GGF backs largest subsidy-free solar plant in Western Balkans; Yettel & CETIN Bulgaria sign PPA for 123 MW solar plant; Ørsted acquires 160 MW Ireland project; CWP acquires 134 MW Romania project; Kaufland Bulgaria gets more solar power.
€28 million for 50 MW Albanian solar plant: The Green for Growth Fund (GGF) will loan €28 million for a 50 MW solar power plant in Albania that's being developed as the largest non-subsidized solar project in the Western Balkan region, stated the impact investment fund. It is expected to significantly contribute to Albania's efforts to bring down its carbon emissions by 11.5% by 2030, compared to 2016 levels. SPV Blue 1, co-founded by Blessed Investment and Matrix Konstruksion, is building the 50 MW facility in Topoje, Fier County. The GGF loan is to cover up to 75% associated costs for the project. On completion, it will generate over 108,000 MWh annually.
Solar PPA for PPF Telecom Group companies in Bulgaria: Mobile network and telecommunications companies Yettel and CETIN Bulgaria have signed up to receive power from a 123 MW solar project, under a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Elektrohold. Both the offtakers are part of the PPF Telecom Group. The said project is set to come online in spring this year. The PPA is aimed by the 2 offtakers to decarbonize their operations.
Ørsted acquires 160 MW Irish project: Denmark based energy player Ørsted has acquired 160 MW Garrenleen Solar Project in Ireland from renewable energy developer Terra Solar. It will be realized in 2 phases of 81 MW in 2025, and 79 MW in 2026. It is located outside the town of Carlow in south-east of the country. Ørsted sees an opportunity to grow its solar business in Ireland as the country targets to install 8 GW PV by 2030 and like the rest of Europe, the country also needs to ensure energy security while bringing down its reliance on gas. Ørsted is working to bring its 65 MW Ballinrea Solar Farm in Ireland in 2025, which was also sold to the Danish company by Terra Solar in 2022 (see Europe PV News Snippets).
CWP invests in 134 MW Romania project: Global renewable energy developer CWP Europe has acquired the 134 MW Studina Solar Project in Romania from an undisclosed developer. The project is currently under development and will enter construction in 2023. By the end of 2024, it will achieve commercial operations to supply green electricity to the grid, it stated.
420 kW solar for Kaufland Bulgaria: Part of German retail chain Kaufland, Kaufland Bulgaria has announced commissioning of 2 rooftop solar power installations for its local facilities with combined capacity of 420 kW. It counts the company's total number of solar facilities located on the roofs of its hypermarkets as 6 after the 2 installations have come online. In 2022, it claims to have saved nearly 4,000 tons of CO2 emissions with its green policy, and in 2023 it aims to continue to invest in construction of new solar PV capacity for its hypermarkets.