During the period from January 13th to 19th, 2026, the following international news occurred:
1. Pacific Hydro commissions 293 MW of PV with 110 MW/220 MWh of storage in Chile
Pacific Hydro (a subsidiary of China's State Power Investment Corporation) has commissioned a solar and energy storage project in the Atacama Desert, Chile, consisting of 293 MW of photovoltaic capacity and 110 MW / 220 MWh of battery storage. The power plant occupies approximately 394 hectares and is expected to generate 780 GWh of electricity annually, sufficient to power over 310,000 households. The total investment is approximately $300 million.
2. Floating PV could power up to 490,000 households in Hong Kong
Research from the University of Exeter, UK, shows that if floating photovoltaics (FPV) were fully deployed across Hong Kong's 18 existing reservoirs, they could generate 7.72 TWh of electricity annually, meeting about 15% of the city's total electricity demand and over 61% of residential electricity consumption, sufficient to power approximately 490,000 households. The study recommends a 60% coverage rate to balance power generation with ecology and suggests combining it with hydrogen storage for nighttime power supply.
3. India’s SECI awards 1.2 GW of solar, 600 MW/3,600 MWh of storage at $0.035/kWh
India's Solar Energy Corporation Limited has finalized a tender for a 1.2 GW solar project paired with 600 MW / 3,600 MWh of energy storage, with the lowest tariff reaching 3.12 Rupees (approximately $0.035) per kWh. Winning bidders include companies like NLC India Renewable Energy. As per the requirements, each megawatt of solar must be paired with at least 0.5 MW / 3 MWh of storage. SECI will act as an intermediary, selling the electricity to various power procurement entities across the country through back-to-back agreements.
4. Adani Green unit to supply solar-wind power to Asahi India Glass
A subsidiary of Adani Green Energy has signed an agreement with Asahi India Glass to supply 20.8 MW of solar-wind hybrid power. The electricity will be sourced from a hybrid project in Khavda, Gujarat, comprising 25 MW of solar PV and 20.8 MW of wind power. Asahi India Glass will hold at least 26% equity in the project in accordance with India's captive power regulations.
5. India tenders 2.45 GW solar power projects with battery storage
The Rajasthan Solar Park Development Company has issued a tender to develop 2.45 GW of solar projects with a 1.6 GW / 6.4 GWh battery energy storage system at the Pugal Solar Park in Bikaner district, Rajasthan. The project follows a Build-Own-Operate model, divided into two lots. A 25-year power purchase agreement will be signed with the state distribution company. The storage system must primarily be charged using power from the solar park.
6. Green bonds totaling $870 million issued for 2 GW solar project in UAE
The project company for the 2 GW Al Dhafra Solar PV project in the UAE (including TAQA, Masdar, EDF, Jinko Solar, etc.) has issued green bonds totaling $870.75 million to refinance existing debt for the power plant. The bonds carry a coupon rate of 5.794% and mature in June 2053. They have received 100% green asset certification. The plant, commissioned in 2023, was once the world's largest single-site solar power plant.
7. Masdar bags PPA for 150 MW of solar in Angola
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has signed its first power purchase agreement in Angola to develop the 150 MW Quipungo solar project in Huíla province. This project is the first phase of the "Royal Sable" plan, which aims to deploy a total of 500 MW of solar capacity across three sites to supply Angola's southern grid. It is expected to provide electricity for approximately 300,000 households.
8. Vietnam proposes increase to surplus power sale from rooftop solar
Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade is proposing amendments to relevant electricity laws to increase the cap on the proportion of surplus rooftop solar power fed into the grid from 20% to 50%, with limits lifted for unconnected remote areas. The feed-in tariff for surplus electricity will not exceed the ceiling price for ground-mounted solar. Public building solar systems will also be allowed to participate in power sales. This move aims to promote rooftop solar development and help achieve the 2030 target of having half of office buildings and residences equipped with self-consumption solar.
9. Bangladesh seeks consultants for 220 MW solar project
Bangladesh Power Development Board is seeking consultants for the 220 MW Sonagazi Solar Power Station project to handle design review, construction supervision, and compliance with the Islamic Development Bank's health, safety, environmental, and social standards. Upon completion, this project will become Bangladesh's largest solar power plant. The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is February 3.
10. Scatec secures PPA for Africa’s largest solar-plus-storage project
Norwegian renewable energy developer Scatec has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with Egypt to build what will be Africa's largest solar-plus-storage integrated project to date. The project comprises 1.95 GW of solar capacity and a 3.9 GWh battery energy storage system, with an expected annual generation of 6 TWh. This is Scatec's largest-ever investment, aiming to provide Egypt with sustainable, around-the-clock power.
11. Croatia deploys 417 MW of solar in 2025
Croatia added 417 MW of new solar capacity in 2025, bringing cumulative installed capacity to 1,255 MW. It is projected that solar capacity will surpass wind power capacity for the first time in early 2026. Growth was primarily driven by commercial and industrial users, while the residential market slowed due to the cancellation of the net metering scheme. Approximately 3.5 GW of large-scale solar projects are currently stalled pending decisions on grid connection fees. Achieving the national 2030 target of 2,382 MW of installed capacity awaits the unlocking of these large projects.
