Markets

A rise in electricity demand led to an increase in electricity prices across some European markets last week, while a drop in gas prices contributed to lower prices in others, according to AleaSoft Energy Forecasting’s latest analysis.

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that december brought striking contrasts in solar irradiance across Europe, with Northern Europe experiencing irradiance levels up to 30% below the already dim seasonal average, while regions south of Europe’s major mountain ranges saw irradiance up to 30% above typical levels.

This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Brigite Gonçalves, Head of Utility-Scale PV Business Developer at Portugal’s EnergyCon. She says Women in the solar industry face unique challenges, such as underrepresentation in decision-making roles and the persistence of unconscious biases. “To achieve equity, the solar sector must prioritize structural changes, including accessible mentoring and sponsorship programs tailored for women,” she states.

Wood Mackenzie says that a 30% increase in upstream spending will be needed to meet stronger oil and gas demand under a delayed energy transition. The research firm warns that this scenario could strain supply chains, inflate costs, and push Brent crude prices above $100/barrel by the 2030s.

The Middle East Solar Industry Association’s (MESIA) latest report says solar capacity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region grew by 25% in 2024, with local manufacturing and energy storage also accelerating.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but an investigation will begin once the fire is extinguished.

Clean Energy Associates says it has identified five looming risks to the US battery energy storage industry, as analysts predict significant policy shifts under US President Donald Trump’s upcoming administration.

China is building its first gigawatt-scale residential virtual power plant (VPP) in Jiangsu province. The project will connect millions of high-power household appliances to a cloud-based energy pool to improve grid stability and boost renewable energy use.

Work has begun on the Swiss Madrisa Solar project, a 12 MW alpine PV installation located at an elevation of 2,000 m near a ski resort of the village of Klosters. It is part of the Solar Express initiative designed to boost domestic winter energy production.

India could achieve self-reliance in battery cell manufacturing by domestically recycling lithium and reusing it in batteries, an Indian government official claimed this week at a battery manufacturing conference in in New Delhi.