21/9/2025-Solar Energy Investment News & People Moves
- Viridian Energy
- Sep 20
- 6 min read
German News
Photovoltaic ground-mounted plant for Opel factory in Eisenach
A nearly 20 MW ground-mounted photovoltaic plant has been built in Krauthausen to supply clean electricity directly to the Opel factory near Eisenach.
The project includes ~32,300 solar modules over 21 hectares, with a five-month build time. A 7 km cable connection (laid using nature- and road-friendly drilling) carries about 19 GWh/year via a direct wire PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) to Opel. Opel’s parent company Stellantis plans more such projects to reduce carbon footprint and ease grid stress, including rooftop/green-roof-integrated PV at its headquarters.
Expansion of PV ground-mounted plants: between build-out goals and grid constraints
Germany’s climate targets demand a major scale-up of photovoltaic (PV) installations, especially ground-mounted solar parks But this expansion faces practical constraints: limited grid connection capacity, volatile electricity prices, and increasingly complex subsidy or regulatory regimes. To maintain profitability under these conditions, PV projects must be optimized holistically — considering grid access, module layout (orientation, tilt, spacing), and local storage possibilities Even though energy values drop during peak solar hours, smart design and possible overbuild (installing more capacity than peak output allows) may still make economic sense when combined with storage or optimized output timings.
Sunport expands: Austria’s PV-carport market leader launches in Germany
Austrian company Sunport, known for PV carports, has begun operations in Germany with a pilot project at the THD Technology Campus in Wörth-Wiesent Sixteen plug-&-play solar-carport parking spaces with a fast-charging station have been installed.
The system is foundation-free and was built in under a week, highlighting Sunport’s scalable, rapid deployment model. The company already has over 2,000 carport spaces in Austria and aims to scale in Germany, especially in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
LichtBlick pushes expansion: Solar park with over 10,000 modules in NRW
Energy provider LichtBlick is scaling up its own electricity generation in Germany. In Euskirchen (North Rhine-Westphalia), a new solar park of about eight hectares will install ~10,300 solar modules, producing around 8 GWh/year.
The project is being delivered by LichtBlick’s subsidiary SolarBlick, in partnership with Faber Solartechnik. By March 2026, LichtBlick plans to commission three more solar parks and build its first large-scale battery, with a project pipeline totaling about 3 GW.
Lunaco presents partner project “EE-Connect MV” up to 3 GW
On display at the MeLa 2025 fair, Lunaco GmbH (part of Elbkraftwerke group) announced the EE-Connect MV network cooperation. The project involves six partner companies (Alterric, BayWa, Clenergy, Lunaco, Visiolar, Elbkraftwerke) and aims to deliver up to 3 GW of capacity combining solar, wind, storage, and hydrogen. Already, network connection agreements of 1.7 GW exist at the 50Hertz transmission grid points in Schwerin (Görries) and Parchim. collaboration is intended to lower connection costs via shared infrastructure and address grid bottlenecks in northwest Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Suena Energy Secures €8 Million to Scale AI-Driven Energy Trading Across Europe
Suena Energy has raised €8 million in a Series A funding round to accelerate the expansion of its AI-powered Energy Trading Autopilot across Europe. The platform leverages advanced forecasting to optimize trading decisions for renewable and storage assets within milliseconds, enabling greater efficiency and profitability.
Investors include Eneco Ventures and 4impact Capital, alongside returning backers InnoEnergy, J.O.S.S., Santander, and Energie 360°. Suena aims to become Europe’s leading provider of AI-driven trading for renewables and storage, supporting flexible integration into the power system. The funding underscores strong partner commitment and celebrates the company’s dedicated team.
USA News
One Big Bad Bill for Solar Projects
The U.S. solar industry faces major challenges under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), which rolls back important tax credits like the 48E Investment Tax Credit and 45Y Production Tax Credit.
The changes tighten timelines: projects must be placed in service by end-2027, or meet certain “safe harbor” requirements, to remain eligible Analysts warn that installations over the next decade could drop by 17%, with a steep 41% decline in clean-energy installations projected after 2027. Developers are scrambling to secure permits and begin work under compressed windows.
California Cuts Funding for Nation’s Largest Virtual Power Plant
California has decided not to renew funding for its Demand-Side, Grid-Support (DSGS) program, which includes one of the nation’s largest virtual power plant (VPP) efforts.
