EBRD to finance solar-thermal power plant in Serbia
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is investing up to €105 million ($109.5 million) in a large-scale solar-thermal plant in Novi Sad, Serbia. The project is expected to reduce the district heating agency’s natural gas consumption by around 29%.
DRI, OMV Petrom sign Romania’s largest PV power deal
DRI has signed Romania’s largest-ever power purchase agreement (PPA) with OMV Petrom, covering three solar projects and 100 GWh of annual generation.
Solar dominates Poland’s latest renewables auctions
Figures from Poland’s Energy Regulatory Authority (URE) show that solar accounted for 198 of the 200 successful bids awarded under the country’s latest renewables auctions. Auctions covering hydroelectric power plants, agricultural biogas plants, and biomass went unresolved due to a lack of valid offers.
A tumultuous year for solar and batteries
In five key trends, pv magazine looks back over a year that saw PV module prices fall lower than many thought possible, while demand was restrained by grid congestion, among other challenges. Energy storage has had a strong year and geopolitics is seeing solar and battery manufacturing enter new regions as competition drives technical innovation.
US-backed Econergy secures financing for 92 MW solar farm in Romania
Econergy Renewable Energy has secured financing from Raiffeisen Bank for its 92 MW Parau solar project in Romania, marking the Israeli company’s second such transaction with the bank.
Polish capacity market auction for 2029 catalyzes gigawatts of battery storage
The much-anticipated capacity market auction for 2029 conducted by Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne (PSE) ended in the seventh round with a price of PLN 264.90 ($62.12)/kW per year. Such a clearing price rendered gas projects uneconomical and left significant room for battery storage systems to secure contracts.
Romania allocates 432 MW of PV at average price of €0.051/kWh in first renewables auction
The Romanian authorities have allocated 1.52 GW of renewable energy capacity in a procurement exercise, with the lowest bid for PV technology at €0.045 ($0.047)/kWh.
Montenegro to launch 300 MWh battery storage tender
Montenegro’s Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) has upped the ante for its first battery energy storage tender.
Midea Hiconics releases new residential all-in-one battery storage systems
The Chinese company says its three-phase Hienergy series can pair with PV arrays of up to 8.5 kW, with battery storage reaching up to 40.8 kWh.
Czech parliament backs plan to retroactively cut solar feed-in-tariffs
The Czech lower house of parliament has approved plans to retroactively cut feed-in-tariffs (FIT) for solar projects built between 2009 and 2010. The local solar sector has continued to criticize the planned law changes, which still need approval from the upper house.
