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.
‘Every time I have offered a woman a promotion, they tell me they think they can’t do the job’
This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Hildagarde McCarville, CEO of UK-based Anesco. She believes the evolving renewables industry presents a huge opportunity for women, and also for leadership teams to actively help drive the transition to greater diversity and equity.
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.
Bangladesh proposes import duty, VAT exemptions for solar products
Bangladesh’s government has proposed exempting import duties and value-added tax (VAT) on renewable energy components under its draft Renewable Energy Policy 2025, now open for public consultation. If approved, the provisions will take effect upon publication in the official gazette.
Mexico aims to deploy 4.67 GW of large-scale PV by 2030
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has unveiled a $23.4 billion plan to expand the national electricity system, targeting 13.02 GW of new capacity by 2030, including 4.67 GW of large-scale solar.
Integrating low-temperature heat sources in industrial-scale heat pumps
The Fraunhofer ISE has designed a novel method for assessing the potential of low-temperature heat sources for large-scale heat pumps. The five-step process was tested on the German city of Fellbach, enabling the identification of heat sources with LCOH lower than €0.1/kWh.
Turkey allocates 800 MW in PV tender with final price of $0.0325/kWh
Turkey has awarded 800 MW of solar capacity in its latest PV tender, with the final price set at $0.0325/kWh. The authorities selected six projects ranging from 40 MW to 385 MW.
US government raises tariffs on Chinese solar polysilicon, wafers, cells to 60%
US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order imposing new 10% tariffs on Chinese solar materials and delaying similar tariffs on Canadian and Mexican energy imports. The move follows former President Joe Biden’s tariff hikes, bringing total duties on Chinese solar polysilicon, wafers, and cells to 60% under Section 301.
Community managers key to wider adoption of energy communities
New research from France suggests that energy communities could benefit from dedicated community managers to address operational complexities. Researchers says that this role could offer contracts or assurances to ease concerns among risk-averse members.
Premier Energies halts plans for US solar cell factory
India’s Premier Energies says it has suspended its plans to build a factory in the United States as it waits for “the regime in the US to settle down and be clear on what they want to do.”
