10/8/2025-Solar Energy Investment News & People Moves
- Viridian Energy
- Aug 9
- 5 min read
Germany News
Tailored Energy Solution for Wirth Fenstertechnik
Wirsol has integrated new photovoltaic systems with existing PV modules in a project totaling 661.3 kWp across seven roof sites, producing about 573,000 kWh of solar power annually and cutting around 270 tons of CO₂ emissions per year. The installation involved 1,828 modules (180–410 Wp), new and old, serviced by 10 inverters (500 kVA) and six additional inverters for legacy systems.
Notably, 3,256 old modules were responsibly dismantled and recycled using container-based logistics. Combining surplus and full-feed strategies, the project yields roughly 211,000 kWh via surplus feed and 362,000 kWh via full feed annually.
Forecast for H2 2025: European Photovoltaic Trends
A forecast for the second half of 2025 highlights five key solar PV trends in Europe. Component prices bottom out in Q3 (TOPCon: €0.13–0.14/W; PERC: €0.11/W) before modest rises in Q4, presenting an opportunity for procurement. Policy support gains traction in Italy (repowering), Germany (simplified balcony solar rules), and Spain (small-scale incentives).
Technology selection shifts to site-specific needs: HYT and IBC for high-temperature or aesthetic sites; TOPCon for cost-efficiency. Financing moves toward zero‑investment models like rooftop leasing. Finally, firms should prioritize long-term yield—low LCOE, minimal degradation, and strong durability over 15+ years.
MET Group Opens First Solar Park in Germany
MET Group, based in Zug, Switzerland, has commissioned its first solar park in Kentzlin, Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern, Germany on August 5, 2025. With an 11.5 MWp capacity, the park is expected to generate around 13 GWh annually—sufficient to power approximately 3,600 German households.
Acquired in 2023, MET Group completed development, procurement, construction, and secured an EEG tender. IBC SOLAR served as the EPC partner. This marks a strategic milestone in MET Group's expansion into renewable energies in Germany, reinforcing its position across the energy sector.
BayWa r.e. Solar Trade and WHES Form Exclusive EU Partnership
BayWa r.e. Solar Trade, a globally leading PV wholesaler, announced a strategic exclusive distribution deal with WHES for commercial & industrial (C&I) battery storage systems across key European countries (Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland, Lithuania, Greece, Albania, Kosovo).
WHES offers a modular, IP55-rated all‑in‑one design incorporating PCS, EMS, and CATL battery modules. The PANGU OS platform manages energy and allows scalable deployment. BayWa’s COO emphasized quality and integration synergy; WHES’s CSO noted the partnership accelerates European market reach and renewables adoption through advanced storage tech.
JinkoSolar Files Patent Lawsuit Against Longi in Munich
On August 6, 2025, JinkoSolar’s subsidiary Shangrao Jinko Xinyuan Yuedong filed a patent infringement lawsuit at the Unified Patent Court’s Munich chamber against Longi Green Energy and its European affiliates.
The complaint alleges infringement of European patent EP3297043—acquired via LG—which covers a solar-cell structure featuring selective doping of the passivation layer. The suit targets Longi’s high-end back-contact (BC) modules: Hi‑MO 7, Hi‑MO 9, and X10. This is JinkoSolar’s second European patent action; the first involved TopCon technology. Longi has countered in the U.S. and China and sought invalidation of related patents at the court.
DC Cable: The Overlooked Risk of the $2 Trillion Solar Sector
A Forbes Tech Council article spotlights a critical but often neglected risk in solar infrastructure: DC cables. As the solar sector expands rapidly—approaching a $2 trillion valuation—much attention is paid to panels and inverters, while DC cables, responsible for transmitting power from panels to inverters, face underappreciated challenges. These include thermal degradation, safety compliance, and long-term reliability—especially under high-voltage 1,500 V systems. Weak or overlooked DC cabling can undermine system performance, create fire hazards, and escalate maintenance costs. The author urges industry stakeholders to elevate cable quality and resilience in strategic planning.
