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Received today β€” 2 April 2026

Empowering the Renewable Revolution: High-Performance Inverter Duty Transformers

22 February 2026 at 15:14
The rapid expansion of solar energy across utility-scale plants, industrial rooftops, and captive power systems has reshaped the dynamics of power generation and grid integration. At the heart of every efficient solar power plant lies a critical link between power generation and transmission – the Inverter Duty Transformer (IDT). Designed to handle the unique electrical […]

India’s Renewable Energy Transition

20 February 2026 at 02:21
As the nation races toward its ambitious target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, the renewable energy revolution has moved from the margins to the mainstream, fundamentally reshaping commercial strategies, regulatory frameworks, and operational paradigms across the entire value chain. For energy regulators, power producers, distribution companies, and industry professionals, understanding this […]

Japan-Backed Solar Systems to Help Palestine Refugees in Lebanon

18 February 2026 at 07:18
Ending 2025 on a high note, UNRWA and the Government of Japan marked the successful completion of a solar power installation project at the Siblin Training Centre (STC) in southern Lebanon, bringing clean electricity to education, health, and water facilities to thousands of Palestine Refugee families across the country. Speaking at the launch of the […]

Uniper Signs Ten-Year PPA to Supply NKT with Solar Power

18 February 2026 at 07:12
Uniper and NKT have signed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for electricity from Uniper’s newly developed photovoltaic (PV) asset in Wilhelmshaven. The agreement represents a meaningful step for both companies as they strengthen their sustainability commitments and increase the use of regionally sourced renewable energy. The solar park Voslapper Groden, located on the ash […]
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Spain deploys 1.13 GW of solar for self-consumption in 2025

Spain installed 1.14 GW of solar capacity for self-consumption in 2025, lifting cumulative capacity to 9.3 GW, as residential and commercial installations declined while industrial and off-grid segments showed greater resilience, according to data from the Spanish Photovoltaic Union.

From pv magazine Spain

Solar self-consumption capacity in Spain reached a cumulative 9.3 GW in 2025, according to data from the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF).

Spain added 1,139 MW of new self-consumption capacity during the year, representing a 3.7% slowdown compared with 2024. UNEF said the deceleration signals a phase of market stabilization following several years of rapid growth.

The residential segment accounted for 229 MW across 36,330 new installations, a year-on-year decline of 17%. UNEF attributed the contraction to the phase-out of tax incentives linked to energy-efficient home renovations and lower compensation for surplus electricity exported to the grid under deregulated market contracts.

UNEF said falling surplus compensation prices are reducing the attractiveness of oversized systems designed primarily for grid injection. As a result, demand is shifting toward installations optimized for instantaneous self-consumption. The association is calling for revisions to the simplified regulated compensation mechanism to enable broader settlement of surplus energy and improve economic signals for small-scale systems.

The commercial segment installed 176 MW in 2025, down 15% from the previous year. Collective self-consumption remains limited despite its potential to optimize shared generation and demand. Industry representatives said pending regulatory updates are needed to enable aggregated management models, dynamic energy allocation, and an expansion of eligible self-consumption areas.

Industrial self-consumption installations totaled 679 MW, marking a slight increase compared with 2024. UNEF said growth in this segment is being driven by larger medium-voltage systems aimed at reducing electricity costs and partially covering electrified thermal demand. Project viability increasingly depends on tariff structures with a higher variable component and more streamlined permitting for medium-sized installations.

Off-grid installations reached 55 MW in 2025, reflecting growing uptake of hybrid solar-plus-storage systems in rural areas and locations without grid access. Battery integration in grid-connected installations also continued to rise, improving controllability of generation and supporting system flexibility.

UNEF said Spain will need to deploy an average of around 2 GW of self-consumption capacity per year to meet the 19 GW target set out in the country’s National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan. Achieving that level will require regulatory stability, administrative simplification, and more effective integration of distributed energy storage.

Key takeaways from Solar Flex Prague

2 February 2026 at 15:30

Czechia’s first international conference on solar and flexibility highlighted that the combination of solar with storage and flexibility sources is key to not just Czechia’s, but also Europe’s, secure and competitive electricity system.

