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Solar Energy

Plastics from the sun – Total Energies produces plastic in the USA with solar power

November 5, 2024 ryansheehanrts

The French company Total Energies operates three huge production plants for various plastic and petrochemical products in La Port and Port Arthur in Texas and in Carvill, Louisiana. These plants need a lot of energy to produce polypropylene and polystyrene, for example.

Reducing emissions from production

To minimise emissions from plastic production, Total Energies built the huge Myrtle Solar Farm south of Houston, Texas. This will at least allow the company to reduce the CO2 emissions generated for energy production. The refining of petroleum into various petrochemical products such as fossil fuels continues to produce immense CO2 emissions. But with solar energy, at least its production is climate-neutral, which makes it only marginally better in view of the climate crisis.

70 per cent for self-consumption

Total Energies has installed about 705,000 solar modules to supply the three plants on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. These have a combined output of 380 megawatts. About 70 per cent of the solar power generated is sufficient to supply the production facilities with electricity.

Total Energies markets the remaining approximately 30 per cent to the real estate company Kilroy Reality under a power purchase agreement (PPA). The latter will purchase the profit from the solar power for the next 15 years at a fixed price and use it to supply its commercial properties.

Storage unit provides grid service

In addition, Total Energies has installed 114 containers full of battery storage on the site of the solar farm south of Houston. These were made by the subsidiary Saft. They can hold as much as 225 megawatt hours of the Myrtle solar power plant and feed it into the grid when needed. This enables it to take over grid stabilisation services from the Texas grid operator Ercot.

Tax subsidised by the IRS

The Myrtle solar power plant is, according to Total Energies, the largest project of its kind built in the USA to date. It is part of a strategy by the group to establish integrated production based on self-supply in the USA, as Vincent Stoquart, head of Total Energies’ renewable division, points out.

Also interesting: Forum Solar Plus 2023: More solar power for industry

Times are good for such a strategy in the US. This is because the project benefits from tax credits as provided for in the US government’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) industrial incentive programme. Based on the benefits of the IRA tax credits, Totals Energies will actively expand its portfolio of renewable energy projects in the USA. In total, this includes a green power capacity of 25 gigawatts, part of which is already in operation. (su/mfo)

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Solar Energy

Michal Marona of SolarEdge: „A market with lots of potential“

November 5, 2024 ryansheehanrts

The residential sector is currently weakening. What effect does this have on your business in Poland?

Michal Marona: The Polish market offers many challenges. We have had strong growth in recent years. In 2022, 4.4 gigawatts of PV were installed in Poland, and in 2023 it was 4.8 gigawatts. In 2024 and 2025, economic experts expect an installed photovoltaic capacity of 3.5 gigawatts for Poland. What I mean by that is: the market in Poland has declined, but we are still talking about 3.5 gigawatts.

That is not a small market. As for your question about the residential market, I would like to look at it in a differentiated way. At SolarEdge, we are talking about micro installations. This is the category of PV systems up to 50 kilowatts peak. This includes the residential sector, but also commercial – and yes, we have seen a decline there since 2023. But that does not mean that there is no longer any business. In total 1.4 million PV systems with up to 50 kilowatts peak were installed in Poland.

Is the private market still leading?

Most recently, there were around 250,000 systems per year. Around 70% of these were residential systems, the rest were commercial systems. In 2024, there will probably be 120,000 PV systems up to 50 kilowatts peak. Of these, 70% will also be residential systems, 30% commercial systems. This means that over 80,000 residential systems will still be installed. The market may feel a lot smaller than it was in 2023. In fact, however, it has only halved. These are normal market fluctuations.

The PV market in Germany faltered between 2011 and 2013 and then stabilized and grew again. In the Polish PV market for residential systems, the dynamics depend heavily on government funding measures. These have just been relaunched in September. The funding of 90 million euros was awarded within a week. The amount was then increased to 300 million euros. It can therefore be assumed that the residential market will pick up. At the same time, it is expected that the area of small commercial PV systems will at least remain stable or even grow, because self-generated PV power is significantly cheaper than grid power.

