A round-up of the latest news from Europe’s solar market, as European Energy sells off Denmark’s first solar farm built using bifacial panels and both RWE and Octopus snap up French solar assets.
German solar and wind firm Encavis AG has further cemented its position in the French market by acquiring the oustanding shares in a portfolio of assets it had invested in.
Agreement for new solar plants to power all French sites of retail multinational comes as European country eyes post-COVID renewable future, with 152MW in new rooftop tender awards.
French giant’s Q1 2020 results show minor dips in net income and revenues, with its renewables unit recording strong performance and expected to report ‘low impacts’ going forward
Updated: High-performance PV manufacturer SunPower has idled all of its manufacturing plants located in the US, Mexico, France, Malaysia and the Philippines to restrict the financial and operational impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister says country will ‘not give up’ on green energy ambitions despite pandemic, with deadlines eased as tender contracts are awarded to ground-mount PV and others.
Firm had predicted €2.7-2.9bn net recurring income and double-digit growth of renewables unit this year but is withdrawing the forecast, amid talk of potential 'constraints' for green energy work.
Having already guided expected GAAP net losses of US$145-195 million for 2020, high-performance PV manufacturer, SunPower is planning to make operating cuts to save around US$50 million, due to ongoing impact of COVID-19 and has withdrawn previous financial guidance for the year.
Industry reps persuade France to split rather than fully postpone major solar auction in July while Germany acts to freeze deadlines for bidding green energy projects.
Group notes outbreak could see construction contracts postponed but insists it can reach 1GW-by-2020 installed capacity target, amid PV work in Brazil, Portugal, France and others.
