Germany’s solar market faces price wars, consolidation
A series of inquiries to residential PV installers has revealed a tough consolidation phase in Germany’s solar installation market. With an increasing number of installers offering solar arrays at very low prices, competition is intensifying as companies vie for fewer orders.
Lightsource bp switches on 40 MW of solar in Poland
UK-based Lightsource bp says its first solar project in Poland has begun commercial operations, with the developer signing a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Microsoft.
Fimer launches sale proceedings under extraordinary administration
Fimer has launched a process to sell itself to new owners. Interested investors have until Aug. 31 to submit offers.
France records 1 GW of new solar for Q2
Grid operator Enedis said last week that France installed 1,013 MW of new PV systems in the second quarter alone. If the current growth rate continues in the second half, the country could install record capacity in 2024.
German startup offers self-adhesive film for glare-free PV modules
Germany-based Phytonics has developed a self-adhesive film with microstructures to reduce glare on PV modules. It is available in sheets and rolls for new and existing PV systems.
Romania aims to roll out 5 GW of energy storage by end 2026
Romania is aiming to have at least 2.5 GW of energy storage installed by the end of next year and to exeed 5 GW only a year later.
The Hydrogen Stream: Europe could miss 2030 hydrogen targets
The European Court of Auditors says the European Union will likely fail to achieve its 2030 renewable hydrogen goals, while the US Department of Energy and Arches have agreed to build a $12.6 billion hydrogen hub in California.
Germany’s balcony PV installations hit 200 MW in H1
Germany’s Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) says 220,000 balcony PV systems were installed in the country in the first half of the year, reaching 200 MW.
Empowering female entrepreneurs is essential for attracting more women to executive positions
This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Camille Zimmermann, Investment Director at France-based equity firm Omnes. She says that, when there are women at the helm of companies, it seems there is no problem in finding other talented women to join the ranks of their organizations.
Organic solar cell based on PEDOT:PSS hole transport layer achieves 17.1% efficiency
A team of researchers in Germany has fabricated a non-fullerene acceptor-based organic photovoltaic cell featuring a bilayer solution-processed hole transporting layer. It recorded a power conversion efficiency of 17.1% and maintained 93% of its initial efficiency after 1,800 hours under continuous solar cell operation at 60 C.