Solar Flex Prague, jointly organised by SolarPower Europe, SolΓ‘rnΓ­ Asociace and Asociace AKU-BAT CZ, welcomed visitors to a snowy Czech capital on Thursday (29 January), bringing together stakeholders from across Europe to discuss how flexibility solutions and storage can be further deployed.

The conference began with a speech from SolarPower Europe CEO, Walburga Hemetsberger, who said that while electrification is a lifeline for Europe, there is dwindling confidence in the energy transition among some politicians, some leading businesses and key players in the defence sector.

β€œThe way out of the doubts is to really bank big time on flexibility, on storage and on electrification. This will show very concrete benefits very quickly, make politicians understand and really feel the benefits,” Hemetsberger told attendees, before adding that the combination of solar with storage and flexibility sources can lower energy system costs by €30 billion by 2030, while strengthening Europe’s security by removing dependency on foreign players.Β 

Paula Dorado represented the European Commission via video call and told attendees work on an electrification action plan is underway, scheduled for adoption this year. The plan is expected to address barriers and provide a way forward on electrification for different sectors including companies, households and industrial processes, Dorado said.

Throughout the day, speakers were in agreement that storage and flexibility now play an integral role in Czechia’s electricity system. Panellists pointed out that solar-plus-storage projects can be implemented in a matter of months, offering companies the ability to save money or open new revenue streams. Other speakers stressed the idea that renewable sources are uncontrollable is now outdated, explaining that modern solar-plus-storage systems are not only manageable, offering the ability to respond to market prices and the needs of both transmission and distribution system operators, but are shifting from grid-following to grid-forming technologies and contribute to the stability of the electricity system.

Czechia appears ahead of the curve when it comes to deploying co-located storage with smaller-scale solar, with figures published by Czechia’s largest electricity distributor, ČEZ Distribuce, last September sharing 86% of solar plants connected during the first half of 2025 were equipped with energy storage. In contrast, the country’s large-scale solar market sits at a pivotal moment following the implementation of a legal framework for large-scale development and operation last year. During an afternoon session on opportunities and challenges related to storage and the grid, Rene Nedela from Czechia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade said up to 180 GW of BESS applications have been registered, although some are without any project readiness.

Several speakers advised Czechia to look to other countries further down the line of large-scale battery deployment, and in particular its neighbour Germany, whose favourable market environment for batteries has helped attract investors and move flexibility efforts forwards.

Attendees also said flexible solar-plus-storage projects could help to solve any power shortages that arise from the gradual shutdown of coal-fired power plants in Czechia. The Czech government has committed to phasing out coal-fired electricity generation by 2033 and the country’s last deep black coal mine shut down last month.

During the afternoon session, Alexandr Cerny from Czechia’s Energy Regulatory Office introduced proposed changes to Czechia’s energy tariffs, expected to come into force from the start of next year. The changes will restructure current tariff categories, particularly at the higher voltage levels, and are in part designed to reward flexibility in both consumption and generation, holding the potential to help ramp up the deployment of batteries while better integrating renewables to the grid.

Solar Flex Prague was SolarPower Europe’s second conference on flexibility following the inaugural Solar Flex Croatia held last March. A second edition of Solar Flex Croatia will take place in Zagreb on March 17 this year and Hemetsberger told pv magazine work is currently underway preparing the first Solar Flex Italy for later this year.

Data center survey reveals majority believe renewables and BESS are the ideal energy mix, power issues start in 2027

2 February 2026 at 15:26

54% of respondents cited β€œenergy availability and redundancy” as the single greatest obstacle to successful data center development between now and 2030.

From ESS News

aw firm Foley & Lardner LLP released today its 2026 Data Center Development Report, focusing on the growth and challenges in the data center boom that aims to sustain the growth in AI and LLM usage.

A major focus was on energy, with 54% of respondents citing β€œenergy availability and redundancy” as the single greatest obstacle to successful data center development between now and 2030.

Want to learn more about matching renewables with data center demand?

Join us on April 22 for the 3rd SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference in Riyadh.

The event will spotlight how solar and energy storage solutions are driving sustainable and reliable infrastructure,Β with a particular focus on powering the country’s rapidly growing data center sector.

In terms of the right energy mix for data centers, 55% of respondents agreeing that the ideal energy mix to meet the growing power demand of data centers is largely renewables (41%), followed by natural gas (17%), nuclear (16%), and BESS (14%).

