Day
2026-11-04
35 stories published.
rPlus Energies Credit Facility Closes at Up to $450M
rPlus Energies closed a $450 million revolving credit facility to support solar and storage projects in the American West. This financing structure provides flexible capital for developers managing multiple projects backed by existing operating assets.
Australia: "A major piece of future proofing:" Canberra's biggest battery powers up to underpin net zero, electrification
The 250 MW/500 MWh Williamsdale BESS in Canberra has been officially commissioned and is now operating commercially to support the ACT's energy security and net zero targets. This project demonstrates the operational capability of large-scale battery storage in supporting grid stability and electrification in major urban centers.
Key wind and solar auction looms amid viability concerns
Ireland's RESS 6 auction opens this week with a €110/MWh solar price cap that Solar Ireland argues is too low for current construction costs. This outcome will determine which wind and solar projects can proceed toward Ireland's 2030 renewable targets.
Exclusive: Apartment Complexes Banning Balcony Solar Panels Misapplied Management Rules
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment released a plan to promote balcony solar in 2 million households and issued 37.5 billion won for household solar promotion. This matters because it addresses regulatory barriers in apartment complexes and supports the national goal of expanding distributed solar adoption.
EU sold wind turbines worth 3.1 billion euros in 2025, and the story flips with solar panels: nearly all imports come from China
Eurostat data shows the EU exported 3.1 billion euros in wind turbines in 2025 while importing 8 billion euros in solar panels, 98.6% from China. This trade imbalance highlights the EU's reliance on Chinese manufacturing for solar modules despite its wind export strength.
What it takes to finance a battery in Hungary
Hungarian banks discussed how they assess battery storage projects, noting that cash flow predictability is critical for debt sizing. This matters because understanding local lending criteria helps developers structure viable financing for energy storage assets.
Brazil: Brasol warns that thefts are the main threat to the profitability of solar power plants
Brasol reports that equipment theft is the primary threat to the profitability of distributed solar assets, noting that recovery time and insurance deductibles significantly impact revenue. This highlights the critical importance of robust asset protection and operational security strategies for solar operators managing large-scale distributed portfolios.
MPs warn solar farms are putting Britain's best farmland at risk
MPs warned that large-scale solar developments in Britain are putting high-quality farmland at risk, citing a specific project in Cheshire. This debate highlights the critical tension between renewable energy expansion and food security, requiring professionals to consider land-use conflicts in project siting.
Oman Energy Storage Project Signed with Chinese Firm -- Jiandao Net
Nama Holding and State Grid International Development Co. signed a framework agreement for a 1 GW battery energy storage system in Oman. This project is significant as it extends bilateral cooperation to grid flexibility assets, supporting the integration of renewable energy into the national transmission grid.
Vernon Parish lifts solar farm moratorium
Vernon Parish has lifted its solar farm moratorium and adopted a revised ordinance with new traffic and maintenance rules. This update clarifies local regulatory requirements for developers in the region.
IoT rig tracks perovskite solar windows through a real winter
A field study in Peshawar tracked two semi-transparent perovskite window modules through a full winter using low-cost IoT logging. This provides real-world seasonal degradation data for BIPV that laboratory simulators cannot replicate.
GridPoint launches energy storage initiative targeting 2 GW of distributed installations
GridPoint has announced a plan to deploy 2 GW of distributed battery energy storage systems across more than 20,000 commercial sites in the United States. This initiative is significant for energy professionals as it demonstrates how existing energy management platforms can integrate storage to provide resilience and cost savings for multi-site operators.
United States: FCC Ban Hits A-Share Inverter Sector, Global Expansion Becomes Key to Corporate Success
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has updated its Covered List to regulate foreign-made connected power inverters, causing significant volatility in the A-share market and impacting Sungrow's stock price. This regulatory shift highlights the critical importance of global market diversification and supply chain resilience for solar inverter manufacturers facing new trade restrictions.
Solar energy without grid injection: Why is Zero Grid attracting businesses and rural producers?
The Zero Grid model is gaining traction as grid export restrictions push businesses and rural producers toward self-consumption systems. TTS Energia data shows 1.4 GW of new capacity added in 2026, highlighting a shift in project design to match local demand.
Global Energy Storage Deployment Surges, Outpacing Government Targets; Japan Has Not Set Any
Global battery storage deployment is expanding rapidly, with China and Europe leading the growth, yet the sector is still projected to miss the sixfold increase target set at COP29. This gap highlights the critical need for accelerated storage adoption to support the integration of renewable energy sources like solar power into the grid.
Peak Energy CEO: ‘Anywhere LFP ESS goes, we go – and we do it better
Peak Energy raised $108 million in a Series B round to expand its Sacramento factory for grid-scale sodium-ion BESS. This investment supports the production of 4 GWh annually, aiming to compete with LFP on cost and safety.
In the Netherlands, Even Highways Generate Energy: New 65-Km Solar Plan Spans Bridges and Barriers
North Holland approved a plan to install solar panels along 65 km of Dutch highways, utilizing noise barriers and bridges. This project leverages existing infrastructure to generate electricity without requiring new land, offering a model for integrating renewable energy into transportation networks.
