UK renewable energy company Low Carbon has announced plans to develop the 500 MW West Oxfordshire Energy Park in the UK. The proposed solar PV project will be paired with a battery energy storage system (BESS), it added. The project is in the early stages of development and is planned to be located near Langford and Little Faringdon in West Oxfordshire. The project could generate enough electricity to supply the equivalent of about 145,000 UK homes, according to Low Carbon. The company is currently conducting environmental and technical assessments and engaging with local councils and other stakeholders. With a proposed capacity above 100 MW, the project will be classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and will require a Development Consent Order. Since July 24, 2026, Britain has lowered approval process for major infrastructure projects (see Britain Cuts NSIP Planning Process By Up To 12 Months).
The IEA PVPS has published a report examining the factors that enable islands to transition successfully to electricity systems with high shares of renewable energy. Based on 11 real-world island case studies, the report identifies 111 success factors, including 13 that apply across different island contexts. The cases cover settings ranging from small, remote communities to larger, densely populated islands with complex energy systems. They include Kodiak Island in the US, Yakushima in Japan, El Hierro and La Graciosa in Spain, Samsø and Lolland in Denmark, Sint Eustatius in the Caribbean Netherlands, King Island in Australia, Tokelau in New Zealand, Koh Jik in Thailand and Apolima in Samoa.
Nearly half of the identified success factors relate to the preparation phase, including community engagement, resource and grid assessments, political alignment, financing and technical feasibility studies. The report also highlights sustained stakeholder engagement and strong local leadership as common factors across successful projects. Long-term planning and grid strengthening help integrate variable renewable energy, while supportive policies, financing and governance structures enable implementation. IEA PVPS says the findings are intended to help island stakeholders design, implement and sustain resilient renewable energy mini-grids. The report titled Success Factors for Renewable Island Mini-Grids is available for free download on IEA PVPS website.
Q ENERGY has inaugurated the 11 MW Chênet Solar Farm in the French municipalities of Sapignicourt and Hauteville in the Marne department. The project was built on a former sand and gravel quarry that operated from 1992 to 2009. The solar farm comprises nearly 18,000 solar PV panels across 7.8 hectares. Q ENERGY said that the site also supports sheep grazing beneath the solar panels, combining renewable energy generation with livestock farming.
Europe-focused Fortis Energy has signed an agreement with German solar mounting systems manufacturer Schletter Group covering more than 300 MW of utility-scale solar-plus-storage projects in Europe. Fortis Energy plans to commission the projects in 2027. Fortis Energy says these projects represent a significant part of its near-term European pipeline. Fortis Energy develops and invests in solar, wind and battery storage projects under its Green Baseload strategy. The agreement is one of several supply and services partnerships being finalized for the company’s 2027 construction cycle. It said the cooperation with Schletter is expected to extend to more of Fortis projects.
German renewable energy developer Energiequelle GmbH has sold its French subsidiary, Energiequelle SAS, to French renewable energy developer and operator H2air. The transaction includes all employees of the French unit and a wind and solar project portfolio totaling about 500 MW. The portfolio includes 60 MW of operational projects, along with projects at an advanced pre-construction stage. Energiequelle said the sale is part of its strategic realignment to focus resources on defined core markets. The acquisition enables H2air to expand its presence in France.
French renewable energy company VALOREM Group has finalized a €220 million refinancing transaction covering 192 MW of renewable energy assets in France. This covers a portfolio of 15 renewable energy projects known as ATLAS, comprising eight wind and six operational solar PV stations, along with an energy storage project. VALOREM said the transaction is part of the group’s financing strategy and includes projects across its French portfolio. Alongside the refinancing, VALOREM has announced the launch of around €250 million corporate debt.
