During the period from December 18th to 24th, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. Chinese PV Industry Brief: PowerChina launches 31 GW solar procurement
PowerChina has initiated its centralized procurement for 2026, planning to purchase a total of 97 GW of renewable energy and grid equipment, including 31 GW of PV modules. The module tender is categorized by technology, covering 24 GW of n-type TOPCon, 3 GW of heterojunction, and 4 GW of back-contact cells. Concurrently, China Three Gorges Corporation announced the results of a 2.5 GW module tender, with several leading manufacturers shortlisted. LONGi announced the termination of its global depositary receipt issuance and Swiss listing plan.
2. India’s Waaree Energies lifts global solar module capacity to 22.3 GW
Leading Indian PV manufacturer Waaree Energies announced that the addition of 1.5 GW capacity at its Samakhiyali plant in Gujarat is now operational. This brings the company's total global solar module manufacturing capacity to 22.3 GW, comprising 19.7 GW in India and 2.6 GW in the US. This move aims to strengthen its supply capabilities in key markets like India and the US and meet growing global demand for high-efficiency modules.
3. India’s SJVN nears completion of 1 GW utility-scale solar project
A subsidiary of India's SJVN has added 100.56 MW to the grid for its 1 GW solar project in Bikaner, Rajasthan. The project's cumulative operational capacity now stands at 830.70 MW, with the remaining capacity expected to be connected soon. The project has signed full power purchase agreements, with the electricity to be supplied to power distribution companies in three Indian states in tranches of 200 MW, 300 MW, and 500 MW.
4. Indian state selects companies for 2.12 GW pumped storage projects
The Bihar State Power Generation Company has finalized two companies to develop a combined 2.12 GW pumped storage hydropower project in Nawada district. The project, with a total investment of INR 130 billion, will be self-funded by the developers. Utilizing closed-loop water storage technology, it avoids impacting river ecology. It is expected to create 8,000 jobs, take three years to build, and will support the state's integration of new energy and grid peak shaving and stabilization.
5. India’s NTPC brings 359.58 MW of solar capacity into operation
India's largest power generating company, NTPC, announced the commercial operation of 359.58 MW of solar capacity in Gujarat and Rajasthan. This increases NTPC's total installed capacity to 85,541 MW. The company currently has 30.9 GW of projects under construction, with renewables accounting for 13.3 GW. Its target is to achieve 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032.
6. India passes 132.8 GW of installed solar capacity
As of the end of November 2025, India's installed solar capacity has reached 132.85 GW, with ground-mounted power plants accounting for 100.8 GW. Rajasthan (~36 GW), Gujarat (24.8 GW), and Maharashtra (17.2 GW) are the top three states, collectively contributing over 58% of the national total. The government is advancing both utility-scale and distributed solar through various schemes.
7. Saudi Arabia connects 7.8 GWh battery storage project to grid
Saudi Arabia has officially grid-connected and commissioned the world's largest battery energy storage project, with a total capacity of 7.8 GWh. Located across three sites in Najran, Khamis Mushait, and Al-Madaya, the project is owned by Saudi Electricity Company and utilizes Sungrow's PowerTitan 2.0 systems. This grid-forming storage system aims to enhance grid stability, supporting Saudi Arabia's goal of high renewable energy integration under its "Vision 2030."
8. Amea Power begins construction on 1 GW/600 MWh solar-plus-storage plant in Egypt
UAE's Amea Power has commenced construction on a gigawatt-scale solar-plus-storage plant in Aswan, Egypt. The project comprises 1 GW of solar PV and 600 MWh of storage, with a total investment exceeding USD 700 million. Scheduled for commissioning in June 2026, it will become Africa's largest single-site solar-storage facility upon completion. Developed by Amea Power in collaboration with Japan's Kyushu Electric Power and others, the project is supported by loans from international financial institutions.
9. Tunisia switches on largest solar project to date
UAE's Amea Power has commissioned Tunisia's largest solar project to date, a 120 MW plant in Kairouan governorate, marking the country's first project exceeding 100 MW. With an annual generation of 222 GWh, it is backed by a 20-year PPA, financed by international financial institutions, and directly connected to the local high-voltage grid. This brings Tunisia's PV capacity to nearly 850 MW. The country also plans an additional 500 MW of solar projects.
10. Bhutan tenders 120 MW solar project
Bhutan's state-owned Druk Green Power Corporation has tendered a 120 MW solar PV project in Wobtang, central Bhutan. The winning bidder will be responsible for the entire project development process. The tender follows ADB's procurement procedures, with a bid deadline of January 26, 2026. The project is part of a 310 MW solar expansion plan supported by ADB financing. Bhutan had only 3 MW of installed PV in 2024 but saw its first large-scale solar plant commissioned this year and approved another 120 MW project.
11. Mauritius opens 2 MW hybrid solar tender
Mauritius's Central Electricity Board has launched a tender for a 2 MW grid-connected rooftop hybrid solar system to be deployed on public buildings in Rodrigues Island. It includes an optional procurement of a 1 MWh energy storage system and follows a turnkey model. Funded by the Green Climate Fund with additional government investment, the bid deadline is February 2, 2026. Mauritius currently has 168.5 MW of operational solar capacity.
12. Belgium’s Virya Energy acquires BayWa re’s Japan solar business
Belgium's Virya Energy has entered the Japanese renewable energy market by acquiring BayWa re's solar business in Japan. The deal includes over 60 MW of operational and under-construction projects and leverages the local team to expand in Japan's PPA market. Virya's affiliate in Asia, Constant Energy, already holds over 250 MW of wind, solar, and storage projects across several countries.
