The latest renewable energy news includes announcements on Enviromena, Longpasture Solar Project in County Durham, Statkraft, Hoyanger Hydropower, Dark Sky, and others.
Enviromena Starts Construction of Longpasture Solar Project in County Durham
Enviromena has started construction of the Longpasture solar project in County Durham, England, advancing another utility-scale photovoltaic development into the delivery phase. The project includes a £100,000 community benefit fund, designed to provide local financial support alongside renewable-electricity generation. Construction will involve civil works, module installation, inverters, electrical infrastructure and grid-connection activity before commissioning. The project adds to Enviromena’s expanding UK solar portfolio as Britain seeks significantly more photovoltaic capacity to support its clean-power targets. Ground-mounted solar remains one of the fastest technologies to deploy at scale, but project delivery increasingly depends on grid availability, planning approvals and local engagement. Longpasture demonstrates continued investor and developer appetite for UK solar despite those constraints.
Statkraft Plans Nearly NOK 3 Billion Hoyanger Hydropower Upgrade
Statkraft has applied for a licence to build new Hoyanger K5 and Breidal hydropower plants in Norway, replacing older K5A and K5B facilities commissioned between 1965 and 1979. The investment framework is just under NOK 3 billion and forms part of Statkraft’s broader plan to invest approximately NOK 80 billion in Norwegian hydropower and onshore wind over the next decade. The new facilities would increase flexible renewable-power capacity without requiring new reservoirs or additional water resources, improving output from existing hydrological infrastructure. Modernising established hydro assets is becoming increasingly valuable as variable wind and solar generation expands because dispatchable hydropower can respond quickly to changes in supply and demand. The project remains subject to regulatory approval.
Dark Sky Expands Aircraft Detection Lighting Across Dutch Wind Farms
Dark Sky has expanded deployment of its Aircraft Detection Lighting System technology at wind farms in the Netherlands, with two Limburg projects already equipped. ADLS systems keep aviation warning lights switched off for most of the time and activate them only when aircraft approach, reducing visual impact on nearby communities while maintaining aviation safety. The technology is becoming increasingly relevant for taller modern wind turbines, where permanent night-time obstruction lighting can generate local opposition. By reducing unnecessary illumination, developers can improve community acceptance without changing turbine output or project economics. Wider deployment in the Netherlands could help operators meet aviation requirements while addressing one of the most visible environmental impacts of onshore wind infrastructure. The rollout illustrates how relatively small technology upgrades can improve social acceptance of renewable-energy projects.
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