15/6/2025-Solar Energy Investment News & People Moves
- Viridian Energy
- Jun 13
- 6 min read
Germany Solar News
Aiko Sets Efficiency Record in Solar Module Production
Aiko has achieved a new world record with a 24.4% module efficiency in mass production, setting a new benchmark in the global solar industry.
This breakthrough underscores Aiko’s strong technological capabilities in solar innovation, achieved using ABC (All Back Contact) technology.
The company emphasizes that this development not only reflects peak performance in lab conditions but is now being scaled for commercial production. With this advancement, Aiko aims to strengthen its global competitiveness, accelerate photovoltaic adoption, and contribute meaningfully to the energy transition by offering higher-efficiency modules to customers worldwide.
Co-POWER Raises €6.4 Million for Energy Resilience Tech
Berlin-based Co-POWER has secured €6.4 million in a financing round led by Cherry Ventures and Aurum Impact.
The startup offers AI-based energy solutions to industrial customers, enhancing energy resilience and autonomy through predictive models and intelligent energy use. Co-POWER enables companies to better manage volatile energy markets, reduce costs, and increase sustainability.
The investment will support product development, team expansion, and scaling operations. The company addresses the pressing need for stable, self-sufficient energy systems, especially in light of rising industrial demand and growing energy supply challenges across Europe.
Green Fox Energy Commissions 37 MWp Solar Park in Olpe
Green Fox Energy has commissioned a 37 MWp solar park in Olpe, Germany, strengthening local energy supply and advancing regional energy independence. The project is among the largest of its kind in North Rhine-Westphalia and is expected to produce electricity for approximately 12,000 households annually. The initiative is part of Green Fox Energy’s mission to drive decentralized renewable energy expansion in Germany.
With a focus on sustainability and regional development, the company works closely with municipalities and landowners to deliver clean, reliable power while supporting the national energy transition goals.
Study: PV Market Values Could Drop Over 25% by 2028
A new study warns that the market value of electricity from photovoltaic systems in Germany may fall by over 25% by 2028. The analysis by Fraunhofer ISE cites grid congestion, oversupply during peak hours, and insufficient flexibility in energy demand as main reasons. The report calls for urgent action to integrate storage, flexible loads, and grid expansion to maintain profitability for solar power. If unaddressed, declining returns could deter investments in renewable energy, threatening Germany’s climate targets. Policymakers and stakeholders are urged to implement reforms and infrastructure upgrades to secure market stability.
1Komma5° becomes installation partner for Ampeers Energy in tenant‑electricity projects
German clean‑energy firm 1Komma5° will support Ampeers Energy by providing its national network of about 50 local installers to implement tenant‑electricity (Mieterstrom) schemes in multifamily dwellings.
Ampeers has identified roughly 300,000 apartments as eligible and plans to leverage streamlined processes to reduce costs and speed up deployment.
Under the EEG Mieterstrom model, typical electricity savings of €150 per year per tenant are expected, with tariffs around 20–30% below standard utility. The partnership aims to cut planning and install costs by over 30%, targeting payback periods under twelve years.
USA Solar News
Waaree Solar Americas Signs 599 MW Module Supply Deal
Waaree Solar Americas has announced a supply agreement to deliver 599 MW of solar modules for a U.S.-based project. This large-scale deal marks Waaree’s growing presence in North America and reflects the demand for reliable module manufacturers amid U.S. solar supply chain reshaping.
The modules will support utility-scale solar deployment, contributing to clean energy goals. The agreement underscores Waaree’s production capabilities and its focus on scaling up to meet rising demand in the U.S. solar market as the country accelerates its energy transition.
Enphase Co-founder Stresses Long-term Solar Vision Amid Turmoil
Enphase Energy Co-founder Raghu Belur urges the solar industry to take a long-term view amid recent challenges such as policy uncertainty, market volatility, and supply disruptions.
Speaking in a PV Magazine interview, Belur emphasized the importance of distributed energy, grid modernization, and software-based energy management.
He believes the current turbulence is temporary and that solar and storage are essential to the future energy system. Belur advocates for innovation and customer-centric solutions, stressing resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to energy independence as key pillars for industry success.
