EU solar installations hit 65.5 GW in 2024, says SolarPower Europe
Solar installations grew 4% year on year in the European Union in 2024, down sharply from 53% growth in 2023. The slowdown coincides with a decline in solar investment, marking the first such drop this decade. SolarPower Europe now forecasts annual growth of 3% to 7% in solar installations from 2025 to 2028.
Nexwafe claims 24.4% efficiency for heterojunction solar cell built with its ultrathin wafers
The German wafer manufacturer said the efficiency was achieved with an unspecified M6 HJT commercial production line, without specifying if the result was certified by an independent third party.
Germany deploys 1 GW of PV in November
Germany installed 1 GW of solar power in November, bringing its cumulative capacity to 97.55 GW by the end of the month.
European electricity prices increase on winter demand
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting says European electricity prices increased across most major markets last week, leading to weekly averages in excess of €120 ($126.03)/MWh in all markets, bar the Nordics.
ABB to acquire Gamesa’s power electronics, storage business
ABB has agreed to purchase Gamesa’s power electronics and storage business, which produces doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) wind converters, industrial battery energy storage systems (BESS), and utility-scale solar inverters.
BLS plans 1 GW fab to make battery-powered electrolyzers
Battolyser Systems’ (BLS) product is a patented dual-purpose electrolyzer with a battery function.
Fraunhofer ISE, EDF developing AI-based heat pump controller
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) and EDF are leading an international consortium developing AI-driven heat pumps that adapt to environmental conditions and learn from changing circumstances.
Romania allocates 432 MW of PV at average price of €0.051/kWh in first renewables auction
The Romanian authorities have allocated 1.52 GW of renewable energy capacity in a procurement exercise, with the lowest bid for PV technology at €0.045 ($0.047)/kWh.
The Hydrogen Stream: US will focus on blue H2, at least one giga-scale green project will take FID in 2025
Wood Mackenzie says the United States will dominate the blue hydrogen market by 2025, driven by policy shifts and large-scale investments, while Siemens Mobility says it has secured approval for its Mireo Plus H hydrogen trains to begin passenger service in Germany.
German institutes unveil facade with PV, weather protection, thermal insulation
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (Fraunhofer UMSICHT) say their new facade combines PV modules, weather protection, and thermal insulation. It eliminates the need for a substructure and uses insulation made from sustainable raw materials.