Also interesting: Market moves up and down, generally with good prospect

What are the challenges in the Polish PV market?

The biggest challenge in the Polish energy market is certainly the transition from coal-fired power to renewable energies. Poland has come from an electricity supply that was over 80% based on coal. Converting this centrally organized supply with large coal-fired power plants to a decentralized, CO2-neutral supply is probably the biggest challenge. At the same time, however, it is also a great opportunity, especially for photovoltaics.

The problem is the distribution networks in the low-voltage range, which were built 40 years ago for a completely different type of supply. The network conversion and expansion will take a long time and will hinder the expansion of photovoltaics in Poland. We already have this problem today. The quick solution can be battery power storage, in all capacities, from domestic power to commercial power storage to grid-serving power storage.

Also of interest: Menlo Electric: 1 GW of PV component deliveries in 2024 to date

What market strategy does SolarEdge pursue in Poland?

Our strengths are maximum flexibility for the user when planning and installing their photovoltaics, monitoring down to the module level, safety through temperature monitoring and maximum visibility of system performance. Due to the data density, we can use our system to implement systems that would not be approved with normal inverters, e.g. in the case of fire protection. What is not an issue in young PV markets, namely fire protection and corresponding demands from insurance companies, especially for commercial PV systems, is an issue in developed markets. This is not a particular danger posed by photovoltaic systems, it is simply due to statistics: more installed systems equal more opportunities for errors.

Another special feature is that our production and company management meet the strict ESG guidelines of the European Union. ESG stands for Environment, Social, Governance and is an assessment of how companies perform in individual areas. Today, ESG mainly affects large companies. In the future, however, ESG will become increasingly relevant for smaller and smaller companies. In the case of commercial PV-systems, this is a competitive advantage from for the company operating the PV-system.

Another advantage especially for our Polish customers is our company office in Katowice. This is where we have our sales and technical centre. All people are concentrated in one place and are in contact with each other. If an employee has a special case, many experts can take it up and work on solutions.

Also of interest: Joachim Goldbeck: “Negative electricity prices are a bad fit with PPAs”

What developments do you expect in the Polish PV economy in the next 12 months?

As mentioned earlier, the Polish PV market offers excellent long-term prospects simply by switching from coal-fired power to CO2-neutral power. An important point that perhaps applies more to Poland and other East European countries than to western EU countries is cybersecurity. As a former member state of the Eastern Bloc, we have more connections and similarities with the East than, for example, Germany or France from a purely technical point of view. After the outbreak of the Ukraine war, the issue of hacker attacks on energy infrastructure has become a major issue in Poland.

If we think of the conversion from a strongly analogue and centralized energy supply system to a smart, AI-controlled decentralized supply, I think the relevance of cybersecurity becomes clear. These concerns increase the further east you go. They are very high in the Baltic States. How important the issue is in Poland can be seen from the position on cybersecurity. This responsibility lies with none other than the Deputy Prime Minister. The second man in the state also holds the position of Minister of Digital Affairs. Here, we offer maximum security with our system. In our view, cybersecurity in decentralized renewable energy supply will be one of the greatest challenges of the future, to which we will be very committed and for which we are well-prepared.

Interview conducted by Manfred Gorgus.

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Solar Energy

Juwi builds 500 megawatts of solar power in Colorado

November 4, 2024 ryansheehanrts

Project developer Juwi from Wörrstadt in Rhineland-Palatinate is to build three new solar plants in the US state of Colorado. Together they will have an output of 506 megawatts. While the Spanish Peaks project in Los Alamos County in the south of the state with an output of 179 megawatts has been under construction since the end of last year, Juwi has now concluded negotiations on the sale of two further projects to the energy supplier Tri-State.

One of the two solar parks is Axial Basin Solar. This is a 186-megawatt project in Moffat County in north-west Colorado, around 250 miles north-west of Denver. The plant is being built in the White River Electric Association service territory. The second plant operates under the name Dolores Canyon Solar. This generator will have an output of 141 megawatts and is being built in Dolores County, around 400 kilometres southwest of Denver. The plant will be connected to the Empire Electric Association grid.