U.S. Lawmakers Push for Solar Tax Bill Fix
Thirteen members of the U.S. Congress have urged the Senate to address a major flaw in a clean energy tax bill affecting solar deployment.
The bipartisan letter calls for correcting language in the Inflation Reduction Act that inadvertently limits tax credit eligibility for solar developers.
Lawmakers argue the oversight is slowing investment in solar and storage projects and threatening job creation. The push signals strong political support for the solar industry and comes amid broader efforts to ensure clean energy incentives are accessible and effectively implemented.
US solar developers secure over $1 billion for 1.4 GW of projects
Three US solar developers—Soltage, Origis Energy, and rPlus Energies—have closed financing deals exceeding $1 billion to back 1.4 GW of solar capacity and 1.8 GWh of battery storage Soltage secured $260 million in construction and term loans to advance more than 500 MW of projects, backed by a 2 GW+ development pipeline Origis closed on its Wheatland and Optimist projects via a $530 million portfolio deal led by MUFG, supporting Indiana and Mississippi solar and storage. secured over $500 million in tax-equity funding for its 400 MW/1.6 GWh Green River project in. These transactions, completed June 11, 2025, signal sustained investor confidence amid tax credit and policy uncertainty.
MUFG finances Origis Energy’s 350 MW solar portfolio in the US
Japanese bank MUFG has provided financing to Origis Energy for a 350 MW US solar portfolio, comprising the 150 MW Wheatland project in Indiana and the 200 MW Optimist project in Mississippi—co‑located with 50 MW/200 MWh battery storage.
Both projects are expected online in the first half of 2026. Power purchase agreements are in place: Wheatland will sell to CenterPoint Energy in Texas, while Optimist’s output goes to the Tennessee Valley Authority .MUFG acted as coordinating lead arranger, alongside partners including National Bank of Canada, NatWest, and Siemens Financial Services. The deal reinforces resilient capital flow into US solar despite policy challenges.
Peoples Move News
Vattenfall Appoints Catrin Jung as Head of Wind Division
Vattenfall has named Catrin Jung as the new head of its Wind business unit. Jung, who previously served as Vice President of Offshore Wind, takes over leadership of one of Europe’s largest wind portfolios.
Her focus will include expanding offshore and onshore wind projects, driving innovation, and supporting Vattenfall’s goal of enabling fossil-free living within one generation. With extensive experience in strategy and energy markets, Jung is poised to steer Vattenfall’s wind division through a phase of rapid growth, while addressing regulatory, technological, and sustainability challenges across Europe.
Emma Nehrenheim Appointed CEO of European Battery Alliance
Emma Nehrenheim has been appointed CEO of the European Battery Alliance at EIT InnoEnergy.
Formerly Chief Environmental Officer at Northvolt, Nehrenheim brings deep expertise in sustainable battery production and clean technologies. Her leadership is expected to strengthen the EU’s strategic battery initiatives, promoting regional value chains, innovation, and climate-neutral energy storage.
The appointment reflects the EU’s growing focus on reducing dependency on foreign battery supply chains and supporting green industrial policies. Nehrenheim will drive collaboration across industry, research, and policy to ensure Europe remains competitive in the battery sector.
John Berger Joins Board of European Solar Company Otovo
John Berger, founder and former CEO of U.S.-based Sunnova, has joined the board of Otovo, a leading European residential solar company. Berger, known for pioneering solar leasing and grid services (VPPs), brings strategic expertise from building Sunnova into a public company with over 500,000 customers.
His addition to Otovo’s board supports the company’s ambitions for growth across Europe’s solar market. Berger’s experience in innovation and scaling solar operations will help Otovo strengthen its position as a key player in the energy transition through residential solar adoption.
Convergent Energy Appoints Russ Laplante as CFO
Convergent Energy and Power, a leading energy storage company in North America, has appointed Russ Laplante as Chief Financial Officer.
He succeeds co-founder Frank Genova, who now becomes Co-CEO alongside Johannes Rittershausen.
Laplante previously served as Chief Investment Officer at Savion, managing solar and storage finance, M&A, and valuation. His appointment strengthens Convergent’s financial leadership as it expands its energy storage solutions across North America. The leadership changes reflect the company’s growth strategy and continued focus on deploying large-scale storage systems to support a clean energy grid.
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