USA News
Trump Administration to Claw Back $7 Billion Solar for All Funds
The Trump administration’s EPA plans to cancel $7 billion in Solar for All grants, intended to help low- and moderate-income households fund solar installations.
Termination letters are being drafted to the 60 nonprofit and state recipients, including California’s stalled $250 million community solar allocation. Although most funds remain unspent, the move elevates legal concerns over rescinding already-awarded grants—actions opponents argue are beyond the EPA's authority and likely to provoke court challenges.
Cracking the Financing Code for the “Unbankable” Mid‑Sized Project
Many small businesses and nonprofits, despite needing solar solutions, are excluded from traditional financing due to nonstandard credit profiles. pv magazine USA highlights approaches to bridge this “messy middle,” exploring alternative financing mechanisms like tailored loans, credit enhancements, and hybrid models. These innovative structures aim to unlock solar deployment for underserved mid‑sized projects, improving clean energy access and financial inclusion in the sector.
Schroders Greencoat Buys 50% Stake in JERA Nex’s 395 MW US Solar Assets
Schroders Greencoat, part of the UK-based Schroders Capital, has acquired a 50% stake in JERA Nex’s U.S. solar project portfolio, comprising the 300 MW Oxbow Solar Farm in Louisiana and the 95 MW Happy Solar Farm in Arkansas.
Terms were undisclosed, but both farms already operate under long-term power purchase agreements with corporate and utility customers.
Tesla Energy Becomes the Company’s Most Profitable Division
Tesla’s energy division has transformed into its most profitable business unit. In 2025, Tesla Energy accounted for 23% of the company's total profit while generating only 13% of revenue, boosting overall profit margins by nearly two percentage points. After years of thin margins, the division’s strong performance marks a significant turnaround.
Peoples Move
Daniel Bier Sheil Appointed Global Head of M&A and Transactions at hep solar
As of August 1, 2025, Daniel Bier Sheil has taken on the role of Global Head of M&A and Transactions at hep solar, the international solar specialist.
In this position, he will oversee project acquisitions and divestments, as well as mergers and acquisitions. Sheil brings extensive global energy sector experience—having served as CFO of a German smart-grid software firm (steering capital raising, M&A, and commercial deals), as well as CFO and Head of Investments at a New York-based, private‑equity–backed carbon investment platform. He also previously worked as an M&A banker in Lazard’s Power, Energy & Infrastructure team in New York. His appointment underscores hep solar’s ambition for strategic growth in dynamic global markets.
PerPetum Expands into France and Germany
PerPetum has officially expanded its operations into France and Germany, marking a key milestone in its international growth. This move responds to both strategic goals and client demand, as many existing customers—primarily international industrial groups—have previously partnered with PerPetum on decarbonization projects in the Benelux region.
With new local teams in place and a strong, integrated approach, the company aims to deliver similar success across France and Germany. PerPetum welcomes new team members Matías Baigorría Heise, Mathieu Castaing, and Bachir TIGRINE as it continues driving energy autonomy and emissions reduction across Europe.
Vitaly L. – EVP & Chief Development Officer, Hanwha Renewables
Vitaly L. has taken on the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer (CDO) at Hanwha Renewables. In this strategic leadership position, he is responsible for overseeing the company’s global renewable energy development initiatives, including utility-scale solar, wind, and energy storage projects. His appointment signals Hanwha’s continued commitment to aggressive growth and innovation in the clean energy sector.
Jim Crimmins – Chief Technology Officer, GroundWork Renewables
Jim Crimmins has been appointed Chief Technology Officer at GroundWork Renewables. Bringing extensive experience in solar resource assessment, he will lead the company’s technology strategy, focusing on advancing data quality, analytics, and innovation in renewable energy measurement tools and solutions.
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