13. French renewables tender awards all 507.7 MW to solar
The results of France's fourth technology-neutral renewable energy tender have been announced, with solar projects securing the entire 507.7 MW capacity for the first time, with no wind projects selected. The weighted average winning price dropped to EUR 0.07413 per kWh, and the share of agrivoltaic projects increased. The regulator suggested future use of a single reference market price mechanism and relaxing capacity limits for agrivoltaic projects.
14. Italy clears 710 MW of solar in Puglia, challenges regional PV rules
The Italian government recently approved around 710 MW of large-scale solar projects in the Puglia region, mostly agrivoltaic systems. Simultaneously, the central government is challenging local laws in the Umbria region that restrict areas for PV development, arguing they conflict with national energy policy. This highlights growing central-local policy tensions in Italy regarding land use and energy transition goals.
15. Romania commissions 400 MWh battery storage project, its largest to date
Romania's largest battery energy storage system (BESS) to date, a 200 MW/400 MWh project, has been commissioned in Cluj County. It was developed by Nova Power & Gas. The government stated such projects are crucial for grid modernization and integrating renewables. Larger projects are under development, including a 250 MW/500 MWh BESS expected to be operational by mid-2026.
16. Bulgarian tender awards more than 4 GWh of energy storage capacity across 31 projects
Bulgaria has concluded the second round of its 2025 standalone energy storage tender under the RESTORE 2 program, finalizing 31 projects. With a subsidy of USD 137.8 million, these projects will provide over 4 GWh of usable storage capacity. The round received 93 proposals, with 30 placed on a reserve list due to insufficient funds. Financed by the EU, the projects are distributed nationwide. The country's first tender earlier this year secured nearly 10 GWh of storage.
17. New annual record for UK solar generation
Data from UK grid operator NESO shows UK solar generation reached 18,314 GWh in 2025, accounting for 6.3% of total electricity generation and setting a new annual record. This achievement was driven by the addition of 1.9 GW of new capacity (bringing total capacity to 20.7 GW) and record sunshine hours. The industry expects such records to be broken annually as installed capacity moves towards 60 GW over the next decade.
18. UK added at least 2.5 GW solar in 2025, revised data reveals
Latest data from the UK's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero reveals the UK added at least 2.5 GW of new PV capacity in the first 11 months of 2025. Total capacity reached 21.5 GW, a 13% year-on-year increase. Growth was driven by large-scale ground-mounted projects (including the 373 MW Cleve Hill, the largest to date) and record rooftop PV installations. Collaboration with external parties to identify operational projects added an extra 1.5 GW to the official statistics.
19. US energy storage installations surpass 2024 total by Q3 2025
The US energy storage market continues robust growth, with new installations in the first three quarters of 2025 already surpassing the total for all of 2024. Q3 installations were 5.3 GW, dominated by utility-scale storage, showing 27% year-on-year growth. Residential storage grew 70% year-on-year, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of growth. However, factors like supply chain adjustments may lead to a temporary market contraction in 2026-2027.
20. Awendio Solaris plans multi-gigawatt solar manufacturing hub in Canada
UK solar manufacturer Awendio Solaris plans to invest approximately CAD 1 billion in Montreal, Canada, to build a vertically integrated PV cell and module manufacturing hub and R&D center. The first phase targets 2.5 GW annual capacity using n-type TOPCon technology, primarily supplying the US market. It intends to use North American supply chains and Quebec hydropower. The project is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs.
21. Eswatini starts 20 MW solar project
Eswatini has initiated the 20 MW Chamelela solar PV project, the first under its 75 MW solar plan. Located in the northwestern region and developed by a South African company, the project costs approximately USD 23.6 million. Construction is set to begin early next year, with commissioning in July 2027. Backed by a 25-year PPA, its first-year generation could offset 4.8% of the country's electricity imports. It will also create related jobs. Eswatini's current operational solar capacity is 28.7 MW.
22. South Africa adds 890 MW of solar to seventh renewables bid window
In its seventh Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme bid window, the South African government has reallocated unassigned wind capacity to solar, approving an additional 890 MW of solar PV. The four approved projects are being developed by Red Rocket and Engie, with a total investment of about ZAR 16 billion, expected to be grid-connected within two years. This brings the total solar capacity awarded in this round to 3.94 GW.
23. Guayepo I&II, the largest centralized solar park in Colombia
Colombia's largest centralized solar park, Guayepo I&II, with a capacity of 370 MW, has been commissioned. The project involved an investment exceeding USD 340 million, created over 3,000 jobs during construction, and has signed a 15-year clean energy PPA with a local beverage company. Furthermore, through educational support, skills training, and community facility development, the project has deeply integrated energy production with local socioeconomic development.
24. Chile awards 2025 power supply tender solely to Enel unit
Chile's National Energy Commission announced the results of the 2025/01 power supply tender, with Italian utility Enel's Chilean subsidiary being the sole winner. It will supply 3,360 GWh annually starting in 2027, covering about 11% of the regulated market demand for that year. The average winning price was USD 64.499 per MWh, expected to reduce regulated electricity prices in 2027 by 2%-4%.
25. Metlen flicks switch on 120 MW of solar in Australia
Greek energy company Metlen has announced the full commissioning of its 120 MW Moone Creek solar farm in Queensland, Australia. The plant generates approximately 300,000 MWh annually, enough to power 41,000 homes. The electricity is sold under PPAs to Telstra and the National Broadband Network, supporting their renewable energy consumption targets.