Customers in four states

The two solar parks are due to be connected to the grid at the end of 2025. They will be operated by the non-profit wholesale electricity supplier Tri-State, based in Westminster, Colorado. The utility serves electric distribution cooperatives and members of public power districts in the four states of Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska and Wyoming. Together with its member-owners, Tri-State supplies more than one million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles in the western US with sustainably generated electricity.

The goal: 50 per cent green electricity in the mix

The purchase of the two projects is a new path for the cooperative. This is the first time that the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association has purchased renewable energy projects to sell the electricity to its members.

Also interesting: Goldbeck Solar commissions 20 megawatts of solar farm capacity in Chile

However, the purchase is an important milestone on the way to decarbonising Tri-State’s electricity mix. The goal is 50 per cent renewable energy in the supply area. ‘Our members now have ownership of solar at a competitive cost,’ explains Duane Highley, Managing Director of Tri-State.

Purchase made possible by IRA

The opportunity to purchase the solar systems is part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which the government in Washington passed in 2022. This allows non-profit electric cooperatives to receive a direct payment of federal tax credits for renewable energy. This enables the cooperatives to invest directly in the ownership of renewable generation capacity. Prior to the passage of the IRA, Tri-State and other electric cooperatives generally could not directly benefit from federal renewable energy tax incentives. This was previously only available to for-profit, investor-owned utilities and independent power producers.

Plant ownership for cooperatives

‘I’ve worked for years to give rural electric cooperatives like Tri-State access to federal clean energy tax credits,’ said Michael Bennet, Democratic Senator for the state of Colorado. “The passage of the historic Inflation Reduction Act made this possible for the first time, finally allowing them to own their own renewable energy projects. This progress will help Tri-State provide tremendous benefits to the rural communities it serves and support Colorado’s continued leadership in our nation’s transition to a clean energy economy.”

Additional PPAs finalised

In addition to the purchase of the two projects in Moffat and Dolores County, Tri-State has entered into three additional direct power purchase agreements (PPAs) for solar projects that will be connected to the grid by the end of 2024. These include the Spanish Peaks solar farm, which is already 50 per cent complete. By the end of 2025, Tri-State will supply its members with electricity from eight plants with a combined DC capacity of 870 megawatts and AC capacity of 680 megawatts. (su/mfo)

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Solar Energy

A market with lots of potential

November 4, 2024 ryansheehanrts

SolarEdge is considered the global market leader in PV-optimization in the residential sector. This sector is currently weakening. What effect does this have on your business in Poland?

Also interesting: Market moves up and down, generally with good prospect

What are the challenges in the Polish PV market?

Also of interest: Menlo Electric: 1 GW of PV component deliveries in 2024 to date

What market strategy does SolarEdge pursue in Poland?

Also of interest: Joachim Goldbeck: “Negative electricity prices are a bad fit with PPAs”

What developments do you expect in the Polish PV economy in the next 12 months?

Company website: SolarEdge TECHNOLOGIES Poland sp. z o.o.

Interview by Manfred Gorgus

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Solar Energy

RE-Source Platform – Battery regulation risks undermining PPAs

October 25, 2024 ryansheehanrts

PPAs have significant benefits: they enable European companies to procure clean energy at competitive and predictable prices. They increase companies’ energy autonomy and security. They help accelerate the roll-out of much-needed renewables. In short: PPAs can be a key driver of the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal.

However, the EU’s institutions must have a consistent and supportive approach to PPAs to facilitate these benefits. The EU must build-in incentives across all EU policies for corporates to sign PPAs and other procurement tools.

EU regulation draft for EV batteries as risk

Despite the recently adopted EU Electricity Market Design revision, which mandates Member States to promote PPAs, the European Commission is currently undermining the sustainable growth of PPAs. The Commission is drafting rules to determine the carbon footprint of Electric Vehicle batteries which would ban the use of PPAs and green energy certificates to demonstrate reduced emissions.

