Looking Ahead to 2026

ContourGlobal has entered the Greek renewable energy market with the acquisition of about 37 MWp operational solar PV portfolio and 500 MW / 2,000 MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in mature state of development, of which the first 100 MW are ready to break ground in the coming months. This major step in the company’s expansion in the European renewables and grid-scale storage landscape follows the recent announcement of the commissioning of one of the largest operating BESS in Eastern Europe in the neighboring country of Bulgaria. 

“While continuing our simplification and rationalization effort, entering the Greek market is a further step in ContourGlobal ambition to become a leading independent power producer in renewables and energy storage.”, said Antonio Cammisecra, CEO of ContourGlobal. “Greece combines rapidly growing renewable penetration with a booming need for large-scale storage solutions. Building on our experience operating large-scale BESS projects from Chile to Bulgaria and on the developments already underway in the United States, we see Greece as a key market to scale our battery storage portfolio in Europe and support the country’s energy transition”.

The Greek solar portfolio comprises 26 operating PV plants across the country, commissioned between 2011 and 2022 and previously owned by Quest Energy, a subsidiary of the listed Greek group Quest Holdings. With a total installed capacity of about 37 MWp, the assets are fully contracted under FiT (Feed-in Tariff) and FiP (Feed-in Premium) supporting schemes, providing both predictable and premium revenues. The portfolio’s expected yearly generation is of approximately 51 GWh, enough electricity to power up to 15,000 Greek households per year. AXIA Ventures Group and Koutalidis Law Firm have acted respectively as ContourGlobal’s financial advisor and legal counsel and TUV NORD Greece for the Technical Due Diligence.

The acquisition of the Quest portfolio was one of the first transactions to be filed and approved unconditionally under the new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) directive in Greece. The FDI approval process places strong emphasis on the review of acquisitions of critical assets in energy and infrastructure through foreign investors. 

In parallel, ContourGlobal has acquired in recent months the full ownership of six battery storage projects through two different transactions with developers FRV (Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, from Spain) and Zephiros (a Greek developer), totaling 500 MW / 2,000 MWh of battery storage capacity across different regions. 

The first project, Taxiarches, is a 100 MW / 400 MWh ready-to-build (RtB) facility located Thessaly, with construction scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026 and commercial operation expected by early 2027. This project will be built in the Municipality of Farkadona, Regional Unit of Trikala and is set to become one of the first operational merchant BESS facilities in Greece, providing four hours of storage capacity to support renewables integration and grid flexibility.

The second transaction includes up to 400 MW / 1,600 MWh of additional BESS capacity across six projects. All projects have secured environmental approvals, key permits, and have applied for grid connection. They are fully eligible under Greece’s Priority Regime for BESS Projects, launched in March 2025 to fast-track up to 4.7 GW of standalone battery storage. 

ContourGlobal was supported in these two transactions by Norton Rose Fullbright Greece for Legal assistance, BakerTilly Greece for the Financial Due Diligence, and TUV NORD Greece for the Technical Due Diligence. 

Although Greece is a relatively small power market in Europe with 24 GW of installed capacity, it is the second-largest in the Balkan region and is experiencing rapid growth in renewables. While historically dominated by lignite and gas, the country is accelerating renewable development, with solar and wind capacity projected to reach around 60 GW by 2060. At the end of the current decade, nearly 70% of installed capacity and electricity generation are expected to come from renewable sources, increasing the need for flexible, grid-scale storage. Moreover, the country is projected to become a net exporter of electricity from 2026.

Alongside these acquisitions, ContourGlobal continues to assess further development opportunities in Greece as part of its long-term growth strategy in renewables and battery storage.

These transactions strengthen ContourGlobal’s European platform for further growth in renewables and battery storage, building on its established presence in Italy, Spain and Austria, in addition to reinforcing its footprint in southeastern region with Bulgaria and now Greece. 

ContourGlobal | https://www.contourglobal.com/

Scanifly, the solar industry's leader in PV design and field operations software, announced an integration with IronRidge, an Enstall company and trusted name in solar mounting systems for over 25 years. The integration automatically transfers Scanifly design data and panel placement directly into IronRidge's Design Assistant, eliminating platform switching and saving contractors 1-3 hours per project.

