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June 30, 2025
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Solar module maker Bisol to triple production capacity with new Slovenian plant

Slovenia-based Bisol Group, the largest manufacturer of European-made solar modules, plans to build a new factory in an investment estimated at EUR 32.3 million. The facility in Murska Sobota in northeastern Slovenia is expected to triple Bisol’s annual production capacity, from 750 MW currently.

“We want to start construction in September. We are still selecting a contractor. Production must begin no later than October 31, 2027,” says Uroš Merc, co-founder and CEO of Bisol Group.

Production at the new plant is expected to begin in 2027

Its modules, manufactured in Slovenia, are labeled Made in Europe and enjoy a privileged status in Italy and Austria, ensuring higher subsidies or tax breaks for customers. According to Slovenian portal Finance, Italian customers now purchase most of their European modules from Bisol.

The company, founded in 2004, exports 98% of its production to 140 countries worldwide, with its largest markets remaining in Europe. Since its inception, Bisol has exported 2 GW of solar modules worth more than EUR 1.2 billion. Last year, it posted a net profit of EUR 12 million on revenues of EUR 66 million.

In 2009, the company expanded its portfolio with mounting solutions for solar modules. They are now sold in 50 countries worldwide.

Bisol has sold 2 GW of solar modules since its inception in 2004

The company’s headquarters and existing production facilities are located in Latkova Vas near Prebold, Slovenia. It employs 230 people across 14 subsidiaries and affiliated companies.

The group also operates solar power plants and sells electricity

The group also operates several solar power plants and sells electricity, both wholesale and retail, through its subsidiary Bisol Energija. Its offer includes dynamic tariffs for both businesses and households. At the end of last year, Bisol Energija introduced virtual communities for its customers.

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June 27, 2025
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Hidroelectrica to begin construction of its pilot floating photovoltaic plant

Romanian state-owned hydropower plant operator Hidroelectrica picked the contractor for a 10 MW floating solar power plant, its first, on the reservoir of the Ipotești hydroelectric plant.

Hidroelectrica awarded the contract for the construction of the Proiect Pilot Nufărul floating photovoltaic system.

The pilot project could open the way for the installation of a group of such facilities, also on the Olt river and in a joint venture with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. (Masdar).

Pilot floating plant is part of wider push for synergy of photovoltaic technology with hydropower

Notably, Hidroelectrica picked the contractor last month for setting up solar panels on the roofs of its 20 hydroelectric plants. They are on the middle and downstream parts of the Olt river as well.

The site for the 10 MW pilot project is the reservoir of the 57 MW Ipotești hydropower plant. Hidroelectrica conducted the procurement through a tender, which it valued at EUR 9.3 million excluding value-added tax. The utility awarded the deal to Waldevar Energy, which won with a bid of EUR 7.7 million excluding VAT.

The firm’s subcontractors are Marine Research, S.C. DHI-SW Project, and Makor Energy Solutions.

Project implementation is limited to 14 months, of which the works would last ten months.

Hidroelectrica to learn from new investment to replicate it

The floating power plant will consist of bifacial photovoltaic panels of 620 W, inverters of 100 kW, energy optimizers and four transformer stations, the documentation reveals. Annual output is estimated at 13.4 GWh. The floaters would be made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

The facility would be connected to the grid via the Ipotești hydropower plant.

Hidroelectrica pointed out that it aims to diversify the production portfolio and capitalize on synergy between solar and hydropower. The state-owned hydropower operator intends to obtain know-how from the construction and exploitation of the pilot system and replicate the concept elsewhere.

The turnkey contract includes design, purchases, assembly, installation, testing and commissioning.

Hidroelectrica operates 188 plants with a capacity of 6.4 GW overall. It has one wind farm, Crucea Nord, of 108 MW.

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June 27, 2025
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Satellite dishes get new life, hosting solar panels for data center

A Swiss telecom service provider converted unused satellite dishes into solar dishes, powering its data center’s rising energy needs. Smart energy tech firm SolarEdge provided its DC-optimized inverter solution, overcoming the challenge of shading.

CKW, a Swiss provider of integrated energy and building technology solutions, has transformed disused satellite dishes located on the premises of telecom service provider Leuk TDC. The project was developed in collaboration with smart energy technology company SolarEdge, highlighting the potential of repurposing infrastructure for solar.