Nearly half (48%) of industry participants named advances in energy efficiency (which often includes storage optimization) as the greatest opportunity for development through the end of the decade, and nearly three in four respondents (74%) said advanced energy storage systems like batteries, hybrid solutions, and microgrids are the best way to ensure energy resilience.

Only 14% of developers are actually pursuing modular and small modular nuclear reactors as a viable energy opportunity.

Intriguingly, 63% anticipate a β€œstrategic correction” in the market by 2030, driven by the intense competition for power, with one unnamed banking executive in the report saying, β€œOnce power runs out in 2027 or 2028, that’s where we think deal flow will start to slow down.”

105 U.S.-based respondents were qualified to participate in the survey, including those who had direct experience in data center development, energy procurement, technology delivery, or operations within the past 24 months.

Energy analyst firm Wood Mackenzie identified data centers as one of the five trends to look for in 2026 for global energy storage, and within the past week, a battery storage project decided to give up a grid-connection to a data center and re-tool the batteries, earning revenue without being connected.

What they said:

Daniel Farris, partner and co-lead of Foley’s data center and digital infrastructure team: β€œThere is a Gold Rush mentality right now around securing power. That’s a big part of why people feel there’s a bubble,” said β€œThere’s going to a period in the next two to three years where power at necessary levels is going to be really hard to come by.”

Rachel Conrad, senior counsel and co-lead of Foley’s data center and digital infrastructure team: β€œOver the next five to 10 years, power providers will need to either grow capacity or increase efficiency to meet the demand fueled by data centers.”

Brazil curtails 20% of solar and wind output in 2025, with losses at $1.2 billion

2 February 2026 at 15:08

Brazil curtailed about one-fifth of its solar and wind generation in 2025, wasting an estimated BRL 6.5 billion ($1.23 billion), as grid constraints and demand mismatches pushed the power system close to operational safety limits on 16 days, according to a report from Volt Robotics.

From pv magazine Brazil

Brazil failed to use roughly 20% of the solar and wind electricity it generated in 2025, resulting in an estimated loss of BRL 6.5 billion, according to Volt Robotics’ Annual Curtailment Report.

Volt Robotics said the scale of curtailment reflects an unprecedented period of renewable oversupply combined with operational constraints in Brazil’s national electricity system.

Average generation cuts reached 4,021 MW over the year, equivalent to the monthly output of a large hydroelectric plant. On at least 16 days in 2025, system operation approached the lower technical safety limit, a sharp increase from 2024, when only one comparable event was recorded.

Volt Robotics said the 2025 events were driven by excess electricity supply rather than scarcity, marking a structural shift in system risk dynamics.

Curtailment intensified between August and October, when historically high levels of generation coincided with transmission constraints and weaker demand. The report attributes the peak losses to a combination of operational limitations, grid congestion, and insufficient flexibility to absorb surplus power.

Sunday mornings emerged as the most frequent stress point for the grid. Volt Robotics said reduced economic activity during weekends lowers electricity demand, while solar output peaks and is often reinforced by strong wind generation. This recurring mismatch leads to network overloads, forced generation cuts, and system operation near the lower safety threshold.

The report also highlights the risk of system instability caused by excess renewable generation. During the 16 critical days, Brazil’s National System Operator classified conditions as severe and implemented emergency measures, supported by the National Electric Energy Agency, including extraordinary generation curtailments.

Volt Robotics warned that without structural adjustments, surplus clean energy itself can become a source of operational risk.

The economic impact extends beyond immediate revenue losses. Frequent curtailment increases perceived investment risk, raises financing costs, and weakens Brazil’s appeal for new renewable energy projects, the report said. Both regulated and free-market projects were affected, with exposure to contractual penalties and the Settlement Price of Differences.

Regionally, Minas Gerais, CearΓ‘, and Rio Grande do Norte recorded the highest levels of curtailed energy, forming what Volt Robotics described as Brazil’s β€œcurtailment triangle.” Southern states experienced significantly lower losses.

Volt Robotics said the situation reflects a structural mismatch between rapid renewable capacity expansion, rising distributed generation, transmission bottlenecks, and tariff structures that do not adequately signal when electricity consumption is most valuable.