The direct API integration connects Scanifly's design environment with IronRidge's racking, bill of materials (BOM), and engineering document capabilities. Solar contractors can now select optimal mounting equipment and generate comprehensive BOMs in just a couple of mouse clicks without recreating their array layouts.

The integration delivers immediate advantages:

• Unifies PV design, racking, and BOMs in one easy workflow
• Eliminates duplicate work by automatically transferring panel layouts
• Saves 1-3 hours per project on design and planning tasks
• Ensures accurate inventory for install day
• Prevents costly revisions and equipment shortages

Scanifly's drone-based technology produces to-scale 3D models with exact measurements that flow directly into IronRidge Design Assistant. This precision prevents revisions on install day, eliminates procurement errors, and ensures rails are neither over- nor under-ordered, avoiding the costly mistakes that happen when modules are accidentally redrawn with wrong spacing or placement.

"In 2026, when solar companies need to be more time and cost-efficient than ever, eliminating wasteful steps is critical," said Jason Steinberg, CEO of Scanifly. "Scanifly's focus is on reducing time spent in the solar workflow while never compromising on system accuracy, fitment, or maximizing production. Our integration with IronRidge delivers exactly that—connecting precise DroneDesign layouts directly to their racking calculations so contractors can move faster without sacrificing quality."

This connection combines Scanifly's photorealistic designs with IronRidge's proven mounting expertise, ensuring a perfect fit—based on actual roof conditions—for the XR or Aire racking systems and preferred attachments like FlashFoot2 or HUG.

"The Scanifly + IronRidge API integration enables our design team to quickly and accurately generate racking quantities for each project with just a few clicks," said Davis Fogerty, Co-Owner & Senior Residential Project Manager at Namaste Solar. "This streamlined process reduces front-end design time and ensures our warehouse and crews receive precisely what they need for efficient execution."

"This integration accelerates the path from design to installation by eliminating redundant design work and ensuring accurate racking specifications," said Tony Lenh, Digital Product Lead at IronRidge. "By removing the need to manually transfer data between platforms, contractors can work faster and with greater confidence that the racking system matches what's needed on the roof."

Solar contractors can access the Scanifly + IronRidge integration starting today. Visit https://scanifly.com/product/integrations/ironridge/ to learn more.

Scanifly | https://scanifly.com/

IronRidge | www.ironridge.com

Atlas Renewable Energy, leading international company in sustainable energy solutions, announced the signing of a new power purchase agreement (PPA) with a leading Colombian energy trading company, enabling the development of the El Campano Solar Plant, located in Colombia’s northern region. The project strengthens the reliability of the national electricity system and responds to the country’s growing energy demand.

El Campano project is Atlas Renewable Energy's second asset to begin construction in Colombia and is part of the company's investment strategy to reach 1 GW of installed renewable capacity in the country in the coming years. The plant will have an installed capacity of 128 MWp and is expected to begin operations by the end of 2027.

Through the PPA, the project will deliver approximately 245 GWh of renewable energy per year, enabling a reliable, stable, and competitive energy supply. This generation is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 110,000 Colombian households.

Awarded at the 2024 Reliability Charge Auction, El Campano is a strategic infrastructure project that will not only add new generation capacity but will also strengthen system reliability and enable greater participation of solar power in the Colombian energy mix. Beyond its installed capacity, El Campano will deliver tangible results for the energy transition by helping prevent approximately 38,200 tons of CO₂ emissions per year, supporting a more resilient energy matrix capable of accompanying long-term economic development.

“This project reflects our focus on the effective execution of strategic power generation projects for the country and on developing energy solutions tailored to our customers' needs,” said Camilo Serrano, Regional General Manager of Atlas Renewable Energy. 

This progress builds on the trust Atlas has earned following the successful execution of its first project in Colombia, Shangri-La, which was developed and brought into operation in record time and in accordance with high technical, environmental, and social standards. This experience reaffirms the company's ability to execute large-scale projects with operational excellence and certainty for the country's electricity system.

As part of its construction, the project will incorporate an approach focused on creating value in the region, promoting the training and hiring of local labor and the implementation of social and environmental programs aimed at strengthening productive capacities and regional development.

