Europe PV News Snippets

• SSE has moved into solar with the acquisition of its maiden project in the technology with 30 MW capacity in the UK
• SUSI Partners and Luneos have launched LGE as a new renewable energy platform in Poland
• Holaluz expands rooftop solar portfolio in Spain with the acquisition of 3 installers

SSE acquires 30 MW solar project: Scotland headquartered energy company SSE plc has acquired its maiden solar energy project with 30 MW capacity from Stark Energy. It has purchased project development rights for the facility set to come up at Littleton Pastures near Evesham in Worcestershire. Project is expected to be commissioned in late 2023. It is part of SSE's £12.5 billion investment program to go net zero. Management said its distributed energy team is developing opportunities of over 1GW in solar and battery storage technology. "We see solar as a key complementary technology to SSE's existing portfolio of low carbon infrastructure such as wind and hydro and one that can power us towards net zero," said SSE Sector Director for Distributed Generation and Storage, Richard Cave-Bigley.

New RE entity in Poland: Fund manager SUSI Partners has established Luneos Green Energy (LGE) as a new renewable energy platform in Poland with local clean energy company Luneos. SUSI has invested in the new platform through its Energy Transition Fund (SETF). The new company will build a diversified portfolio of wind and solar PV assets including potential in-house development. LGE will support Poland's transformation to a clean power grid, serving increasing electricity demand with renewable energy, the duo stated. In December 2021, SUSI acquired 50% stake in Australian solar and storage company Starling Energy Group through SETF (see SUSI Acquires 50% Of Starling Energy).

Holaluz takes over rooftop installers: Spanish energy company Holaluz has acquired 3 rooftop solar installers namely Katae Energia, Serna Energia and GHC Instalaciones, expanding its installed capacity by 25%. Management said the trio will allow it to consolidate its leadership position in Catalonia, Levante and Canary Islands. Through its program The Rooftop Revolution, Holaluz has more than 1.63 GW of representation portfolio as of September 30, 2021.

"The announced acquisition of three firms represents the beginning of Holaluz's strategy to acquire Spanish installation companies with the goal to accelerate the growth of its solar vertical, and control the entire end-to-end process," stated Holaluz.