China's Renewable Energy Report 2025: Wind and Solar Capacity Surpass Thermal Power for the First Time
On June 12, the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute released its annual report in Beijing. By the end of 2025, China's renewable energy installed capacity reached 2,337 GW, accounting for 60.1% of total generation capacity. The combined installed capacity of wind and solar power historically surpassed thermal power for the first time. Renewable energy generation growth fully covered the entire increase in national electricity consumption, marking the first instance of new economic growth being entirely powered by green electricity. Globally, renewable energy capacity exceeded 5,309 GW, with China contributing 63.9% of new global additions. In 2026, new solar PV additions are projected at approximately 200 GW, with new wind additions at roughly 100 GW.
China Targets Approximately 100 GW of New Pumped Storage During the 15th Five-Year Plan Period
On June 12, the Pumped Storage Industry Development Report 2025 projected that China will commission approximately 100 GW of new pumped storage during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), averaging over 20 GW annually, with total operational capacity expected to reach 160 GW by 2030 to meet the projected 400 GW flexible capacity demand by 2035. In 2026 alone, roughly 7 GW of pumped storage is scheduled for commissioning. Pumped storage is positioned as the most technically mature and economically viable large-scale flexible regulation resource, playing an increasingly critical role in peak shaving, frequency regulation, and supporting cross-provincial renewable energy transmission corridors.
Zhejiang Pan'an 1,200 MW Pumped Storage Station Upper Dam Crest Reached
On June 7, China Energy Engineering's Gezhouba No. 2 completed full-section filling of the upper reservoir main dam at the State Grid Xinyuan Pan'an pumped storage station in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, marking the transition to dam settlement observation and concrete face slab construction. With a total installed capacity of 1,200 MW (4 x 300 MW reversible pump-turbine units) and a total investment of RMB 7.608 billion, this is the first large-scale pumped storage plant in the Jinhua region and a key project under Zhejiang's Thousand Projects and Trillion Yuan Investment initiative. Once operational, it will absorb approximately 1.6 TWh of off-peak electricity and deliver about 1.2 TWh of peak electricity annually, reducing CO2 emissions by around 224,600 tonnes per year.
Xinjiang Dabancheng 1,400 MW Pumped Storage Station Breaks Ground
In June 2026, the hydropower unit of China Communications Construction Corporation won the bid for the key construction sections of the Dabancheng pumped storage station in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, with formal construction commencing on June 15. The station has a total installed capacity of 1,400 MW, a total investment of approximately RMB 11.4 billion, and is a national 14th Five-Year Plan priority implementation project and Xinjiang's largest pumped storage station under construction. Located in the Dabancheng district, it will significantly enhance Xinjiang's renewable energy absorption capacity and provide critical peak regulation support for the northwestern power grid.
China's Largest Offshore Solar-Hydrogen-Storage Integrated Project Completed
On June 10, CCTV reported the completion of China's largest solar-hydrogen-storage integrated offshore photovoltaic project, built on tidal flats in a technically challenging coastal intertidal zone. The project integrates solar power generation, green hydrogen production, and battery energy storage into a single offshore facility, representing a significant breakthrough in multi-energy complementary technology. The project will provide a demonstration model for coastal clean energy supply and green hydrogen industry development, driving the coordinated advancement of offshore renewable energy deployment and marine space utilization.
South Asia Expo Signs 18 Energy Projects Worth Over RMB 25.7 Billion in Kunming
On June 13, the 10th China-South Asia Expo green energy signing ceremony was held in Kunming, with 18 projects totaling over RMB 25.7 billion concluded across four main tracks: wind power, solar PV, pumped storage, and cross-border energy cooperation. Huadian, PowerChina, and China Southern Power Grid affiliates signed major pumped storage EPC contracts and county-level wind and solar projects. Notably, CSG Lancang-Mekong International Energy and Laos' national utility EDL signed China's first cross-border green certificate cooperation MOU, establishing a framework for mutual recognition of green electricity attributes and regional clean energy pricing mechanisms.
MN8 Energy Commissions 260 MW Solar Portfolio, All Under Microsoft PPAs
On June 10, U.S. independent power producer MN8 Energy announced commercial operations at two utility-scale solar PV plants: the 120 MW Long Point project located in the Houston load zone of Texas' ERCOT market, and the 140 MW American Beech project in North Carolina's PJM market, totaling 260 MW. Both projects operate under long-term power purchase agreements with Microsoft Corp. The development follows MN8's commissioning of its 100 MW/400 MWh Pome battery storage system in Poway, California, in May 2026 under a 10-year tolling agreement with Sonoma Clean Power, and an 80 MW Pennsylvania solar project with Meta expected by end-2026.