Instead of disposing of the parabolic antennas, they now host photovoltaic systems. Axpo’s subsidiary CKW fitted two satellite dishes in Leuk, Switzerland, with 307 solar panels each.

The new design for the complex, constructed in 1972, enables meeting the energy requirements of Leuk TDC’s power-hungry data centre. Each dish generates an estimated 110 MWh of clean energy per year. The telecommunications firm has also installed a rooftop solar system on the main building of the computing and data centre, for a further 555 MWh.

The data centre is powered by hydroelectric plants as well, so its electricity demand is covered with 100% renewable energy.

SolarEdge systems maximizing output of each pair of PV panels in satellite dishes

Given the complex orientation and inclination of the solar panels on the satellite dishes, shadows threatened to reduce the efficiency of the solar system. With traditional string solar inverters, they reduce the overall performance of the solar array to match the weakest-performing panel on the string, meaning one shaded panel could reduce energy yield considerably.

In a string structure, a photovoltaic unit in a satellite dish wouldn’t be cost-effective

SolarEdge’s DC-optimized inverter solution was used with Power Optimizers, attached to the underside of every pair of solar panels. It enables the solar system to mitigate the impact of module mismatch on the satellite dishes. Inverters turn the direct current (DC) from PV panels into alternating current (AC).

“Having design flexibility with a solar installation is a huge benefit for installers. In complex cases such as these, with uneven surfaces, without the use of power optimizers we simply would not have been able to achieve anywhere close to the level of energy being produced today. I recommend that others planning similar solar installations allocate sufficient time for planning and collaborate with trusted personnel to overcome any technical challenges,” said CKW’s Deputy Head of Solar Technology for Central Switzerland Manuel Jossi.

Making use of existing ability to track sun’s movement

The combination of PV and hydropower provides Leuk TDC with more financial stability by reducing its dependency on variable grid electricity costs. “The satellite dishes were becoming obsolete, so we always knew we wanted to make use of them in some way or another,” the company’s Chief Executive Officer John Harris explained.

One other advantage is that the parabolic antennas follow the sun’s path throughout the day, maximizing the solar power output.

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June 27, 2025
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Solar power exceeds Bulgaria’s entire electricity demand for first time

For the first time, photovoltaic production alone surpassed power consumption in Bulgaria – for two hours. Interestingly, even more electricity was exported at the same time.

On Friday, June 20, the active photovoltaic capacity in Bulgaria between 10:00 and 11:00 before noon was 2,935 MW, and in the following hour it grew to 3,230 MW, state news agency BTA reported. According to data from the Electricity System Operator (ESO) and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), it exceeded the country’s entire consumption for the first time ever, by 17 MW and 313 MW, respectively.

Even more electricity was exported at the same time, as total domestic production amounted to 6,567 MW and 6,736 MW.

Of note, not all solar power went to Bulgarian consumers, given that some traders and customers have long-term contracts with other suppliers, like the National Electricity Co. (NEK) and nuclear power plant Kozloduy, the article adds.

“This is a significant event and a great success for Bulgaria and the Bulgarian energy sector. Positioning us this way – as a leading country in the production of photovoltaic energy – not only supports the implementation and fulfillment of the commitments that Bulgaria has made for decarbonization, but it also has a positive effect on the country’s investment climate. Thanks to the solar energy that we transform into electricity, we are modernizing the entire Bulgarian energy sector,” Chairwoman of the Bulgarian Photovoltaic Association Meglena Rusenova commented.

Photovoltaics are perhaps the fastest-growing private investment sector in Bulgaria, she said.

Photovoltaics are biggest factor lowering prices at the electricity exchange

Over the past two years, over EUR 2 billion have been invested in electricity production, according to Rusenova. On top of that there are capital investments in energy storage and infrastructure, she pointed out.

Solar energy contributes to reducing prices for end users, and in practice, photovoltaics are the most significant factor for lower prices on the Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange (IBEX), Rusenova underscored.

According to ESO, a total of 3.5 GW of photovoltaic capacity has been connected in the last three years, bringing the total to 4.7 GW.