Also see: RE-Source 2024 offers energy buyer-supplier match meetings

“With this approach, the EU would be giving with one hand and taking with the other by promoting PPAs in one policy, and building in disincentives in another. This is hugely problematic as we know that the EV battery rules will be copy-pasted for other policies.“

„The incoming European Commissioners have been instructed by the Commission President to draw on Draghi’s report in their work – this includes his recommendation to promote PPAs as a tool for industrial competitiveness. Dan Jørgensen, the Commissioner-Designate for Energy & Housing has also been instructed to unlock private financing. PPAs tick this box”, commented Annie Scanlan, RE-Source Platform’s Director.

10.7 GW PPAs already signed this year

2024 is set to become another record year for the European PPA market, with 10.7 GW signed already this year. Europe needs to accelerate this positive advancement in the energy transition. Corporates stand ready to finance new wind and solar assets – for the benefit of all society. Give them the policy framework which will help them do more, not less!

Fortunately, the methodology for the carbon footprint of EV batteries is still in a drafting phase – meaning the EU can still act to stop this hugely damaging approach to PPAs being set in EU law.

Also see: Joachim Goldbeck: “Negative electricity prices are a bad fit with PPAs”

PPAs, alongside green energy certificates, are part of many critical EU energy decarbonisation policies, therefore a consistent and supportive approach is critical to support PPAs, as a route to market for new wind and solar which uses private financing for the transition to net zero. An ambitious regulatory framework in the EU will spur renewables development globally, given that imported products would also have to follow these rules. (hcn)

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Solar Energy

Investments Western Balkons – Albania: 140 MW PV project with bifacial modules

October 17, 2024 ryansheehanrts

Karavasta Solar was initiated following a call for tenders by the Albanian government for this project in 2022 and won by Voltalia, an international player in renewable energies. Trina Solar has partnered with Voltalia for this project and has been selected to provide its ultra-high performance Vertex dual-glass bifacial modules. They are mounted on single-axis trackers to suit the flat terrain of the plant, offering an installed capacity of 140 MWp.

The project is estimated to be live by end of 2023. It is set to yield 265 GWh per year, covering the annual electricity needs of 220,000 inhabitants and saving approximately 29,165 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

PPA revenue model

Karavasta Solar is developed, built and operated by Voltalia, is financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ERBD) and will feature a PPA revenue model. This implies that 50% of the electricity produced will be sold through a 15-year sales contract to the Albanian public operator, while the remainder will be sold through long-term contracts to private operators.

Demonstrating Voltalia’s commitment to caring for the communities in which their projects are based, 1% of the company’s total investment in Karavasta Solar will go towards social initiatives in the area. Additionally, 30% or more of the workforce is sourced from the local community in Albania during both construction and operation. Around 200 people are employed during construction of the project, and during operation, there will be 10-15 direct employees and 20-50 indirect employees working on site.

Did you miss that? Albania: Push for subsidy-free solar farms

Constantin von Alvensleben, Country Manager of Voltalia Albania said: “Having launched Karavasta Solar in the summer of 2022, it’s incredible to be working with Trina Solar to bring the project to life. We are dedicated to a cleaner, brighter future for all in a way that also directly benefits the communities where our projects are based, so we look forward to completing the project and seeing the difference it makes to the area.”

Vanguard 1P single-row trackers to be installed

Gonzalo de la Viña, President EMEA at Trina Solar, added: “Our involvement in the Karavasta Solar project is another significant milestone for Trina Solar in expanding our footprint in the fast-growing Balkan region. We are thrilled that Voltalia have chosen our modules for the Karavasta Solar site. I have no doubt that together we will make an extraordinary impact on the local community and beyond as we continue our efforts to drive the energy transition forward.

