[SMM PV News] Croatia Unveils €450M Energy Package, Including €40M for Residential Renewables

ELQ has announced an investment of up to €2.5 billion to build up to 2 GW of new energy infrastructure in Ukraine. Supported by US and Arab partners, construction of the initial installations will begin in Q2 2026. Sołtysiak stated the company refuses to wait for the war to end, aiming to actively participate in the first phase of rebuilding Ukraine's heavily damaged power grid. The initiative aligns with broader recovery efforts, including a February 2026 World Bank estimate placing Ukraine's decade-long reconstruction costs at $588 billion, and a July 2025 EBRD mechanism to mobilize €1.5 billion for new renewables. Through its newly registered subsidiary, ELQ UKRAINE, the firm plans to supply autonomous energy to critical social infrastructure like schools and hospitals.

'SMA Solar Technology AG' confirmed its preliminary fiscal year 2025 results, reporting a 0.9% year-on-year revenue decline to €1.516 billion and widening losses amid difficult market conditions. Including one-off effects, 'EBITDA' fell to a negative €65.4 million, while 'EBIT' losses more than doubled to negative €188.2 million. The downturn was heavily driven by the 'Home & Business Solutions' segment, which suffered from €122.6 million in inventory writedowns, falling prices, and weak demand. In contrast, the 'Large Scale & Project Solutions' division saw revenue grow nearly 8% to €1.268 billion, recording a profit of €210.8 million. Looking ahead, 'SMA' confirmed its 2026 guidance, projecting revenue between €1.475 billion and €1.675 billion.

New figures from Austria's energy regulator, 'E-Control', reveal the country installed 1,634 MW of new 'PV' capacity in 2025, a 22% decline from 2024, bringing its cumulative capacity to 9.9 GW. 'PV Austria' warned that annual additions must consistently hit 2 GW to reach the nation's 100% renewable electricity goal by 2030. Industry experts blame the slowdown on the government's early abolition of the 'VAT' exemption for small rooftop systems, 'stop-and-go' funding policies, and grid expansion delays. To revive the market, installers are urgently calling for streamlined storage regulations, proportionate fire safety rules, and dynamic grid fees to support a combined solar-plus-storage approach.