One of the pillars of this approach is the “We Are Part of the Same Energy” program, Atlas’ flagship initiative to promote local community participation in the renewable energy sector through technical training and job opportunities. In projects such as the Shangri-La solar plant in Tolima, the program trained more than 140 women from 13 local communities, expanding employment opportunities and increasing female participation in solar project construction.
With El Campano Solar Plant, Atlas continues to consolidate its presence in Colombia through projects that contribute real capacity to the electricity system, strengthen grid reliability, and enable conditions for the country's sustainable growth.

Atlas Renewable Energy | www.atlasrenewableenergy.com

Leatherback Brewing Company announced that a 50-foot telescopic meteorological (met) mast has been installed at the brewery to measure wind conditions for a proposed onsite clean energy project. The met mast is owned by Wind Harvest International, which is helping develop the potential project as a Caribbean showcase for its Category 5 hurricane-rated Wind Harvester vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs). Leatherback, and potentially its neighbors in the William Roebuck Industrial Park, would be the user of the power generated from the project.

The met mast includes three anemometers and one wind vane. The anemometers are installed at two different heights to measure wind shear. With wind shear data, the project team can estimate wind speeds at approximately 66 feet above ground, which corresponds to the mid-rotor height of the Wind Harvester’s proposed for installation. The height to the top of the VAWTs aluminum blades would be 87’.

Wind speed and direction data from the mast is being collected continuously and is publicly available online here.

The installation was led by Aaron Hutchins, co-owner of Leatherback Brewing Company. “We wanted real, site-specific data,” Hutchins said. “This met mast gives us a clear picture of the wind resource at our location. If the wind speeds are as strong as expected, we’ll be in a position to use wind power to lower our electricity costs and reduce our environmental footprint—while continuing to produce a high-quality product.”

Kevin Wolf, CEO of Wind Harvest added: “The energy available in wind increases with the cube of wind speed. That means a difference of just one mile per hour in average annual wind speed can translate into tens of thousands of kilowatt-hours per year from each 50 kW Wind Harvester. Given how expensive electricity is on St. Croix and across much of the Caribbean, we expect the wind resource will be strong enough to justify investing in a project here.”

Leatherback Brewing Company | https://leatherbackbrewing.com/

Wind Harvest International | windharvest.com

Avery Dennison Performance Tapes introduced a new Solar Panel Bonding Portfolio featuring pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) tapes that offer solar panel manufacturers significant advantages over other bonding methods. As the domestic solar industry grows, these durable, UV-resistant solutions are easy-to-use and automate, and optimize panel design. 

Solar and other renewables are forecast to provide 44% of U.S. electricity generation by 2050, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Innovative material solutions, such as PSA tapes, can help engineers scale up to meet the growing demand for clean energy.

The new portfolio features a variety of Avery Dennison PSA tape materials engineered to perform in multiple solar panel manufacturing applications, including:

• Frame mounting
• Cell fixation
• Dielectric insulation
• Edge protection
• Busbar bonding
• Product and safety information labeling
• Panel stiffener mounting
• Junction box mounting
• Cable fixation

“Our unique bonding products are a versatile solution to help meet growing commercial and residential demand as solar energy prices fall,” said Danielle Wiltrout, product manager, General Industrial, Avery Dennison Performance Tapes, North America. “The Solar Energy Industries Association is calling for 30% of panels installed in the U.S. to be produced domestically by 2030, up from just 2% in 2023.” 

Durability: Avery Dennison tapes are engineered to withstand exposure to UV light, moisture, high and low temperatures, and climatic extremes. They can provide consistently high performance throughout the service life of a panel, helping improve overall quality and minimizing the need for warranty issues.

Ease of use: Tapes offer a simple “peel-and-stick/instant-bond” alternative to messy liquid adhesives (which typically require cure time) and complicated mechanical fasteners. Adhesives can be engineered for easy repositionability, reducing rework and waste on an assembly line.

Automatable: Tape materials are engineered to facilitate automated application. This is typically a key requirement for solar panel manufacturing. These materials are also very easy to apply manually.

Design optimization: Avery Dennison tapes can replace mechanical fastening methods, offering a thinner profile and lighter weight to help optimize solar panel design. They also spread their bonding forces more evenly than screws and rivets, helping prevent fatigue and wear of the substrate.