The report recommends the introduction of more dynamic time-of-use tariffs, stronger demand-side participation, and regulatory reforms to reduce curtailment and maintain the stability of Brazil’s electricity system.

The impact of microclimate effects on floating PV plants

2 February 2026 at 12:46

French researchers have developed a high-resolution computational framework to model microclimate effects of large floating solar PV systems, enabling accurate predictions of heat transfer, ambient temperatures, and water evaporation based on panel configuration and wind conditions. The model can inform thermal performance, environmental impacts, and optimize designs for utility-scale floating PV, as well as ground-mounted and agrivoltaic installations.

French researchers have developed a framework to model microclimate effects of large-sized floating PV systems.

The new model can be used to determine wind-dependent convective heat transfer coefficients (CHTC), ambient temperatures, and to estimate evaporation patterns in partially covered bodies of water based on a variety tilt angles, module heights, and pitch distances.

β€œThe main novelty of this work lies in the numerical methodology we developed, specifically an upscaling method to quantify panel-atmosphere interactions at the module scale then model the micrometeorology at the power plant scale with a relatively fine resolution of about 4 meters,” Baptiste Amiot, corresponding author of the research told pv magazine, adding that the resolution is significantly higher than others in this field.

β€œApplying this methodology enables us to map the thermal performance across utility-scale installations and to provide insights into local environmental effects, such as evaporative losses,” he said.

The precursor model is geometrically adaptable: tt can handle various tilt angles, mounting heights, and inter-row spacings, according to Amiot. β€œIt is particularly well-suited for large-scale installations exposed to sufficiently windy conditions,” Amiot added.

The researchers used a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) precursor model, a microclimate CFD model supporting the PV parameterization, and an experimental survey.Β A wind-tunnel setup typical of a land-based application was used to confirm accuracy of altitude-based wind profiles.

In addition, a geometrical layout of a commercial floating PV (FPV) installation was used for the atmosphere boundary layer parameters. The wind direction effects were assessed using the microclimate CFD model that reproduced the localized conditions of the commercial FPV array.

β€œThe atmospheric component is fundamentally similar to regional climate models (RCMs) but deploying it within a CFD framework offers advantages in terms of surface element parameterization and the spatial discretization we can achieve,” said Amiot.

Some of the findings included temperature gradients range between 1.3 C/km and 5.8 C/km; headwinds and tailwinds relative to the front surface of the PV modules generate the greatest turbulence levels. Furthermore, the team was able investigate how turbulent flows influence water-saving gains based on PV coverage of the water surface.

Assessing the results, the researchers noted that the precursor method β€œreadily determines” heat transfer coefficient correlations as a function of wind speed and direction. β€œThis is essential to obtain the thermal U-values that govern panel cooling,” added Amiot.

The model can be extended to model large ground-mounted systems and agrivoltaics, including dynamic configurations where panels adjust orientation throughout the day, according to Amiot. It is suitable for inland and nearshore FPV, but not offshore FPV.

The work is detailed in β€œBoundary-layer parameterization for assessing temperature and evaporation in floating photovoltaics at the utility-scale,” published in Renewable Energy. Research participants include Ecole nationale des ponts et chaussees, ElectricitΓ© de France RD, and UniversitΓ© Claude Bernard.

The researchers are currently focused on developing CFD models to predict both the energy output and environmental trade-offs of dual-use photovoltaics systems and FPV evaporation research at finer spatial scales, coupled with in-situ measurements. It is also working on an agrivoltaics CFD-plant model to predict crop response below PV canopies.

Silver price drops sharply, falls back below $80 an ounce

2 February 2026 at 12:23

After hitting an all-time high of $121.65/oz on Jan. 29, silver prices have tumbled to $79.44/oz, with analysts warning of a potential drop toward $50/oz.

After reaching an all-time high of $$121.65 per ounce (oz) on Jan. 29, silver prices have fallen sharply in recent days, dropping to $79.44/oz this morning.

The downturn had been anticipated by two analysts interviewed by pv magazine on Jan. 27, who warned that the steep rally seen in previous weeks could reverse abruptly in the days ahead.

