Global

Spanish utility company Iberdrola has acquired an 88% stake in Electricity North West (ENW) for an equity value of €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion), valuing the company, including its debt, at €5 billion. Since merging with ScottishPower in 2007, Iberdrola has viewed the UK as a key investment destination, investing €36 billion. ScottishPower is the UK’s only fully green integrated utility. The acquisition positions the UK at the forefront of Iberdrola’s markets by regulated asset base,…

The plan for a $2.36 billion lithium-ion battery factory by Chinese company Gotion High-Tech in Big Rapids, Michigan, has encountered significant opposition from U.S. lawmakers and local residents. Initially hailed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer as a major economic development project, the factory aims to create thousands of jobs. Leading the opposition is Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, who accuses Gotion of ties to forced labour and potential espionage for Beijing. Moolenaar’s concerns reflect the…

German utility enviaM group, through its subsidiary envia THERM, has partnered with the ASG Group under the joint venture Ventura Holding to develop solar projects with a total potential of more than 700 MW in central Germany. The collaboration aims to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy and bolster the region as a green business and industrial hub. Patrick Kather, enviaM board member for production and sales, highlighted the significance of the solar parks, which…

German solar developer ib vogt GmbH has secured a power purchase agreement (PPA) for its 50-MWac/68-MWp solar farm project in Bangladesh. Sonagazi Solar Power Limited, sponsored by ib vogt, signed the agreement with the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDP) and Power Grid Bangladesh PLC. Under the PPA, Sonagazi Solar will receive a fixed tariff of USD 0.1094 (EUR 0.102) per kWh for 20 years. The solar farm will be built in the north of the…

Dubai-based developer Amea Power has started building a 24 MW solar project in the West Nile region of northwestern Uganda. The Ituka project, located on a 52-hectare site in Ombachi village, about 450 km from Kampala, will be the first solar project in the region. The project is being developed by Ituka West Nile Uganda Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amea Power. The plant is expected to be commissioned by the third quarter of 2025…

Chinese solar module manufacturer JA Solar has filed patent infringement complaints against an unnamed competitor before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in Germany. The complaints, lodged with the Munich and Hamburg Local Divisions of the UPC, concern the competitor’s TOPCon solar modules, alleging infringement of JA Solar’s patents EP 2 787 541 B1 and EP 4 092 759 B1. JA Solar highlighted that TOPCon, or “tunnel oxide passivated contact,” is a standard technology for crystalline…

Rinnai Australia Pty Ltd, hot water, heating, and cooling solutions company, acquired Smart Energy Group Pty Ltd, a renewable energy retailer specializing in solar PV systems and battery storage. This acquisition enhances both companies’ capabilities in the renewable energy sector. Rinnai aims to meet evolving customer needs and contribute to Australia’s renewable energy goals by integrating Smart Energy’s expertise in renewable energy, customer service, and high-quality solar PV systems with battery storage.   With over 50…

Solestial has announced a strategic partnership with Meyer Burger Technology to increase the production of silicon solar technology. Solestial, based in Tempe, Arizona, specializes in radiation-resistant solar cells and flexible solar power modules designed for long-term space applications. Meyer Burger, a Swiss company, brings its expertise in manufacturing solar cells and modules to the partnership. The collaboration aims to produce 1 MW of solar cells annually by mid-2025, a substantial increase from Solestial’s current output…

RWE Supply & Trading and the Salzgitter Group have signed a seven-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for 64 GWh of green electricity annually, starting in 2027. The electricity will be sourced from the 180 MW Boitzenburger Land solar park in Brandenburg, one of Germany’s largest photovoltaic systems, operational since autumn 2023. The solar park, covering 170 hectares, is owned by Solarenergie Boitzenburger Land GmbH, GP JOULE Group, and Mainova AG. The park’s electricity is marketed…

Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and Soltec are partnering to develop a prototype two-axis tracker for Fraunhofer ISE’s latest micro-Concentrator photovoltaics (CPV) technology, with installation planned in Spain by the end of 2024. Soltec, specialising in solar trackers for large-scale projects, and Fraunhofer ISE, known for its III-V and concentrator photovoltaics research, aim to enhance CPV technology. Fraunhofer’s micro-CPV modules achieve a 36% conversion efficiency, yielding 30% more energy than conventional PV solutions….