Meta Signs 298 MW Texas Solar PPA with RWE, Pushing Joint Portfolio Past 870 MW
On June 12, PV-Tech reported that Meta Platforms signed a power purchase agreement with German developer RWE for the 298 MW Rabbit's Foot solar project in Texas. This brings the cumulative PPA capacity between Meta and RWE over the past two years to over 870 MW, encompassing projects including the 274 MW Emily solar project in Illinois, the 100 MW Lafitte project in Louisiana, and the 200 MW Waterloo project in Texas. The agreement underscores the sustained momentum of technology companies driving demand for utility-scale green power procurement to meet data center and operational decarbonization targets.
India's Rooftop Solar Boom Drives National PV Capacity Past 150 GW
On June 12, PV-Tech reported that India's total installed solar capacity surpassed 150 GW in early 2026, propelled by the flagship PM Surya Ghar free electricity scheme with a total budget of US$7.8 billion. Monthly residential rooftop solar installations skyrocketed from approximately 7,000 households pre-scheme to over 300,000, with more than 3.3 million systems installed and subsidies exceeding INR 92.8 billion disbursed. However, state-level execution remains highly uneven: Gujarat and Kerala report installation-to-application conversion rates above 65%, while Uttar Pradesh lags at only 14.8%. Financing access, particularly for low- and middle-income households, remains the primary barrier to sustained and equitable growth.
Sungrow and Sunotec Commission 150 MW/600 MWh BESS in Nova Zagora, Bulgaria
On June 11, Energy Global reported that Sungrow and Sunotec completed commissioning of a 150 MW/600 MWh battery energy storage system in Nova Zagora, Bulgaria. As the country's largest standalone BESS, the facility provides critical frequency regulation, reserve capacity, and renewable energy integration support for Bulgaria's transmission grid. The project represents a major milestone in Southeast Europe's energy storage deployment and strengthens the region's grid infrastructure as renewable penetration continues to grow.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Sells Minority Stake in 500 MW Devilla BESS in Scotland
On June 8, Energy Global reported that Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners agreed to divest minority stakes in its 500 MW Devilla battery storage project in Scotland to the Scottish National Investment Bank and Norway's NLF. One of the UK's largest standalone BESS projects, the transaction introduces public and sovereign capital into large-scale energy storage infrastructure, creating a new financing model for European battery storage assets and demonstrating growing institutional investor appetite for grid-scale storage investments.
Elgin Energy Breaks Ground on 112 MW Solar-Plus-Storage Portfolio in the UK
On June 11, Energy Global reported that Elgin Energy commenced construction on its first UK project — a 112 MW portfolio of solar PV and co-located battery energy storage. The projects will be held and operated by Elgin for the long term, delivering clean power and grid flexibility to Britain's electricity network. This groundbreaking marks a significant milestone in Elgin's UK market expansion and reflects the growing pipeline of integrated solar-plus-storage developments being brought forward under the UK's ambitious renewable energy targets.
Jinko ESS Delivers 722 MWh Battery Storage System for Large-Scale Indian Renewable Base
On June 11, Energy-Storage.News reported that Jinko ESS completed delivery of 144 sets of SunTera G2 liquid-cooled energy storage systems totaling 722 MWh to a large-scale renewable energy base project in India. The deployment operates under challenging site conditions characterized by high temperature, high humidity, heavy dust, and strong sunlight, requiring elevated standards for thermal management, protection ratings, and safety architecture. The project validates Jinko ESS's capability to execute utility-scale BESS deliveries under complex environmental conditions and supports India's accelerating renewable energy integration and grid stability objectives.
Greenvolt Inaugurates Hungary's Largest Operational Battery Energy Storage System
On June 11, Energy Global reported that Portuguese renewable energy developer Greenvolt Power officially inaugurated Hungary's largest battery energy storage system currently in operation. The facility provides peak shaving, frequency regulation, and grid flexibility services to Hungary's transmission system, supporting the country's growing renewable energy penetration. The project marks a key milestone in Greenvolt's ongoing expansion across Central and Eastern European markets, where rapidly rising solar and wind capacity is driving strong demand for grid-scale energy storage solutions.