The move follows budget constraints—an $18 million cut—and with no renewal, funding is expected to run out by end of 2025. DSGS coordinates clean distributed energy resources like solar, batteries, and smart thermostats to help the grid during high demand events and avoid costly backup peaker plants The cut threatens more than $200 million in projected energy cost savings and may compromise grid reliability amid climate-driven stress.
Arevon Surpasses $10 Billion in Operating Assets, Expanding Its American Energy Portfolio
Arevon Energy has crossed $10 billion in capital investment in its U.S. clean energy portfolio, powering over 5.3 GW of renewable and energy storage assets across 17 states.
The company currently has 1 GW under construction, a 9 GW pipeline of future projects, and has secured $4.5 billion in project financing over the past two years. Major projects include Eland 1 & 2 solar-plus-storage in California, the Vikings Solar-plus-Storage Peaker, and standalone battery installations. Arevon emphasizes community benefits, local job creation, grid reliability, and advancing U.S. energy security amid rising electricity demand.
State Solar Policy on the Frontlines
Across the U.S., recent state legislative sessions (biennial in many states) have put solar policy at the forefront, especially as federal support becomes less certain Key issues include community solar, net metering, microgrids, and permitting reform. States with deregulated energy markets are far more likely to have passed community solar legislation; regulated‐market states lag behind, with utilities often opposing efforts. Some states introduced bills to revise net metering, but in cases like California and Maine, proposals reducing compensation drew strong pushback. Efforts to streamline permitting for residential solar saw mixed success.
Peoples Move
Thomas Rink Appointed CEO of AVANTAG Energy in Luxembourg
Effective October 1, Thomas Rink will join the management of AVANTAG Energy as CEO at the company’s Wecker site in Luxembourg. Founded in 1995, AVANTAG Energy develops and implements commercial and industrial energy plants as an EPC provider.
Following its acquisition by Mannheim-based MVV, the company has gained access to an extensive partner network and the expertise of the MVV Group. Rink expressed enthusiasm for his new role, highlighting the collaborative spirit and shared challenges of the energy market. He emphasized his commitment to contributing to AVANTAG’s mission and guiding the team toward continued growth and success.
Nathan Arbitman Joins OnePlanet Solar Recycling as CCO
OnePlanet Solar Recycling has appointed Nathan Arbitman as Chief Commercial Officer. The company specializes in recovering valuable materials from end-of-life solar panels, addressing the growing need for sustainable solar recycling.
Arbitman brings decades of renewable industry experience from leadership roles at Endurans, DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions, and DSM Advanced Solar. His focus will be on expanding recycling operations, scaling innovative recovery processes, and driving industry partnerships. By strengthening its leadership team, OnePlanet Solar Recycling aims to accelerate growth in solar recycling, positioning itself as a key player in advancing circular economy solutions within the renewable energy sector.
Chris Hodrick Named CEO and President of Qcells USA EPC
Qcells has announced Chris Hodrick as the new Chief Executive Officer and President of Qcells USA Corp.’s EPC division. In this role, Hodrick will lead strategy and execution for the company’s U.S. utility-scale solar and battery storage engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) business.
He will oversee a pipeline exceeding 6 GW, focusing on growth, innovation, and fully integrated solutions combining solar panels, EPC services, and warranties. Hodrick’s vision centers on delivering customer-centric, high-quality solutions that strengthen Qcells’ position as a leading solar and energy storage provider in the U.S. market, ensuring sustainable and scalable clean energy deployment.
Greenbacker Appoints Daniel de Boer as CEO and Carl Weatherley-White as CFO
Greenbacker, an investment manager and independent power producer focused on the energy transition, has named Daniel de Boer as Chief Executive Officer and Carl Weatherley-White as Chief Financial Officer. The appointments mark a new leadership era for the company, which manages a diverse clean energy portfolio across North America.
Greenbacker’s assets represent about 2.9 GW of solar, wind, and energy storage capacity spanning 30 states, territories, provinces, and Washington, D.C. De Boer and Weatherley-White will guide the company’s growth strategy, strengthen financial operations, and drive expansion of sustainable energy investments that advance decarbonization and support the transition to renewable power.
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