Eastern Europe

An international research team has proposed using iron oxide and copper oxide to lower photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) solar module temperature. Their analysis showed that the two compounds were able to lower the panels’ operating temperature by 23.49% and 34.58% respectively.

Azerbaijan has revealed plans for its first renewables auction, in order to facilitate the design, financing, construction and operation of a 100 MW solar plant. Applicants can contact the Ministry of Energy from April 30 to participate in the first of two auction stages.

Denmark will procure at least 6 GW of offshore wind power capacity to potentially produce hydrogen, while Orlen says it will use a European Commission grant to build 16 hydrogen refueling stations in Poland.

Greece has grand plans for an interconnector network that runs from the Middle East through to the heart of Europe. pv magazine examines the latest developments on the road to a Mediterranean super grid and what it might mean for the regions involved.

Vale and Central South University have launched a joint laboratory for low-carbon and hydrogen metallurgy in Changsha, in China’s Hunan province, while Nippon Steel has secured approval to acquire U.S. Steel.

The Croatian Energy Market Operator (HROTE) has announced a much-anticipated, €257.2 million ($273.5 million) round of renewable energy auctions. It has allocated the biggest quota of 450 MW for solar projects and has set a deadline to award the subsidies by year’s end.

Already 2024 is shaping up to be another record year for solar installations. In Europe, projects are getting bigger as increasing difficulty with obtaining a grid connection makes smaller systems unviable. pv magazine recently caught up with Bernhard Suchland, CEO of Germany/Bulgaria based project services provider Sunotec, for a look a closer look at this and other trends in the large-scale PV segment.

Romanian developer Monsson has installed a 24 MWh battery storage system as the first stage of a 216 MWh project. The storage unit forms part of Romania’s first hybrid PV-wind-battery system.

A new study by the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine assesses the feasibility of 37 solar projects proposed at hospitals and water supply facilities in 18 Ukrainian cities. It shows the potential to generate around 16 million kWh of clean energy if fully implemented, ensuring uninterrupted power supply.

The government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Canton 10 has signed concession agreements for the construction of two utility-scale solar projects, which will rank among the biggest in the country upon completion.