Danish renewables developer European Energy (EE) has completed the sale of its largest solar farm in the US to date.

Copenhagen-based European Energy said it sold the solar farm to an undisclosed buyer so that it can develop, deliver, and recycle capital into new US renewable energy projects. EE develops solar, onshore and offshore wind, power-to-X, and battery storage projects. It arrived in the US in 2021 and has an office in Austin.

Lorena Ciciriello, chief executive of EE North America, said, “Our goal in the US is to create a broad portfolio of renewable energy solutions, and this sale is an important step in realizing our strategy.”

It’s the Danish developer’s “second major divestment” in the US since European Energy entered the solar market in 2021, bringing the total capacity divested to 800 MW. The company sold its first US solar farm, Yellow Viking in Texas, in 2023.

When fully operational, the still unnamed solar farm – EE doesn’t say where in the US it’s located, either – is expected to produce around 1,389 GWh of electricity annually, equivalent to the annual consumption of 128,000 US households.

“We remain committed to developing renewable energy projects in the USA that drive local growth and create jobs,” said Thorvald Spanggaard, EVP and head of project development at European Energy.

Electrek’s Take

This announcement, which is light on details, piqued my interest. It’s a large solar farm sold by a large European-HQ’ed global company that says it’s committed to developing more renewables in the US, which is currently being run by a government that doesn’t consider solar or wind to be defined as energy. What’s the incentive for EE to do that? It sure isn’t federal tax incentives.

What’s coming down the pipeline for renewable projects in the US? Everyone is speculating, but no one knows – not even Republicans, despite the risks of renewable project collapses being highest in their own states. I will make an educated guess and say that EE will sit on its sale proceeds and wait for clarity, which they may never get. That’s because the Trump administration memos and executive orders are deliberately designed to be vague. Chaos is a form of control.

Read more: Republican districts lose billions as clean energy cancellations surge

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Rivian’s (RIVN) $6.6 billion federal loan to build its new EV manufacturing plant in Georgia faces uncertainty after President Trump froze federal loans. Georgia Gov Brian Kemp said he’s “not sure” about where the funds stand.

Rivian’s loan for its new EV plant faces uncertainty

After Rivian closed its loan agreement with the US Department of Energy to finance its new facility last month, just before Trump took office, the funding is already in jeopardy.

“They secured that loan at the tail end of the Biden administration and, you know, I think there’s no secret that the Trump administration is taking a look at all those things,” Kemp told Richard Elliot from Channel 2 news this week. He added, “So I don’t really know where that stands right now.”

The comments come after the Trump administration’s abrupt order to pause federal funding in January. Although the order was rescinded less than two days later, it’s already wreaking havoc.

Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff commented on the situation, saying, “The president’s suspension of federal grants for Georgia threatens chaos.”

Although Kemp said he remains committed to helping Rivian, he will also protect taxpayers. “We got parameters in, and whether it’s the incentives, the side itself to protect taxpayers regardless of what happens with that side,” he explained.

Still plowing ahead

Despite the uncertainty, Rivian is confident the funds will still be available next year when it draws from the loan. A Rivian spokesperson said, “We’re working hard to onshore US manufacturing, providing thousands of American jobs here in Georgia.”

Rivian has already begun hiring for construction and management. Last month, the EV maker said recruitment was “expected to ramp quickly” as it prepared to restart construction on the facility.

As of now, the loan will be split into two phases. The first phase consists of a loan of up to $3.4 billion, with the remaining $2.6 billion in the second phase.

Rivian’s CEO RJ Scaringe said the loan would “help us accelerate the launch of our Georgia plant for R2 and R3, providing thousands of jobs in the state.”

The EV maker is still plowing ahead with plans to restart construction next year. By the end of 2028, Rivian expects to begin producing customer vehicles.

The 1,744-acre site is 40 miles east of Atlanta. It’s expected to create about 7,500 jobs and another 2,000 construction positions in the area.

Rivian will produce its smaller, more affordable R2 and R3 electric vehicles at the facility. The midsize R2 SUV will start at around $45,000, or about half the cost of Rivian’s current R1S and R1T.

Once up and running, Rivian’s new plant in Georgia is expected to be able to produce up to 400,000 EVs annually. The new R2 is expected to attract a new base of buyers to the brand at a lower price point. Check back soon for more info on the situation. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.

Source: WSBTV

After teasing the PV5 last week, Kia’s electric van was just spotted in the US for the first time. The PV5 is Kia’s first dedicated electric van, and it already looks ready to challenge Volkswagen’s ID.Buzz. Here’s what we know about it so far.

Kia PV5 caught testing in the US for the first time

The PV5 is the first from Kia’s new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) electric van lineup. It was showcased at CES alongside the smaller PV1 and larger PV9 models last January. In September, Kia held its European debut at IAA Transportation.

Kia claims its “game-changing” PBV platform goes “way beyond the traditional concept of a vehicle.” It’s a total mobility solution that can be modified for a number of uses.

The mid-size PV5 is not only an electric people mover. It’s also a workshop on wheels. Kia will offer several different configurations, including basic for passengers and van for delivery. It will also be available with a Chassis Cab option, like a pickup truck bed.

Although the PV5 was caught in public a few times last year while testing in South Korea, this is the first time Kia’s electric van has been spotted in the US.

The photo, courtesy of KindelAuto, shows a covered PV5 at a charging station in Indiana. Despite the camouflage, you can see Kia’s electric van appears to be slightly bigger than the Volkswagen ID.Buzz. It could be closer to the size of Ford’s E-Transit.

Kia previewed the PV5 last week with several teaser images ahead of its official global debut on February 27. The EV5 will be showcased alongside the EV4 (which we finally got a glimpse of) and EV2 during its second EV Day next week.

We will also learn more about Kia’s PBV strategy. The company will reveal full details, including the lineup and PV5 launch date. Check back soon for more.

Source: KindelAuto