France deployed 3.5 GW of new solar in January-September period
France added an additional 3.5 GW of solar during the first three quarters of this year, compared to 2.3 GW during the same period of 2023. The country’s total installed solar capacity now stands at 23.7 GW, including 22.9 GW in mainland France.
Researchers complete Europe’s first PV soiling loss assessment
A European research group has adapted a soiling model for use across the continent, analyzing scenarios with complete and partial rain cleaning to calculate energy losses and increases in the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), marking Europe’s first techno-economic PV soiling assessment.
EPC Solaire launches mounting system for ribbed sheet metal roofs
EPC Solaire has released a new mounting system for ribbed sheet metal roofs. The French manufacturer says the new system is an ideal solution for installing rooftop PV arrays on flat roofs under renovation, preserving existing elements without structural changes.
France concludes C&I rooftop PV tender with average price of €0.09995/kWh
The French authorities have wrapped up a commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop PV tender with an average price of €0.09995 ($0.1055)/kWh. The government has allocated 253.3 MW of solar capacity in total.
TotalEnergies to acquire Germany’s VSB Group
France’s TotalEnergies is set to buy German renewables company VSB Group for €1.57 billion ($1.65 billion). It has also agreed to sell 50% of a 2 GW solar-plus-storage portfolio in Texas for $800 million.
TagEnergy to build France’s largest battery, 240MW/480MWh
TagEnergy will develop and manage the Cernay-lès-Reims project, which is scheduled for grid connection in late 2025. It will have a storage capacity nearly five times larger than France’s current largest operational battery.
Reden Solar inaugurates 200 MW solar module production line in France
Reden Solar has launched a 200 MW solar module production line in France, with capacity to produce up to 300,000 modules per year, primarily for its own renewable electricity projects.
Agrivoltaics can increase grape yield by up to 60%
French agrivoltaics company Sun’Agri says that two of its facilities increased grape yields by 20% to 60% in 2024, compared to areas without solar panels. The PV modules helped regulate temperature fluctuations, reducing summer heat peaks and winter temperature declines.
The Hydrogen Stream: UK scientists call for strict rules for H2 leakage
The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies says addressing hydrogen leakage across the supply chain is crucial to making hydrogen a sustainable energy vector. Italy, meanwhile, has unveiled its national hydrogen strategy, with a focus on its role in the Mediterranean.
The Hydrogen Stream: US government offers $2.2 billion for H2 hubs
The US Department of Energy has revealed plans to allocate up to $1.2 billion for a hydrogen hub in Texas and the Gulf Coast and up to $1 billion for a similar project spanning Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan.
