Western Europe

A survey of 1,797 residents was used to determine the willingness to pay for low-carbon residential heating in the Netherlands. On average, respondents were willing to pay a premium of 33% for electricity-based heating. Policy recommendations were also provided as part of the study.

New research from Switzerland shows that capex costs for Alpine PV projects in Switzerland currently range between €2,231/kW and €4,182/KW for ground-mounted projects and up to €3,802/kW and €7,108/kW for wall-mounted and floating projects, respectively.

More than 4,500 certified heat pump installations were recorded in the United Kingdom in July 2024, while battery storage installations continue to significantly outperform previous years. Subsidy schemes that slash the cost of installing a heat pump are a key growth driver, according to the industry.

In the module prototype, all components that are not directly used to convert light into electricity are made of biodegradable or recyclable materials or renewable raw materials. The module is the result of the E2 – E-Quadrat project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

Sweden installed 460 MW of solar in the first half of 2024, following a record deployment year in 2023. However, market growth has been sluggish due to lower electricity prices and uncertainty around green tax deductions for batteries, according to Svensk Solenergi.

Varta says it now expects high demand for its Varta.wall DC high-voltage battery. It initially presented the product at Intersolar 2022, but has struggled with its market introduction.

Linde has signed a long-term deal to supply clean hydrogen in Alberta, Canada, while Hyundai Motor and Pertamina have agreed to jointly develop Indonesia’s hydrogen ecosystem.

The US Navy has funded Danish research on preventing biofouling while maintaining visible light transmission on underwater solar cells. The top solution uses ultra-low concentrations of nano-sized, seawater-soluble pigments. Power generation stayed close to 100% after 13 weeks underwater.

German manufacturer EKD says its new Ampere.StoragePro E3 battery uses lithium-iron phosphate cells and can be cascaded to reach up to 231 kWh.

A European consortium of commercial and research groups is developing lighter weight, solar-powered, cost-conscious, three and four-wheel prototype vehicles for passengers and cargo. The $13.4 million project aims for a platform that has standardized components, including the battery, powertrain, and solar PV parts, as well as support for end-of-life, maintenance, and refurbishment.