Japan’s Sharp Corporation has completed the acquisition of its Vietnamese solar joint venture (JV), making the company a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition is part of its strategy to expand in Vietnam’s growing renewable energy market. It acquired the remaining shares in Sharp Energy Solution Vietnam Company Limited (SESV) from local partner NSN Construction & Engineering JSC. The subsidiary, formerly known as Sharp NSN Energy Solution JSC, was renamed in May 2026. Established in 2020, SESV provides EPC and O&M services for solar power projects in Vietnam. Sharp said the full acquisition is expected to streamline decision-making and support expansion into new segments, including rooftop solar systems for commercial and industrial (C&I) customers and solar projects integrated with battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Meridian Energy has received consent to develop the 110 MW Morrinsville Solar Farm near Morrinsville in New Zealand's Waikato region. The project will feature around 230,000 solar panels and is expected to generate up to 200 GWh of electricity annually. The company said that the 134-hectare project site will connect to the national grid through the nearby Piako substation. The consent also allows for the future addition of BESS. For Meridian, the solar farm forms part of its renewable energy pipeline aimed at increasing electricity supply and supporting growing demand. The project is expected to create more than 100 construction jobs and generate significant local economic activity during development. It also includes habitat restoration, native planting and continued sheep grazing alongside the solar panels, shared Meridian. The project remains subject to a final investment decision, with construction potentially beginning in 2028.
Australian renewable energy developer Yanara has secured a €150 million investment from global asset manager Mirova, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers. This financial support will enable it to accelerate the development of over 2 GW of utility-scale renewable energy projects across Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia. Yanara says the funding will support the expansion of its Australian portfolio of solar, wind, and BESS projects. Part of the investment will be allocated to the Mortlake Energy Hub in Victoria, a hybrid project combining 450 MW of solar PV with 600 MW/2,400 MWh of battery storage. Yanara said the investment marks its first dedicated capital raise for Australia and will help accelerate the rollout of its renewable energy pipeline. The company says it is currently developing a portfolio of 5.1 GW of hybrid and dispatchable renewable energy across Australia, India, and the Philippines.
Ark Energy has secured a financial investment decision (FID) for its AUD 1.3 billion Richmond Valley Solar Farm and BESS in New South Wales, Australia. The decision follows approval by its parent company, Korea Zinc, enabling a financing package comprising AUD 586 million in equity and AUD 716 million in debt. The priority phase of the project includes a 200 MW AC solar farm and a 275 MW/2,200 MWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) BESS. Ark Energy says this is the company’s first build-to-own project to reach FID and has secured planning, environmental and grid connection approvals, along with a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement (LTESA) under the New South Wales Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. For this project, it has signed a BESS supply agreement with Hanwha Energy and an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) with Elecnor Australia. Financial close for the facility is targeted for September 2026, with construction expected to begin in October 2026 and commercial operations planned for January 2029.
Germany-headquartered international solar developer ib vogt has started commercial electricity generation at its 99 MW Tantangan Solar Power Plant in South Cotabato, Philippines, less than a year after construction began. The project is the company’s second solar plant in Mindanao and its first hybrid solar-plus-BESS project in Southeast Asia. The plant is expected to generate more than 150 GWh of electricity annually, supplying enough clean power for over 82,000 households, claims ib vogt. The hybrid project will provide a more reliable power supply in Mindanao, where electricity demand continues to exceed supply, it added. ib vogt said the Tantangan project is the first of more than 500 MW of hybrid renewable energy capacity it expects to have in operation or under construction across the Philippines by the end of 2026. The project was supported by financing from Pentagreen Capital and British International Investment (BII).
South Korean space solar technology developer FLEXELL SPACE has raised $20 million in a Series A funding round. It will use the proceeds to accelerate the development and commercialization of next-generation solar solutions for space applications, aiming for full-scale production in 2028. The latest investment brings the company’s total funding to approximately $25 million since its launch around two years ago, it counts. Founded as an in-house venture of Hanwha Systems, the company develops lightweight, flexible solar cells based on perovskite and copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) technologies, targeting applications such as satellites, high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles, space stations and future lunar and Mars missions. It is also conducting in-orbit demonstrations through South Korea’s Nuri launch vehicle program and the International Space Station (ISS). FLEXELL SPACE says it was recently selected to lead a five-year, $7.1 million government-backed research project to develop tandem solar modules for space applications.
Aquila Clean Energy APAC has grid-connected its Omeheu Solar Farm in New Zealand. With 38 MW installed capacity in Bay of Plenty, the project will generate close to 49.7 GWh annually. The project was deployed by EPC contractor Metlen Energy and Metals. It will contribute to the country’s energy transition and cater to the growing demand for clean energy in New Zealand. Aquila says this is its second solar project to have been successfully delivered in New Zealand.