Avery Dennison Performance Tapes | https://tapes.averydennison.com/na/en/home/industries/solar-panel.html

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is expanding the Alternative Technology Demonstration & Research Program to include solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Launched in 2025, the program collects data from participating commercial and industrial businesses to inform research about propane use, specifically with the adoption of propane-powered cooling and combined heat & power (CHP) equipment.

“When talking with commercial building professionals about energy reliability and efficiency, we found that fuel cells fit perfectly into the conversation alongside CHP and propane cooling,” said Bert Warner, director of commercial business development at PERC. “Together, these advanced propane technologies are allowing businesses to think beyond the electric grid when it comes to powering operations. The Alternative Technology Demonstration & Research Program accelerates adoption and provides valuable data in the process.”

To participate, visit Propane.com/AltTech to determine eligibility and to complete an application. Once approved, participants must purchase qualifying propane equipment and complete a survey about their facilities' performance, emissions, costs, and energy savings following the installation. The compensation offered for the qualifying equipment includes:

• $20,000 per site for solid oxide fuel cells
• $30,000 for propane CHP units greater than 15kW
• $12,000 for propane CHP units less than 15kW
• $300/ton for propane cooling equipment ranging from light commercial (5T-25T) to heavy commercial (100T+)

Solid oxide fuel cells convert the energy of fuels such as propane into electricity and heat through electrochemical reactions. The result is a highly efficient power generation system that runs quietly and cleanly, producing far fewer emissions than popular diesel systems. Propane’s high energy density and ease of transport make propane fuel cells ideal for remote, portable, or hybrid power systems. 

Propane-powered CHP units enhance energy efficiency by capturing heat that would otherwise be wasted during electricity generation. This advanced technology can significantly reduce energy costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and provide reliable on-site power, making it an ideal choice for commercial applications.

Propane cooling systems can meet various needs such as comfort conditioning, process cooling, dehumidification, medium-temperature refrigeration, and extreme ambient operations. The systems operate like traditional cooling systems but use propane to power the compressor or ignite the gas burner, reducing electricity use by up to 90%.

Interested participants should visit Propane.com/AltTech to determine eligibility and to complete a brief application describing their operations and equipment. Funding is limited, and early applications are encouraged.

Propane Education & Research Council | https://propane.com/

We are pleased to introduce Recharge with Solectria, a dynamic new webinar series exploring the latest in solar technology, industry trends, and expert insights.  These bimonthly sessions will focus on the critical role of inverters in today’s solar energy systems and are designed to help attendees keep up to date on the latest technologies, industry trends and Yaskawa Solectria Solar offerings. 

Additionally, participants will: 

•          LEARN. Discover emerging technologies, evolving standards, and the latest innovations shaping solar inverter performance and system design.

•          ASSESS. Gain our perspectives to evaluate real-world challenges, market trends, and best practices across utility-scale and commercial solar.

•          APPLY. Turn insight into action with practical guidance you can apply to your projects, designs, and operations.

Each webinar features industry experts from Yaskawa Solectria Solar and runs under an hour, delivering practical value you can use right away.  Participation is always complimentary and attendees will receive a certificate of attendance once webinar has concluded.  

Our first session on Thursday, January 29^th at 11:00 AM CST – “FEOC Compliance You Can Count On” – will be presented by Miles C. Russell, Director of Product Management, and Jonathan Helmuth, Director of Sales.  These two industry leaders will discuss the latest in Yaskawa Solectria Solar’s US-Made XGI 1500 Inverters and company compliance with FEOC restrictions.

Tune in to hear about:

•          Summary of evolving FEOC restrictions faced by the solar industry.

•          Review of how Yaskawa Solectria Solar XGI 1500 Inverters stack up in terms of FEOC Compliance and Domestic Content for BABA Compliance.

2026 Schedule

•          Thursday, March 26 - Inverter Fault Resolution

•          Thursday, May 28 - Working Safely Around Solar Inverters

•          Thursday, July 30 - One Bus, Many Benefits: Demystifying DC Coupled Systems

•          Thursday, September 24 - Topic Session Announced Soon

•          Thursday December 3 - Topic Session Announced Soon

Yaskawa Solectria Solar | www.solectria.com

Yaskawa | www.yaskawa.com