Europe PV News Snippets: Eiffage, BayWa, EBRD, EC

• Statkraft's 234 MW solar power capacity in Spain's Cadiz will be built by Eiffage Energia
• Alternus Energy has forayed into Polish market with the acquisition of 64.6 MW solar project from BayWa
• KRK of Kosovo has secured €2 million from the EBRD to on-lend for energy efficiency measures as deployment of solar panels for residential segment
• European Commission has approved capacity mechanism of Belgium, finding it in accordance with EU State Aid rules

Eiffage Energia to build 234 MW in Spain: Eiffage Energia has announced it plans to soon begin solar power project construction for 234 MW capacity in Arcos de la Frontera, Cadiz in Spain. All the projects on completion are expected to generate 500 GWh of clean energy annually. The capacity will be developed in the form of 4 projects that were previously part of Solarcentury's portfolio, now owned by Norway's Statkraft, which took over the British solar developer.

BayWa sells Polish solar farm: Germany's BayWa r.e. has sold its 64.6 MW Witnica Solar Farm in Poland to Ireland's Alternus Energy Group but will continue to operate and maintain the facility. The grid connected project is the country's 1^st subsidy-free, PPA backed commercial scale solar installation, according to BayWa (see '1^st' Subsidy Free Solar Park In Poland Seals PPA). In Poland, BayWa claims to have a solar farm pipeline of 600 MW. This sale marks the entry of Alternus Energy into the Polish market that said it has plans for further expansion within the Eastern European country over the next 12 months, without sharing details. In June 2021, Alternus Energy bought 60% stake in Netherlands based Unisun Energy (see Alternus Buys 60% Stake In Unisun Energy).

EBRD backing solar in Kosovo: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has agreed to lend €2 million loan to a microfinance institution called Kredtimi Rural i Kosoves (KRK) in Kosovo to on-lend for energy efficiency improvement in the residential segments. Proceeds will be offered for homeowners, housing collectives, producers, vendors and service providers of green technologies to invest in solutions as solar panels, heat pumps, insulation, and windows. The bank said this financing is part of the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) program for the Western Balkans. KRK's CEO Lulzim Sadrija said, "The new GEFF funds will support our customers – from low-income individuals in rural areas of Kosovo to micro- and small-sized enterprises, the most vibrant and fast-growing segment of our economy – in making investments in high-performance green technology and solutions."

EC approves Belgium's capacity mechanism: The European Commission (EC) has approved the capacity mechanism of Belgium as the country targets to phase out all nuclear power capacity by 2025. It said this would contribute to ensuring security of electricity supply in the country and won't distort competition in the single market. The approval has come after an in-depth investigation that found the capacity mechanism complies with the EU State Aid rules along with 2014 Guidelines on State Aid for environmental protection and energy. Under the capacity mechanism, beneficiaries will be selected through a competitive bidding process and remunerated for their availability in situations when there is a shortage of supply. State will then support such capacity through capacity payment for the duration agreed upon. Successful bidders will make their capacity available to the TSO during stress events.