12. France awards 40 MW of solar projects in non-interconnected zones
France's Ministry for Energy Transition has announced the results of the fourth round of solar project tenders for non-interconnected zones (Corsica, Réunion, French Guiana), allocating a total of 40 MW of capacity. The weighted average tariff was €92.04 per MWh. While the tender planned to allocate 99 MW, it was undersubscribed. Winning bidders included companies like Akuo and Voltalia. The regulator noted that constraints such as land availability and grid connection remain major barriers to deployment.
13. Luxembourg revamps subsidies for solar on residential buildings
The Luxembourg government implemented a new residential solar subsidy scheme starting January 4. This pre-financing model allows registered installers to directly deduct the subsidy amount from the invoice, eliminating the need for homeowners to pay upfront and wait for reimbursement. Subsidies are applicable to self-consumption PV systems with a minimum capacity of 2 kW, with support up to €10,000. Paired battery storage can also receive subsidies up to €2,250. This measure aims to simplify the process and accelerate the energy transition.
14. Neoen’s battery to pioneer grid-forming services on French transmission network
French transmission system operator RTE, in collaboration with renewable energy company Neoen, will conduct a trial modifying inverters at the under-construction 92 MW / 183 MWh Breizh large-scale battery project to provide grid-forming services. This will be the first battery storage project on France's transmission network capable of grid-forming, aiming to enhance grid stability with a high share of renewables. The battery is expected to be operational by summer 2026, helping to improve grid stability under high renewable energy penetration.
15. Romania installs 2.2 GW of solar in 2025
Romania added 2.2 GW of new solar capacity in 2025, pushing its cumulative installed capacity beyond 7 GW. Of this, distributed generation (residential and commercial/industrial) contributed approximately 1 GW, while utility-scale projects added 1.2 GW, nearly doubling year-on-year. Growth was fueled by national subsidies, contracts for difference auctions, and an efficient approval framework. Installed capacity is expected to potentially increase further to 2.5 GW in 2026, surpassing the national 2030 target of 10 GW ahead of schedule.
16. PPA signed for Saskatchewan’s largest solar project
French power developer Neoen has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with Saskatchewan Power Corporation, Canada, to build the province's largest solar power plant to date – the 157 MW Mino Giizis project. The project is expected to be operational by 2028. It will be co-developed with a 50/50 partnership between Neoen and an alliance of four Indigenous Nations, creating about 350 jobs during the peak construction phase.
17. Electricity rate hikes slash commercial solar payback periods in US by 33%, says Wood Mackenzie
Wood Mackenzie analysis indicates that rising retail electricity rates in the US are becoming a primary driver for commercial solar investment. If the average annual electricity rate growth increases from 2% to 6%, the average payback period for commercial solar projects would shorten from 6.3 years to 4.2 years, a reduction of 33%. High-rate regions like California see the fastest returns. Despite the gradual phase-out of federal tax credits, the widening cost gap between grid power and solar continues to support project economics.
18. Australian state’s utility-scale solar tops 1 TWh in December
Large-scale solar power stations in New South Wales, Australia, set a new monthly generation record in December 2025, surpassing 1 TWh (reaching 1,052 GWh) for the first time. This contributed to raising the total generation from utility-scale solar and wind across the nation to 5,420 GWh. Renewable energy accounted for 50.4% of the National Electricity Market that month. Concurrently, discharge from utility-scale battery storage systems increased significantly year-on-year, demonstrating the rapid development of clean energy and storage.
19. Norway adds 117 MW of solar in 2025
Norway added 117 MW of new solar capacity in 2025, bringing cumulative capacity to approximately 876 MW. Growth was mainly driven by the commercial and industrial sector (adding 81 MW), while the residential market only added 13 MW due to factors such as reduced electricity price subsidies and high interest rates. Despite the short-term market slowdown, policy reforms (e.g., permit exemptions for projects under 10 MW) and new energy sharing regulations are expected to help drive installations back to 150-200 MW in 2026.
20. Eskom launches tender for 17 MW solar plant
South Africa's national power utility, Eskom, has issued a tender to build a solar photovoltaic power plant with a minimum AC capacity of 17 MW, expandable up to 30 MW, within the premises of its Duvha coal-fired power station in Mpumalanga province. The tender scope includes design, procurement, construction, and two years of operation and maintenance services. The project aims to alleviate system pressure and advance the decarbonization of the power station. The bid submission deadline is January 30 at 10:00 AM (local time).
21. Brazil eyes gigawatt-scale energy storage growth in 2026
The Brazilian Energy Storage Solutions Association projects that the country's commercial and industrial energy storage deployments will exceed 2 GWh in 2026. Furthermore, a capacity reserve auction planned for April is expected to procure approximately 8 GWh of storage projects (for delivery in 2028), potentially doubling the current market size. The association believes that with the enactment of new regulations and the advancement of capacity auctions, 2026 will be a year of consolidation and growth for Brazil's energy storage market.
22. MENA region installs 12.2 GW of solar in 2025
According to a Dii Desert Energy report, the Middle East and North Africa region added 12.2 GW of new solar capacity in 2025, bringing the cumulative total to 34.5 GW. The region's renewable energy project pipeline has grown to 202 GW, with solar accounting for 130 GW. The report suggests that if the current momentum continues, the region could surpass its total renewable energy target of 235 GW before 2030. Saudi Arabia, with over 11 GW of installed capacity, is the region's largest solar market.