Grid-forming tech on centre stage as search for system resilience steps up
Maintaining grid stability becomes more challenging as the share of intermittent renewables grows in the electricity generation mix, but system resilience is essential to continued solar deployment. Grid-forming inverters offer a solution, and their capabilities are increasingly being tested and relied upon in key energy markets globally.
U.S. Solar developer seeks connection to wrong powerline, delays project five years
The OFW Solar Project in Virginia submitted an application to connect to powerlines run by the wrong power company, instead of a second set of nearby transmission lines, necessitating a total restart of the PJM interconnection process that could push construction back to 2032.
Grid operators may reduce renewables penetration if data center growth continues unchecked, says ENTSO-E
A new report from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity explores the potential for data centers to become flexible assets in Europe’s electricity system, as well as how to manage grid planning and grid security.
Europe’s negative electricity price hours double in Q1 amid renewables surpluses, market imbalances
UK-based consultancy Ricardo, part of the WSP Group, reports that EU-27 day-ahead power markets saw 1,223 negative-price hours in Q1 2026, more than double Q1 2025, driven mainly by Spain, Portugal, and Greece, while Nordic markets fell back to zero after prior spikes. Germany’s April 2026 data shows negative prices aligning with large renewable forecast errors and likely curtailment during oversupply periods.
Longer-duration BESS finds footing in Germany’s toll market
BlackRock‑backed developer Akaysha Energy says lenders require 60% to 80% contracted revenue before committing project debt to utility‑scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Germany – a threshold that structured offtake products borrowed from its home market can meet.
Dutch regulator plans grid fee for large solar producers
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets is progressing with plans to introduce a grid fee that would see large-scale electricity producers, including solar power plants, contribute to the costs of the electricity grid. Its introduction is expected no earlier than January 2032.
China Datang brings online 500 MW solar farm for direct data center supply
The project is integrated into a larger 2 GW first-phase build-out combining solar, wind, and storage, and uses dedicated transmission lines plus market trading to match renewable supply with data center demand.
Free market, curtailment, and storage reshaping Brazilian solar sector
Brazil’s solar sector is entering a new phase marked by curtailment, grid constraints, and regulatory shifts, with growth increasingly tied to new business models and market dynamics. Industry leaders say storage will be central to this transition, enabling system integration, mitigating risks, and unlocking future demand.
The best performing utility-scale PV asset in Australia
The 204 MW Edenvale Solar Park in Queensland’s Western Downs region has been identified by energy consultancy Rystad Energy as the best performing large-scale PV asset in Australia last month.
Enphase unveils distributed solid-state transformer for AI data centers
The announcement of the company’s latest module power electronics project came alongside Q1 2026 earnings that showed a 20.6% decrease in year-over-year revenue numbers amid a steep decline in domestic demand.