One of the two analysts, Mike McGlone, senior commodity strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, said the price could stabilize around $50/oz, although he did not provide a timeframe for when this new trend might materialize.

β€œReversion toward $50 appears as a normal path for the commodity known as the β€˜devil's metal' due to its volatility,” he told pv magazine.

Rhona O’Connell, head of market analysis for EMEA and Asia at StoneX, said on Jan. 27 that investors might soon rethink their rush into silver. She explained that speculative buying had pushed the metal into risky territory, making prices vulnerable to a sharp correction. O’Connell also said fears of potential U.S. tariffs fueled the recent rally, swelling COMEX inventories as metal flowed into the U.S. Further gains are unlikely, she added, dismissing even $100/oz as unsustainable and warning of a potentially severe price reversal.

Silver prices surged by approximately 130% in the past six months and around 243% over the past year. The average silver price was $28.27/oz in 2024, $23.38/oz in 2023, and $21.80/oz in 2022.

Solar-plus-storage for data centers: not a simple switch

2 February 2026 at 11:18

Renewables and storage could reliably power data centers, but success requires active grids, coordinated planning, and the right mix of technologies. Hitachi Energy CTO, Gerhard Salge, tells pv magazine that holistic approaches ensure technical feasibility, economic viability, and energy system resilience.

As data centers grow in size and complexity, supplying them with cheap and reliable power has never been more pressing. Gerhard Salge, chief technology officer (CTO) at Hitachi Energy, a unit of Japanese conglomerate Hitachi, shed light on the relationship between renewable energy and data center operations, noting that while technically feasible, success requires careful planning, the right infrastructure, and a holistic approach.

β€œWhen we look at what's happening in the grids, then renewables are an active element on the power generation side, and the data centers are an active element on the demand side,” Salge told pv magazine. β€œWhat you need in addition to that is in the dimensions of flexibility, for which we need storage and a grid that can actively act also here in order to bring all these elements together.”

Want to learn more about matching renewables with data center demand?

Join us on April 22 for the 3rd SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference in Riyadh.

The event will spotlight how solar and energy storage solutions are driving sustainable and reliable infrastructure,Β with a particular focus on powering the country’s rapidly growing data center sector.

According to Salge, the key is active grids, not passive systems that simply react to conditions. With more renewables, changing demand patterns, new load centers, and storage options like batteries and existing facilities such as pumped hydro, it is crucial to coordinate these resources actively to maintain supply security, power quality, and cost optimization.

β€œBut when you talk about the impact and the correlation between renewables and data centers, you need always to consider this full scope of the flexibility in a power system of all the elementsβ€”demand side, generation side, storage side, and the active grid in between,” he said, noting that weak or congested grids would not serve this purpose.

AI data centers

Salge warned that not all data centers are the same. β€œThere are conventional data centers and AI data centers,” he said. β€œConventional data centers are essentially high-load systems with some fluctuations on top. They contain many processors handling requestsβ€”from search engines or other applicationsβ€”so the workload is distributed stochastically across them. This creates a baseline load with random ups and downs, which is the typical load pattern of a conventional data center.”

AI workloads, in contrast, rely heavily on GPUs or AI accelerators, which consume significant power continuously. Unlike conventional data centers, AI data centers often run at sustained high load, sometimes close to maximum capacity for long periods.

Htitachi Energy CTO Gerhard Salge

Image: Hitachi Energy

β€œAI data centers are specifically good in doing parallel computing,” Salge explained. β€œSo many of them are triggered with the same demand pattern at the same time, which creates these spikes up and down in the demand profile, and they come in parallel all together.”

These fluctuations challenge both the power supply and the voltage and frequency quality of the connected grid. β€œSo, you need to transport active power from an energy storage system or a supercapacitor to the demand of the AI data center. And that then needs to involve really the control of the data center’s active power. What you need is the interaction between the storage unit and then the AI data center to provide active power or to absorb it afterwards when the peak goes down. That can be also done by a supercapacitor.”

Batteries can store much more energy than supercapacitors, but the latter can ramp smaller energies more frequently. β€œHowever, if you put a battery that is smaller than the load, and you really need to cycle the battery through its full capacity, the battery will not survive very long with your data center, because the frequency of these bursts is so high, then you are aging the battery very, very quickly, yeah, so supercapacitors can do more cycles,” Salge emphasized.

