Despite a surge in activity, grid connections remain a key barrier to the development of solar projects in the Republic of Ireland.

The scale of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project’s (NSIP) can help to counterbalance many of the challenges solar project developments face currently, including those around grid connection, said speakers at Solar Media’s Solar Finance and Investment Europe conference.

Scatec’s posted an improved first-quarter financial performance after closing its acquisition of hydropower developer SN Power in January and completing solar projects in South Africa and Ukraine.

Danish solar company Better Energy is expecting to improve its financial performance this year thanks in part to its transition from a project developer to an independent power producer (IPP).

Independent power producer Opdenergy has mandated BBVA as the underwriting entity for financing the development and construction of its 725MWp backlog of solar projects in Spain.

Amazon has announced plans for nine new utility-scale solar and wind projects in the US, Canada, Spain, Sweden and the UK, putting it on track to powering all its activities with renewables by 2025.

Spanish energy company Acciona has secured shareholder approval for an initial public offering (IPO) of its renewables division, providing a boost for the firm’s plans to reach 6GW of installed PV by 2025.

Spanish independent power producer Opdenergy is preparing to launch an initial public offering to help fund the development of 3.7GW of renewables projects across Europe and the Americas.

Iberdrola has formed a strategic alliance with insurance company Mapfre that will initially invest in 230MW of clean energy projects in Spain, including 130MW of solar PV.

Clean energy investment platform Renewable Power Capital (RPC) has announced the creation of a new joint venture that will develop and acquire 3.4GW of solar PV in Spain.

German agriculture group BayWa is forecasting a significant revenue rise for its renewables unit this year, thanks to a strong project pipeline and growth in PV component trading.

Encavis expects revenue from its solar parks to rebound this year following a 2020 that saw the company’s portfolio affected by “average” meteorological conditions.

Liam Stoker reflects on last week's Solar Finance & Investment Europe conference, where investors, developers and asset owners gathered to hear how emerging trends will shape Europe's surging solar ecosystem in the coming years.

Panellists at London event were all confident market will retain momentum and grow bolder despite the speculative plays and competition from utilities and oil majors.

There is a “huge opportunity” for solar in Ireland, with the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) providing a route to market for the technology.

Iberian operators tell London event they worry adoption of Lisbon’s solar auction design by neighbour Spain could entrench model producing prices developers ‘cannot survive’ on.

Free-market plays are spreading throughout Europe’s four corners despite risks that neither technology nor innovative finance can eliminate for now, say speakers at London event.

Wholesale price cannibalisation poses the most significant threat to Europe’s utility-scale solar industry, a panel of investors has heard at the London event.

PV Tech understands that two solar projects by developer Hive Energy and financier Noy Fund will be deployed without PPAs, with plans to generate revenues via direct energy sales.

Lightsource BP has clinched a funding deal with London-headquartered bank NatWest to finance the development of its maiden Spanish solar projects.

The momentum behind subsidy-free, utility-scale solar developments in the UK has continued to gather, with new names and familiar faces alike demonstrating their commitment to the market.

EU production line of 5 to 10GW a year is possible and would help deliver the required 117GW-to-630GW capacity push, experts say as separate study touts PV’s job benefits for coal regions.

Project in Sardinia (5MW) emerges as sole PV winner of 500MW auction dominated by wind power (495MW) but industry representatives believe solar future is subsidy-free.