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“Not only is this the largest project in the region, but it comes off the back of another major project in Albania, which was our first project to implement our Vanguard 1P single-row tracker. Our leading presence in the region highlights our commitment to delivering innovative solar solutions in Eastern Europe“, de la Viña said. (hcn)

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Solar Energy

Solar parks – Better Energy: PPA in Finland signed

October 15, 2024 ryansheehanrts

Through the PPA, Faerch will offtake enough renewable energy to cover around 70% of its annual electricity consumption in Finland. Faerch’s power purchase contributes to establishing a new solar park near Hanko in southern Finland. The park will generate 38 GWh of renewable energy annually – equivalent to the energy consumption of over 2,000 Finnish households – following its expected grid connection in 2026. The solar park will turn a former parking lot into land used for renewable energy production.

Powering all sites with additional renewable energy via PPA

“Through this PPA with Better Energy, Faerch Group will have access to a consistent and renewable power supply, reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to the energy transition in Finland,” says Tom Sand-Kristensen, Group CFO at Faerch.

“By securing renewable energy for our business, we’re able to make our Finnish operations more sustainable while ensuring there is more green energy in the Finnish grid, and it’s another significant milestone in our Renewable Energy Strategy that seeks to power all our sites with additional renewable energy via PPAs.”

First PPA for Better Energy in Finland

Faerch is Better Energy’s first PPA partner in Finland, demonstrating its capability to deliver affordable, green energy to businesses across Northern Europe. In Finland, businesses are looking to renewable energy PPAs to reduce emissions and exposure to volatile electricity costs. The Hanko solar park, developed entirely without subsidies, reflects the growing demand for green energy driven by the market.

Also see: VSB plans one of Europe’s largest solar-wind hybrid energy parks in Finland

“Faerch’s decision to expand our partnership and offtake renewable energy in Finland is another example that companies see our green energy as good for business and a way to decarbonise operations,” says Mikkel Thorup, Senior Director of Power Purchase Agreements at Better Energy. “Faerch is now leading the way by using its power purchase to impact the Finnish energy transition.”

Building on an existing partnership

The PPA in Finland builds on the existing partnership between Faerch and Better Energy. In 2023, the companies announced that Faerch will offtake renewable energy from two Better Energy solar parks in Poland.

Also interesting: Virtual power plant for solar companies to participate in balancing markets

“Better Energy’s ability to provide affordable green energy in Poland made it a natural choice to extend our collaboration to Finland,” Tom Sand-Kristensen concludes.(hcn)

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Solar Energy

Rezolv Energy – Bulgaria: Contracts awarded for construction of 229 MW solar park

September 17, 2024 ryansheehanrts

Construction work is due to start very shortly, with the plant coming onstream next year. CMC Europe, and technology integrator Solarpro, will together act as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) partner for the project.

St. George will be connected to the main transmission grid via a 110kV substation and two independent connection lines totalling approximately six kilometres in length. The high voltage work will be delivered by Green Solar Energy, also a Bulgarian company.

About the St. George solar park

The St. George solar park will be built on a brownfield site: the former Silistra airport, a decommissioned airfield covering 165 hectares. The project will comprise nearly 400,000 solar panels.

In a country which has historically relied on fossil fuels for most of its energy needs, replacing fossil production with renewables delivers the maximum possible emissions reduction impact. St. George will therefore play a crucial role in Bulgaria’s energy transition and help the country meet its climate targets.

One of the first PPAs in Bulgaria

The power produced will be sold to commercial and industrial users through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). The first PPA for St. George is set to be announced very soon – a major deal and one of the first PPAs to be signed in Bulgaria. It follows the five pioneering PPAs that Rezolv has signed in recent months connected to its 461MW ‘VIFOR’ wind farm in Romania.

As well as PPAs, St. George will be financed through loan facilities from a consortium of international lending partners and regional commercial lenders.
CMC Europe and Solarpro’s role as EPC partner will involve working alongside Rezolv to implement the Environmental and Social Action Plan for St. George. The Environmental and Social Action Plan is consistent with Rezolv’s sustainability strategy, which has been built on industry best practice and aligns with international standards, including the Equator Principles and the International Finance Corporation (IFC)’s Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability.