He also noted that batteries and supercapacitors are both mature technologies, but the optimal setupβ€”whether one, the other, or a combination with traditional capacitorsβ€”depends on storage size, number of racks, voltage levels, and overall system design.

Managing AI training bursts

Salge stressed the importance of complying with grid codes across geographies. β€œYou need to become a good citizen to the power system,” he said. β€œYou have to collaborate with local utilities to make sure that you are not infringing the grid codes and you are not disturbing with the data center back into the grid. A good way to do this, when renewables and data centers are co-located, is to manage renewable energy supply already inside the data center territory. Moreover, having a future-fit developed grid is a clear advantage. Because you have much more of these flexibility elements and the active elements to manage storage and renewable integration and to manage the dynamic loads of the data centers.”

If the grid is not future-fit with modern, actively operating equipment, operators will see significantly more stress. β€œWith holistic planning, instead, you can even use some of the data center flexibility as a controllable and demand response kind of feature,” Salge said, adding that data center operators could coordinate AI training bursts to periods when the power system has more available capacity. This makes the data center a predictable, controllable demand, stressing the grid only when it is prepared.

β€œIn conclusion, regarding technical feasibility: yes, it’s possible, but it requires the right configuration,” Salge said.

Economic feasibility

On economics, Salge believes solar and wind remain the cheapest power sources, even when accounting for the grid flexibility needed to integrate them with data centers. Solar is fastest to deploy, wind complements it well, and both can be scaled in parallel.

β€œAny increase in data center demand requires investment, whether from renewables or conventional power. Economics depend on the market, and market mechanisms, regulations, and technical grid planning are interconnected, influencing energy flow, pricing, and system stability,” he said.

β€œWe recommend developers to work with all stakeholdersβ€”utilities, technology providers, and plannersβ€”from the start to ensure reliability, affordability, and social acceptance. Holistic planning avoids reactive fixes and leads to better long-term outcomes,” Salge concluded.

Bulgaria installs 1.4 GW of solar in 2025

2 February 2026 at 10:59

Bulgaria installed over 1 GW of solar for the third consecutive year in 2025 and is forecast to add over 2 GW this year thanks to a large pipeline of utility-scale projects.

Bulgaria added 1,416 MW of solar last year, according to official data published on the ENTSO-E Transparency Platform. The result marks the third consecutive year Bulgaria has deployed over 1 GW of solar and takes the country’s cumulative capacity to 5,984 MW.

Desislava Mateva, project manager at the Sofia-based Association for Production, Storage and Trading of Electricity (APSTE) told pv magazine that Bulgaria’s solar market is currently dominated by ground-mounted, utility-scale solar plants, reflecting the availability of land, strong developer activity and increasing access to project finance.

Utility-scale solar made up around 90% of Bulgaria’s new capacity last year. Mateva said the market was driven by the strong commercial competitiveness of solar, making projects viable without direct subsidies, as well as active support from local and international banks and a large pipeline of development projects that reached the ready-to-build stage or financial close over the past 18 months.

Mateva also noted that Bulgaria is experiencing a wave of standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) deployments and the hybridization of both existing and new solar assets with BESS, as developers look to deal with price cannibalization and declining solar capture rates.

β€œThese developments are expected to reduce price volatility, improve system flexibility, and mitigate capture-price pressure for solar producers,” she explained. β€œAs a result, industry expectations remain positive.”

Among the largest projects to be commissioned in Bulgaria last year was the first phase of the 315 MW/760 MWh Tenevo hybrid project, with a second phase scheduled for commissioning early this year, and the Selanovtsi hybrid project, a 59.8 MW solar plus 107.3 MWh storage site in the northwestern Vratsa region. Bulgaria also commissioned one of the EU's largest standalone BESS facilities last year, located adjacent to a 107 MW solar park.

Bulgaria’s C&I solar market is showing steady momentum, particularly among projects designed for self-consumption, Mateva added, with rising electricity costs incentivizing businesses to invest in on-site solar, often in combination with storage.Β 

In contrast, Bulgaria’s residential solar sector remains underdeveloped in capacity terms. Mateva said interest among households exists but the market segment has been constrained by regulatory complexity and limited incentives.

