Portugal awards grants to 500 MW of energy storage projects
A total of 43 projects were selected from 79 applications in Portugal’s 2025 energy storage procurement. This included six projects from Spain’s Iberdrola, which secured nearly €20 million ($20.6 million) in public funding.
Actionable insights to safeguard solar projects from hail damage
The second article in a two-part series from VDE Americas looks at hail risk mitigation measures that continue advancing through improved materials, prediction capabilities and refined stow strategies.
JinkoSolar’s TOPCon modules offer 8.82% yield gain in Japan field test
JinkoSolar’s latest n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) modules delivered higher energy yield per watt than a competitor’s n-type back contact (BC) modules in a three-month field test in Kagoshima, Japan, under varying irradiance levels.
Czechia installs 967 MW of solar in 2024
Czechia installed 967 MW of solar in 2024, driven by residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) projects, which accounted for 930 MW of the total, says the Czech Solar Association (Solární Asociace).
New platform to deploy 120 MW of renewables in Africa
African microgrid company PowerGen Renewable Energy is partnering with a team of international investors to deploy 120 MW of off-grid renewable energy systems across the continent, starting with installations in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
MACSE auction: A game changer for Italy’s energy storage sector
With the first auctions for procuring new storage capacity in Italy expected in the second quarter of 2025, Aurora Energy Research has analyzed the internal rate of return for projects supported by the Energy Storage Capacity Procurement Mechanism (MACSE) and found that in certain cases expected returns exceed 9%, providing a high level of revenue security.
France deploys 4.6 GW of PV in 2024
France deployed 4.6 GW of solar in 2024, bringing its total PV capacity to 22.12 GW. Grid operator Enedis says that self-consumption accounted for 35% of new installations.
Clivet launches new air-source heat pumps for commercial buildings
The Italian manufacturer said its new Large Evo PL heat pump can achieve a seasonal coefficient of performance of up to 4.17. The system can also reportedly deliver water temperature of up to 60 C and, when stacked in series, reach a maximum system capacity of 1,660 kW.
Mibet launches waterproof solar carport
The Chinese company said that its new product has a drainage edge that ensures complete waterproofing. It can purportedly withstand wind speeds of 45 m/s and a snow load of 1 KN/m².
Somalia runs tender for solar-plus-storage at 28 education facilities
The Somali government has launched a tender to design, supply, install, and commission solar-plus-storage systems at 28 education facilities across two northwestern regions. Applications close on March 12.