Local employment for the construction phase and operation

In the construction phase of the project, up to 200 people will be hired, with as many employees as possible coming from the local area. Training and skills development programmes are also being put in place. This is a priority, because closing the skills gap in the renewables industry is a crucial part of the energy transition in Bulgaria. Longer term, St. George will continue to provide local employment throughout its 30 plus years of operation.

Also see: Bulgaria – Large-scale battery energy storage project

Alastair Hammond, CEO, Rezolv Energy, said: “St. George will be one of the largest solar projects in Bulgaria, so it was necessary to find the right blend of local experience and international expertise. We also needed partners with outstanding track records who shared our commitment to sustainability. CMC Europe, Solarpro and Green Solar Energy meet all of those requirements.”

2 GW clean energy projects prepared for construction

Jaroslava Korpanec, Partner, Head of Central and Eastern Europe, Energy Infrastructure at Actis, said: “It’s terrific to see Rezolv Energy moving forward with the St. George solar park in Bulgaria. Once developed, St. George will be one of the largest solar plants in Bulgaria, operating 229MW of solar energy and playing a decisive part in the country’s energy transition. With both the VIFOR wind farm and St. George solar farm progressing strongly, Rezolv has the wind in its sails and is positioned to make a real difference in the region.”

Also see: Central and Eastern Europe increasingly in the solar gigawatt class

Rezolv, which launched 18 months ago, already has well over 2GW of clean energy being prepared for construction in South Eastern Europe. As well as St. George, projects include Dama Solar in western Romania which, at 1,044MW, will be the largest solar plant anywhere in Europe once it is built. Rezolv also has more than 1GW of wind power under construction or in late stage development in Romania. (hcn)

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Solar Energy

Interview Goldbeck Solar – Joachim Goldbeck: “Negative electricity prices are a bad fit with PPAs”

August 23, 2024 ryansheehanrts

How is the business of large solar roofs for commercial customers currently developing?

Joachim Goldbeck: Industrial roofs are doing well, although new construction in industry is currently slowing down. We are doing well with the installation of solar systems on the roofs of existing buildings, and projects are running continuously.

Will the solar package bring more momentum to this market segment?

The tenders for solar roofs have been expanded, that is now clear. The supply of electricity to tenants and shared systems has also been simplified. In the case of solar roofs, our industrial and commercial customers often focus on their own consumption of solar power. The situation is different for project developers or investors who own large logistics halls. Here, feed-in is the priority. In both cases, an appropriate feed-in tariff is important to ensure economic profitability.

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How are ground-mounted solar parks developing?

The demand is enormous. We have large and well-developed projects that we are implementing. However, grid connections are becoming scarce. Negative electricity prices are also a poor fit with the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) business model. However, there is a strong pull in this market. Major players have built up larger project pipelines.

Some analysts see major challenges for the large ground-mounted parks due to the problems you mentioned …

We will see whether the prophecies of doom come true or whether the bulls in the market are right. Because we need a lot more solar power, for example for electrical heat supply or e-mobility. Or the growing demand for electricity due to the increasing volumes of data resulting from artificial intelligence. Electricity is becoming increasingly important in industry, for example in the production of steel.

Move On Energy puts Witznitz energy park into operation

Could large storage batteries boost the expansion of solar parks?

As an EPC, we are currently building a stand-alone battery system for a customer as pure grid storage. This can currently be presented with exciting business models, even without a solar field. But battery storage systems will also play a growing role in solar projects. Hybrids of wind and solar can make better use of grid connection points, supported by large electricity storage systems. That will come, or is already underway.

How do you see the market developing in other countries? Which ones are particularly promising?

Goldbeck Solar has been very strong in the Netherlands for years. We have very large projects on the books there, especially on open land. I expect demand to change in a year or two. We assume that agri-PV will gain in importance. We will see what is grown underneath. We call this agrivoltaics. Because the interests of farmers are taken into account, it could be easier to obtain approval for this in the future than for solar parks on greenfield sites, for example.

Podcast Solar Investor’s Guide #1: Thomas Schoy on problems with grid connection

Which other markets are exciting for you?

