The latest renewable energy news includes announcements on Windcat Rotterdam, One Earth Solar Farm, Qualitas Energy, and others.
Windcat Rotterdam Completes Sea Trials as Six-Vessel Offshore Wind Fleet Advances
Windcat Rotterdam, the first vessel in Windcat’s new Elevation Series of commissioning service operation vessels, has completed sea trials. The vessel is the first of six CSOVs being constructed by Damen at Ha Long Shipyard in Vietnam for offshore wind construction and maintenance operations. Each vessel measures approximately 87 metres long and 20 metres wide and can accommodate around 120 people. The vessels are designed with hydrogen-ready propulsion technology intended to reduce carbon emissions during offshore operations. Growing turbine size and increasingly distant offshore wind farms are creating demand for larger service vessels capable of keeping technicians offshore for extended periods while providing safe personnel transfer, accommodation and equipment handling. Completion of sea trials moves Windcat Rotterdam closer to commercial deployment.
UK Approves 740 MW One Earth Solar Farm With Battery Storage
The UK government has approved the 740 MW One Earth Solar Farm on the Nottinghamshire-Lincolnshire border, clearing one of Britain’s largest photovoltaic developments for construction. Developed by PS Renewables and Perigus Energy, the project could generate enough electricity for more than 200,000 homes annually. One Earth also includes co-located battery energy storage and will connect to the National Grid at High Marnham through a 400 kV connection. Project documents indicate solar infrastructure could occupy up to 945 hectares, while the development is planned for an operating life of around 60 years. Construction is expected to begin in late 2027 after remaining pre-construction requirements are completed. Battery storage will allow surplus solar electricity to be shifted into higher-demand periods.
Qualitas Energy Acquires 376 MWp Polish Solar Portfolio Across Nine Plants Qualitas Energy has acquired nine operational solar photovoltaic plants in Poland totaling 376 MWp from a joint venture between Better Energy and Industriens Pension. The assets entered commercial operation between 2021 and 2024 and collectively generate more than 400 GWh of renewable electricity annually, equivalent to consumption by roughly 210,000 households. The projects connect to three distribution-system operators — Tauron, Energa and Enea — and have revenue exposure through Polish Contracts for Difference and corporate PPAs. Qualitas plans to evaluate adding battery energy storage to the sites. Following the deal, the investor’s Polish solar portfolio exceeds 600 MWp in operation or construction, alongside an onshore wind development pipeline of more than 1.2 GW.
