Engie has started construction of a 29.8 MW solar plant paired with a 20 MWh battery energy storage system in France, known as Parc du Buisson. The project, which began in September 2026, will feature nearly 46,000 solar panels and a 8.8 MW battery system that can discharge for over two hours at full power. The project is expected to enter operation in December 2027 and generate €122,000 in annual tax revenue for local authorities.
A research team in Italy developed a direct-expansion, dual-source heat pump that uses air and solar energy as heat sources and CO₂ as the refrigerant, achieving an 18.7% increase in coefficient of performance (COP) as irradiance rises. The heat pump, operating at a 10 kW capacity, was tested in real-field conditions, with results showing that solar operation offered a thermodynamic advantage under favorable irradiance conditions. The study used artificial neural networks to predict system performance over a wider operating domain.
Solar generation in Italy reached 5.32 TWh in September 2026, a 27.1% increase from the same month in 2025, accounting for 48.6% of renewable electricity generated. Total net electricity generation was 6.4% higher year on year, with renewable sources generating 10.94 TWh, up 0.6% from the previous year. The country added 675 MW of renewable generation capacity in September, a 54.5% increase from the same period last year.
Data center developers in Ontario are prioritizing grid access over higher electricity rates as the province considers new requirements for large facilities, with concerns about restrictions on access being more pressing than increased costs. The developers are seeking clarification on the province's plans for grid access to avoid potential disruptions to their operations. Grid access is seen as crucial for the growth and development of Ontario's data center industry.
Exelon is exploring a potential return to regulated generation to meet soaring power demand, driven by rising data center demand and tightening capacity reserves. The company's executive sees a growing need for a more robust wholesale market, with PJM's current markets deemed insufficient. Exelon is expanding its transmission business to better meet the changing energy landscape.
Solar PPA prices increased by 5% in Q3, mainly due to new trade tariffs, while wind power purchase agreements remained relatively stable. The rise in solar prices could lead to an increase in wind power prices later in the year. The latest round of tariffs will take effect later in the year, potentially impacting renewable energy prices.
A group of solar and storage industry members has filed testimony in opposition to the merger of utilities Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy, citing concerns over the impact on the competitive landscape in Virginia. The proposed merger is seen as posing an unacceptable risk to the industry. The testimony argues that the merger would undermine competition in the market.
A 7.2-MW solar system has been completed for Beaver Water District in Northwest Arkansas, generating approximately 12,300 MWh annually and meeting 15 to 20% of the district's electricity needs. The project is expected to strengthen the district's ability to deliver safe and reliable water to its communities. The installation is part of a partnership between Madison Energy Infrastructure and Verogy.
Construction began on a 2-MW solar array at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, which is expected to produce almost all of the organization's annual electricity needs. The planned solar array will be built on a south-facing hillside with minimal land use. The installation aims to increase energy output and support the organization's sustainability mission.
Emerald Horizon plans to sell a hybrid battery and molten-salt storage system and later develop an accelerator-driven thorium reactor, which remains at an early stage of development. The Austrian start-up aims to sell its initial product now, which was initially approved by Austria's government in the late 1970s. The project's focus on storage comes after Austria decided against nuclear power in the late 1970s.
PV Magazine