Poland is just getting going again. This market stuttered for some time and was delayed. Now we have very nice projects there. We also see very good prospects in Ukraine once the war is over. We have set up a joint venture with a partner to develop this market. However, there are still a number of unanswered questions, such as federal guarantees that also cover war damage.

There is a glaring lack of electricity in Ukraine, the infrastructure has been destroyed. Solar systems should actually be the first choice for reconstruction, shouldn’t they?

We started the joint venture to develop this market. So far, there are no models like PPAs in Ukraine. Private electricity traders have only been licensed for two years. Although many investors are showing some interest, it’s still a lot of talk. Martial law is currently in force and the electricity grid is very unstable. Electricity sales to local companies are not permitted in euros, only in the national currency, the hryvnia. We need the risks to be hedged by politicians before any real investment can be made.

Download free of charge (PDF): Witznitz Energy Park – New opportunity for old spoil tip

You have built many plants in the UK. What impact has Brexit had?

The UK was a strong market between 2011 and 2016. After a few weak years, we now have some good projects on our doorstep again, although many processes are definitely more complex. It is very difficult to find the right workers. In the past, many fitters from Poland or Ukraine worked in the UK, which was possible within the EU. Brexit has made this much more difficult. Taxes, customs and so on have also become more complicated.

We’ve seen similar ups and downs in Spain. Is recovery in sight there?

We are currently building eleven megawatts on Mallorca and 30 megawatts on the mainland. We are in talks about another 30 megawatt project. However, Spain is currently being stormed by project providers. This is causing the PPA price to fall. We have high quality standards, for example for cable technology. If only the lowest price counts in the market, the situation is not healthy. We need to identify customers who are prepared to value higher quality and longevity.

Interview by Heiko Schwarzburger

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Solar Energy

Renewable energy procurement – New record for corporate renewable PPAs in Europe

August 9, 2024 ryansheehanrts

This marks a remarkable 40% increase from the previous year, highlighting the growing momentum around sustainable energy sourcing among European businesses.

In a significant development, three new countries – Hungary, Slovenia, and Portugal – entered the PPA market in 2023, further diversifying the landscape. This expansion follows the entry of Bulgaria, Croatia, Austria, and Romania into the corporate renewable PPA market in 2022.

Industry diversification fuels corporate renewable growth in 2023

The top corporate offtaker sectors in 2023 were led by heavy industry (2.9 GW), followed by ICT (2.5 GW), retail (0.8 GW), telecoms (0.7 GW), and engineering and technology (0.5 GW). This diversification underscores the attractiveness of PPAs across industries. There was significant PPA growth amongst automotive, food and drinks, and retail companies.

RE-Source

The corporate renewable PPA market in Europe saw a 40% growth in 2023.

Spain and Germany emerged as frontrunners, collectively accounting for approximately 50% of the total volumes in 2023. Spain retained its position as the largest PPA market. In 2023, PPAs in Spain added an extra 2.77 GW to the energy system. 2nd top last year was Germany with 2.04 GW new capacity. Other significant growth was seen in France (0.78 GW), the United Kingdom (0.62 GW), and Sweden (0.36 GW). Looking ahead, Germany is poised to challenge Spain for the title of the most active PPA market in 2024.

In a significant development, three new countries – Hungary, Slovenia, and Portugal – entered the PPA market in 2023, further diversifying the landscape. This expansion follows the entry of Bulgaria, Croatia, Austria, and Romania into the corporate renewable PPA market in 2022.

Industry diversification fuels corporate renewable growth in 2023

Did you miss that? Clean energy buyers call for tripling of renewables capacity by 2030

“The record-breaking performance of the EU corporate PPA market in 2023 demonstrates the significant appetite for renewable energy procurement. Following years of electricity market volatility, and the growing demand for green electricity, the corporate PPA market is growing like never before. We will continue to support more companies to sign a PPA and look forward to seeing new trends accelerate in 2024,” said Annie Scanlan, RE-Source Policy and Impact director from RE-Source. (hcn)

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