Poland installed 3.3 GW of solar in January-August period
Poland hit 11 GW of installed PV capacity at the end of August. The distributed-generation PV segment continues to drive the growth of the Polish solar market, despite recent changes in legislation.
BNEF outlines scenarios to replace Europe’s largest coal plant with 10.7 GW of solar, wind
BloombergNEF (BNEF) has outlined a potential transition plan for a coal-fired power plant in Belchatow, Poland. It said that 5 GW of solar and 5.7 GW of wind could replace 80% of Belchatow’s lignite generation capacity by 2036, in an optimal scenario.
The weekend read: Central Asian solar on the rise
Utility-scale solar is stirring in the region, with support from development banks. Following a series of competitive auctions, PV projects have been commissioned and are under development in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. In the latter nation, corporate interest in distributed, small-scale renewables is growing but for further market uptake, additional incentives should be introduced, practitioners say.
Sodium-ion battery anode made from toxic hogweed
Russian researchers have transmuted poisonous Sosnowsky’s hogweed into high-grade anode material for sodium-ion batteries. The obtained material has a Coulombic efficiency of 87%, which is on par with the best reported results for hard carbons synthesized from other raw materials.
Bulgarian grid operator reviewing connection requests for 24 GW of renewables
The Bulgarian grid operator says the nation urgently needs to expand its grid to accommodate planned renewables capacity. It is now holding meetings with potential investors.
Heterojunction solar cell based on new black silicon achieves 7.5% efficiency
Russian researchers have developed a heterojunction device based on a new wide-band black material called “black silicide.” The cell has averaged reflection (AVR) of 15% in the spectral range of 200 nanometers to 1,800 nm and purportedly can reach an efficiency of 10%.
Poland’s largest solar plant goes online
Goldbeck Solar has switched on a 204 MW solar park in Zwartowo, northern Poland. The project is the first phase of a 290 MW scheme that includes another 86 MW facility.
Hybrid solar-wind project moves forward in Latvia
Lithuanian energy company Ignitis has purchased a 200 MW hybrid solar-wind project in Latvia. The installation is in the early stages of development, with construction scheduled to begin in 2025.
Bosnian utility seeking renewable energy for less than $0.13/kWh
JP Elektroprivreda BiH has revealed plans to select qualified renewable energy suppliers to operate facilities that are connected to its power grid in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Panasonic to scale up heat pump output in Czechia
Panasonic has revealed plans to increase the annual production of heat pumps at its facility in Czechia to 500,000 units by March 2026.
