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Applications & Installations
Engie starts building first co-located solar and battery project in France Engie has begun construction of its first co-located solar and battery project in France, combining 29.8 MW of solar capacity with a 20 MWh battery system to shift electricity delivery to periods of higher grid demand.
Gwénaëlle Deboutte
Oct 22, 2026
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Markets & Policy
Spanish region announce tax on ground mounted PV The Spanish region of Castilla y León plans to extend its environmental impact tax to ground-mounted solar installations from 2027. Spanish solar association UNEF has criticised the proposal, arguing that PV projects already face multiple taxes and that the new levy lacks environmental justification.
Pilar Sánchez Molina
Oct 22, 2026
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Applications & Installations
Rio Tinto plans 360 MWh thermal battery for Australian alumina refinery Rio Tinto is assessing a 360 MWh thermal battery to replace fossil fuels in alumina refining, with the proposed Australian project potentially cutting annual emissions by 67,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
David Carroll
Oct 22, 2026
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Research & Development
UNSW researchers find east-west ground-mounted PV shows less degradation than single-axis tracking counterparts Researchers at the University of New South Wales found that east-west ground-mounted PV systems can experience up to 40% lower rates of certain degradation mechanisms than single-axis trackers. Their simulations showed that lower operating temperatures and reduced UV exposure could improve module reliability, particularly in remote installations.
Emiliano Bellini
Oct 22, 2026
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Research & Development
Solar parks could more than double soil carbon in desert environments, study finds Researchers in China found that a large-scale desert solar park increased soil carbon content by 125.89% compared with undisturbed land. The study also identified how PV mounting systems, soil depth, and environmental factors influence carbon accumulation and its threshold effects.
Lior Kahana
Oct 22, 2026
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Applications & Installations
Italy’s solar output rises 27% to 5.32 TWh in September Solar generation accounted for 48.6% of Italy’s renewable electricity output in September 2026, while renewable capacity additions for standalone battery storage slowed compared with the previous year.
Massimiliano Tripodo
Oct 22, 2026
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Markets & Policy
Morocco opens pre-qualification for 350 MW of solar Morocco’s renewable energy agency has launched pre-qualification to select contractors for at least 350 MW of ground-mounted solar across several regions, with applications due Nov. 30.
Brian Publicover
Oct 22, 2026
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Markets & Policy
China outlines new spot market rules supporting renewable energy and storage integration The revised rules would cover joint bidding, dispatch, settlement and performance assessment, alongside further electricity market reforms.
Vincent Shaw
Oct 22, 2026
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Applications & Installations
EBRD-led lenders back 1.2 GW solar, 600 MWh storage plant in Egypt A European development bank is arranging up to $265 million for a 1.2 GW solar plant with 600 MWh of storage in Egypt, as part of a debt package of up to $566 million.
Brian Publicover
Oct 21, 2026