Germany, allowing both to operate through a single grid connection point.
Silver-saving efforts ramping up in solar industry, says Heraeus
Rising silver prices are putting pressure on solar manufacturers, prompting greater focus on copper and other alternatives to reduce costs. Heraeus says it expects silver demand from photovoltaics to decline this year despite stable global installations.
Germany awards 2.32 GW in large-scale PV tender
Germany’s latest tender for large-scale PV project concluded with an average final price of €0.0500 ($0.0593)/kWh. The procurement exercise was largely oversubscribed.
EnBW seeks investor for Senec to fund growth
EnBW says it is seeking a new investor for its Senec storage subsidiary Senec to support further growth, though the company could remain wholly owned. The search comes after a comprehensive restructuring and aims to fund expansion in software, hardware, and international markets.
Astronergy launches 670 W TOPCon solar module with 24.8% efficiency
China’s Astronergy says its ASTRO N7 Pro module targets utility-scale PV plants and commercial rooftops, offering quarter-cell architecture, bifacial gains, and a 30-year performance guarantee.
Germany adds 17.5 GW of solar in 2025
Germany installed about 17.5 GW of new PV capacity in 2025, taking cumulative installations past 117 GW by year end, according to preliminary data from the German Solar Association.
Germany backs Moll Batterien sodium-ion battery plant with over €22 million
Moll Batterien has secured more than €22 million ($25.8 million) in public funding for a 1 GWh sodium-ion battery plant in Bavaria, part of a roughly €103 million investment scheduled to come online in 2026.
M-Tec launches modular propane heat pump for residential, commercial use
The new residential heat pump system can be configured modularly and requires less than 150 grams of refrigerant, which allows it to be installed indoors. The system integrates with M-Tec’s energy management platform and supports multiple heat sources, photovoltaics, and battery storage.
Germany records growth in solar self-consumption
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) has developed a new way to quantify PV self-consumption in Germany using national register and grid-operator data, amid a steady rise in onsite use as installations and storage capacity expand.
Rescue bid for German solar glass maker GMB fails
The solar glass manufacturer started insolvency proceedings in July. An investor’s bid has now failed, leaving over 200 employees facing layoffs.