She added that the residential sector would benefit from the full liberalization of Bulgaria’s electricity market, as currently household electricity prices remain regulated, accounting for roughly 40% of national electricity demand. β€œFull liberalization would stimulate demand-side participation and unlock the residential solar and storage market,” she explained.

Looking ahead, Mateva predicted Bulgaria is on course for a record year in solar deployment in 2026. β€œAn estimated 2.5 GW of additional solar projects are either under construction or at an advanced stage of development and expected to start construction soon,” she said. β€œThis pipeline suggests that most of this capacity will be commissioned by the end of 2026.”

Bulgaria’s storage pipeline is looking equally healthy, with 15 GWh expected to be commissioned by half way through the year, supported by the country’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Mateva added that the most significant policy change last year was a sharp increase in eco-taxes and recycling fees for solar panels and batteries. She explained that these fees are currently five to ten times higher than in comparable EU countries, in turn artificially inflating PV and BESS project costs.

β€œUnless addressed, this issue risks becoming a major bottleneck for new PV and BESS procurement,” Mateva told pv magazine. β€œResolving this will require action from the Ministry of Ecology to align recycling fees with real-world costs and EU norms, ensuring that Bulgaria’s strong solar momentum is not undermined by avoidable regulatory distortions.”

Bulgaria opened a new grant program late last year targeting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises looking to deploy PV systems and storage, with a particular focus on those located in the country’s coal regions. The call is set to close next month.

Bhutan to develop new solar, hydropower projects

2 February 2026 at 09:31

Bhutan’s Druk Green Power Corporation and India’s Carbon Resources Private Limited have agreed to collaborate on new solar and hydropower projects in Bhutan with capacities between 100 MW and 250 MW.

Bhutan’s leading renewables company Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kolkata-based Carbon Resources Private Limited (CPRL) to jointly pursue renewable energy projects.

Under the terms of the partnership, DGPC and CPRL will collaborate on developing new solar and hydropower projects in Bhutan with capacities ranging between 100 MW and 250 MW.

DGPC will be responsible for sharing project information, past studies and regulatory frameworks to assist CRPL in undertaking required technical, commercial and financial assessments of potential projects.

Identified sites will then be developed through one or more special purpose vehicles incorporated in Bhutan as joint ventures between the two parties. The memorandum of understanding proposes a debt-equity financing structure of 70:30 between DGPC and CPRL.

The signing ceremony was attended by Bhutan’s Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, Lyonpo Gem Tshering, who said memorandums of understanding for more than 12 GW of generation capacity have been signed in the country to date.

Bhutan has a target of reaching 25 GW of installed generation capacity by 2040. A World Bank report published last June reported the country’s total generation capacity stood at 2.5 GW by the end of 2024, made up almost entirely of hydropower plants.

Bhutan’s first utility-scale solar plant, a 17.38 MW array located towards the centre of the country, was commissioned last July. A month later, a consortium consisting of local firm Rigsar Construction and India’s HILD Energy was awarded a contract to develop the 120 MW Jamjee solar project.

In December, DGPC opened a tender for the 120 MW Wobthang solar project. The project’s feasibility study and consultation meetings have since been completed, with DGPC planning to award the contract by June. The project is scheduled to begin construction this September and with the build expected to take around 18 months, is pencilled for operations during the first half of 2028.

Bhutan’s current national energy policy, published last year, aims to add 5 GW of solar capacity by 2040.

Signature Solar Launches Sun Atlas Power To Deliver Transparent, Full-Service Solar Installations Across 31 States By Mid-2026

3 February 2026 at 06:14

Signature Solar has launched Sun Atlas Power, a new solar installation company committed to providing transparent and streamlined services to homeowners and businesses. Operating in several states, Sun Atlas Power simplifies the installation process with a single accountable team, clear pricing, and flexible design options, fostering energy independence and customer trust.

The post Signature Solar Launches Sun Atlas Power To Deliver Transparent, Full-Service Solar Installations Across 31 States By Mid-2026 appeared first on SolarQuarter.

New PV self-consumption installs in Spain drop to 1.1GW in 2025 – UNEF

2 February 2026 at 13:14
The rate of installation of new self-consumption PV systems in Spain fell slightly last year, according to data from trade body the Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF).

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