The latest renewable energy news includes announcements from Qualitas Energy, Solar and Wind Auction in Pakistan, HEXA Energy, and others.
Qualitas Energy to Acquire Cero Generation’s 5.8 GW European Solar and BESS Platform
Qualitas Energy has agreed to acquire Cero Generation’s core European renewable-energy platform from Macquarie Group, adding 5.8 GW of solar PV and battery-storage assets across the UK, Italy and Spain. More than 2 GW of the portfolio is operating, under construction or ready to build, while another 3.8 GW is in development. Cero was established by Macquarie in 2021 and operates an integrated model covering project development, construction and operations. The acquisition, being made through Qualitas Energy Fund VI, also includes Cero’s teams and offices in London, Milan and Madrid. Financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction significantly expands Qualitas’ scale in three major European renewable markets.
Pakistan Makes Battery Storage Mandatory for 400 MW Solar and Wind Auction
Pakistan’s power regulator NEPRA has approved mandatory battery storage requirements for solar and wind projects participating in the country’s upcoming renewable-energy wheeling auction. The initial auction block has been increased from 200 MW to 400 MW, while renewable developers will need BESS firm capacity equal to at least 10 percent of project firm capacity. For a 400 MW procurement, the rule could require roughly 40 MW of battery power and around 160 MWh of storage. Pakistan initially considered a 20 percent threshold but selected 10 percent to limit upfront investment costs. Modelling indicates storage could reduce renewable curtailment by around 0.3 percentage points for wind and 1.1 points for solar.
HEXA Energy Starts Operations at 3.99 MW / 9.87 MWh Japanese BESS Portfolio
Tokyo-based HEXA Energy Services has begun commercial and market operations at two high-voltage grid-scale battery projects in Japan with combined capacity of 3.99 MW/9.87 MWh. The commissioning adds operating storage to Japan’s fast-growing BESS market, where developers are increasingly targeting wholesale trading, balancing and ancillary-service revenues alongside grid flexibility. The two facilities represent HEXA Energy’s latest move into grid-scale energy storage as Japan expands battery deployment to accommodate additional solar generation and address periods of supply-demand imbalance. Although relatively modest in scale compared with gigawatt-hour projects emerging elsewhere in Asia, the projects demonstrate the increasing commercialisation of distributed grid-connected storage assets in Japan and the transition from development to revenue-generating market operations.