Enel reveals it was preparing a "megabattery" five times larger than the bid in Colombia's auction: key details of the project
Enel Green Power disclosed it prepared a battery project five times larger than the total energy offered in Colombia's recent auction, but competition rules prevented its inclusion. This highlights how current contracting mechanisms limit the scale of industrial storage projects in the region.
Photovoltaics in the 2027 Budget Bill Text Transmitted to the Chamber
The 2027 Italian budget bill proposes a 1.2 billion euro grant for small photovoltaic plants and support for energy-intensive companies investing in renewables and storage. These measures aim to reduce electricity costs and promote renewable energy adoption within the national energy framework.
Electric battery capacity nearly doubles in the US under Trump
US utility-scale battery storage capacity nearly doubled to 165 GWh in the first 18 months of the current administration, with Q2 2026 installations hitting a record 20.2 GWh. This rapid expansion is driven by grid operators and data centers seeking to manage peak demand and improve system reliability.
STEG Prepares 300 MW of Battery Storage Across 10 Sites to Prevent Power Outages
STEG has launched an international tender for 300 MW of battery energy storage systems across ten sites in Tunisia to prevent load shedding. This initiative is significant for professionals as it demonstrates a national strategy to enhance grid flexibility and manage the balance between electricity production and consumption.
Solar, China Raises Industrial Standards
China's MIIT proposed 2026 photovoltaic manufacturing standards with differentiated efficiency thresholds for TOPCon, HJT, and BC cells. These updates aim to improve quality and address overcapacity in the solar supply chain.
Quang Ngai Promotes Rooftop Solar Power Development
Quang Ngai Province reports 437.11 MWp of installed rooftop solar capacity by late October 2026, including 6.74 MWh of battery storage. This data highlights the scale of distributed solar adoption and the integration of storage in Vietnam's provincial energy landscape.
India’s solar module manufacturing capacity could reach 3.48 TW by 2047
ISMA projects India's solar module capacity to reach 3.48 TW by 2047, requiring $89 billion in investment. This roadmap highlights the shift toward full domestic value chain integration for energy professionals.
Budget measure allocates funds for hydropower, photovoltaics, and building energy efficiency
The 2027 Italian budget allocates 1.2 billion euros for new photovoltaic installations and 800 million euros for hydropower maintenance. These funds support renewable energy expansion and provide aid to energy-intensive companies and SMEs.
Nickel powder optimization cuts TOPCon solar cell metallization costs by 6.8% without compromising efficiency
UNSW researchers demonstrated a 6.8% reduction in rear-finger raw-metal costs for TOPCon cells by optimizing nickel powder characteristics for partial silver replacement. This work highlights how specific powder properties influence electrical performance and printability, offering a pathway to lower metallization expe
These cranberry bogs come with a side of solar
Two cranberry bogs in Massachusetts are the first in the country to harvest berries beneath operating solar arrays. This demonstrates a viable agrivoltaics model that supports local agriculture and renewable energy generation.
Romania: AFIR selects 60 solar projects over 1 MW worth 89 million euros across 26 counties
The Rural Investment Financing Agency has selected 60 solar projects exceeding 1 MW for self-consumption by farms and food processors, with a total public value of 89 million euros. This state aid scheme, funded by the Modernization Fund, supports renewable energy generation for on-site use, which is critical for reducing grid dependency and operational costs in the agricultural sector.
SMM: Oct sodium-ion battery materials volume rises, prices weak; delivery capacity key differentiator
SMM data shows October sodium-ion cathode production rose 3% MoM and 260% YoY, while hard carbon anode production fell 4% MoM. Delivery capacity and cost control are now key differentiators as the industry faces price weakness and supply-demand tension in Q4.
Chinese scientists develop self-powered PV-TEG system for hotspot detection, thermal management
Scientists at Southeast University developed a self-powered PV-TEG system that integrates hotspot detection and thermal management. This approach offers a new method for monitoring PV module health using thermoelectric signals.
Petro's government allocated nearly 28 billion pesos to a solar energy program, but no community received the infrastructure
The EN-Comunidad program allocated 28 billion pesos but failed to deliver infrastructure to beneficiary communities by December 2025. This highlights significant execution risks in government-backed renewable energy initiatives for indigenous and rural groups.
Never before have so many batteries been registered as in October, record after record as the netting scheme approaches its end
October 2026 set a record for new battery registrations in the region, with 63,002 units registered in the first ten months of the year. This surge highlights the urgent need for storage solutions as the netting scheme ends on January 1, 2027.
Businesses installed more solar panels in October than last year, while the consumer market also showed a cautious recovery
October 2026 data shows a year-on-year increase in business solar installations and a second consecutive monthly rise in consumer registrations. This trend highlights the ongoing divergence between commercial and residential adoption rates in the current market environment.
K-Battery Big Three: Q3 Earnings Recovery in Sight... ESS at the Center of Rebound [Battery Radar]
Korean battery majors report Q3 earnings recovery driven by North American ESS demand and European EV market recovery. This highlights the growing role of energy storage in stabilizing battery manufacturer profitability amid EV market fluctuations.
Solar up to 1 MW, 40% subsidies in 2027 Budget
Italy's 2027 budget bill authorizes GSE to grant capital contributions of up to 40% for new PV plants under 1 MW, with a €1.2 billion allocation for 3 GW. This measure is reserved for entities accessing the FER X mechanism and requires parliamentary approval and an implementing decree to become operational.