129 MW solar plant in Finland: Finland-based renewables developer Taaleri Energia has contracted Sweden's Eltel AB to build a 129 MW solar power plant in Finland. EPC contractor Eltel calls it the country’s 2nd largest solar power plant. To be built for €73.5 million, the project will generate around 140 GWh annually. For Eltel, the order for the Hallanvahti Solar Power Plant is its largest single contract to date. It plans to start construction on site in Q1 2025, targeting full operations by mid-2026. Taaleri Energia is invested in the project through its Taaleri SolarWind III Fund. It developed the project along with Etec Automation and its subsidiary 3Flash Finland.
Qualitas Energy raises €200 million: Spain-headquartered Qualitas Energy has secured over €200 million in investor commitments under its Credit strategy, which has a total target of more than €500 million for initial investment opportunities. One of the anchor investors includes a leading Canadian public pension fund with other investors being high-net-worth individuals and family offices. Within the strategy, Qualitas has successfully closed initial transactions worth €126 million which will support a 28 MW utility-scale PV project in Poland, an 83 MW ground-mounted solar plant in Germany, and a 192 MW solar farm in Spain. Qualitas focuses on both greenfield and brownfield projects in European and OECD nations. The company counts its existing portfolio at 11 GW of operational and under-development energy assets across Spain, Germany, the UK, Italy, Poland, Chile and the US.
Lease for 51 MW French solar plant: French independent renewable energy company Qair has signed a long-term lease for a 51.21 MW solar power plant in France’s Clef des Champs Economic Activity Zone. Other signatories to the agreement are the Saint-Quentin Agglomeration Community, and the SEM Energies Hauts-de-France. Saint-Quentin Urban Community selected Qair in a competitive solicitation process launched in 2023. It will be designed to produce 54.5 GWh of electricity annually.
Ulusoy Un investing in solar: Türkiye-based flour milling company Ulusoy Un has raised an €80 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to support its domestic green capital expenditure and energy-efficient investment program. It will deploy part of the proceeds to finance a renewable energy investment program in solar power plants in central Anatolia and venture into wind power plants.
Valorem’s 16.4 MW agrivoltaic project: France-based independent green energy operator Valorem has signed a co-development agreement with SEM Saone-et-Loire Energies Renouvelables (SEM SELER) for a 16.4 MW agrivoltaic project in France. The project will be located in the commune of Saint-Léger-Lès-Paray (71). Solar panels on site will be installed to track the sun’s path, generating close to 24 GWh of green electricity/year. The land is currently used for crops and wood energy. It will be adapted for the establishment of a sheep farm. State Services’ decision is now awaited by the project partners for the final green signal.
Baltic states join European network: The European Commission recently announced that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have exited the electricity systems of Russia and Belarus for good. Instead, they have joined the European continental network via Poland which ensures that these Baltic states are now ‘fully independent’ of the Russian dependence for their electricity supply. They will be able to operate their own energy systems under common and transparent European rules, according to the commission. It will ensure the security of supply for the entire European Union (EU), and support the integration of renewable energy in the system. Consumers will be able to benefit from lower energy costs, it added.
ORIT invests €3.4 million: European renewable energy infrastructure impact company Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust (ORIT) has committed an additional €3.4 million to Nordic Generation (Norgen). The latter is a Finland-based wind and solar company. With this investment, ORIT’s existing 50% holding in Nordic Renewables will convert into a direct 30% stake in the integrated Norgen development business, explains ORIT. The latter previously committed €3.4 million in April 2022. ORIT added that its investment is being made alongside another fund managed by Octopus Energy Generation, which holds the remaining 50% stake in Nordic Renewables. Octopus Energy Generation will also be taking a 30% stake in Norgen.
Snop to get 5 MW project: Portugal’s EDP will build solar power plants with a combined 5 MW capacity for the French automotive company Snop. The latter plans to use power generated from more than 9,200 solar panels to power its facilities in Étupes (France), Nigrán (Spain), and Artern and Buchholz (Germany). This partnership will, on average, cover around 20% of the electricity consumption needs of Snop’s factories with 4.6 GWh/year. Later, they intend to expand the collaboration aiming for up to 10 MW of solar energy. Future projects may be planned in countries like Poland and Italy.
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