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June 27, 2025
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Adolf Goetzberger Award 2026: Apply with innovative solar solutions and win EUR 25,000

The Adolf Goetzberger Award, which recognizes innovation in solar, energy storage, smart grids, and power system efficiency, has invited applications for 2026, following a successful debut in 2025. The award once again spotlights developments that combine technological excellence with practical value and societal impact, according to the organizers.

The EUR 25,000 Adolf Goetzberger Award, named after German physicist and solar energy pioneer Adolf Goetzberger, honors individual contributions to forward-looking concepts, prototypes, or processes in photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, energy storage, smart grid integration, and system efficiency. Systemic and cross-disciplinary solutions are expressly welcome, the Adolf Goetzberger Foundation said.

The innovations should make a tangible contribution to sustainable energy system transformation

What matters is that the innovations address real-world technical and economic challenges and make a tangible contribution to the sustainable transformation of the energy system, reads a press release from the foundation, which is dedicated to promoting science and research, environmental protection, and climate action, with a particular focus on solar energy.

The inaugural Adolf Goetzberger Award was handed out in March 2025 to Heribert Schmidt for developing the HERIC® (highly efficient and reliable inverter concept) topology. The 2026 award ceremony will be held next spring.

Awarding innovation that makes the world a better place

“Innovation starts with a clear goal: making the world a better place. That’s the mission behind the Adolf Goetzberger Award. We aim to spotlight solutions that truly move the needle – technologically sound and socially relevant,” said Thomas Nordmann, Chair of the Adolf Goetzberger Foundation Board of Trustees.

This year’s award has an expanded scope

In addition to traditional entries from photovoltaics and solar thermal energy, the award now also invites cross-sectoral approaches, such as the smart combination of multiple technologies, advanced control and automation systems, innovative storage solutions (including power-to-X), the integration of heat pumps, or efficiency improvements in hybrid systems.

The award primarily targets applicants from Europe but is open to international individuals as well. In addition to the EUR 25,000 cash prize, recipients will receive a certificate recognizing their contribution to the energy transition. Applications can be submitted online at Goetzbergerstiftung.de.

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June 27, 2025
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Court ruling brings risk of reversal of power market liberalization in Kosovo*

The Commercial Court in Kosovo* supported the claims filed by one company in a complaint, suspending its obligation to purchase electricity in the free market. The ruling follows protests against the controversial liberalization of the power market for larger firms, which came into force on June 1.

Two old coal-fired power plants in Kosovo* account for 92% of domestic production, which is the highest level in the world. Outages often prompt expensive emergency imports of electricity. Just last week, all operational coal units malfunctioned, while one in Kosovo B has been under reconstruction since last month.

Nevertheless, the authorities pushed through a controversial liberalization of the market for companies with more than 50 employees or an annual turnover of more than EUR 10 million. The measure, which came into force on June 1, led to two large protests. Almost 1,300 firms must purchase electricity in the free market.

However, the Commercial Court in Kosovo* suspended the obligation for REKS in a recent first-degree ruling. The company filed a complaint after it wasn’t allowed to use universal supply. It argued that it faced irreversible financial damage.

KEK signs few commercial power purchase contracts

The designated supplier of last resort is government-controlled Kosovo Energy Corp. (KEK). It is the operator of the Kosovo A and Kosovo B coal plants. Corporate consumers can opt for contracts of up to six months with the supplier of last resort.

KEK said a week ago that 360 such deals have been signed and that another 540 were coming. It only had 16 commercial contracts until that point.

Kosovo Chamber of Commerce claims KESCO is favored in liberalization

In the interpretation of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (KCC or OEK), the new court ruling means the entire power market liberalization needs to be suspended.

Conversely, the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) said that last week the Basic Court of Prishtina rejected the motion that the chamber filed challenging the regulator’s public notice on the matter, which it issued in March.

KCC suggested that KESCO was favored in the switch, citing the lack of offers to consumers from other power suppliers. Dozens of other companies have also filed complaints, it added. The chamber called for a fair and feasible transitional phase and the creation of a clear plan that would ensure the stability for businesses and citizens.

Also of note, the Commercial Court said REKS’s gross income last year amounted to just EUR 6.5 million.

In other news, the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) said it would challenge ERO’s decision at the Basic Court because of the potential increase in electricity prices due to the liberalization.

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* This designation is without prejudice to positions onstatus and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.