Guangdong Zhaoqing Langjiang pumped storage plant passes reservoir impoundment acceptance
On September 7, the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute chaired the upper and lower reservoir impoundment acceptance meeting for the Langjiang pumped storage power station in Zhaoqing, Guangdong, commissioned by the provincial development and reform commission. The 1,200 MW plant (4 x 300 MW units) is a key Greater Bay Area storage project, and the acceptance marks a critical step toward unit commissioning and power generation. Its 500 kV interconnection system was energized ahead of schedule in August, and the plant is expected to deliver about 1.35 billion kWh of clean electricity to the Greater Bay Area grid annually.
Guangdong Yunfu Shuiyuanshan pumped storage plant completes gravity drainage tunnel breakthrough
On September 8, the gravity drainage tunnel of the Yunfu Shuiyuanshan pumped storage power station achieved full-line breakthrough with the final excavation cycle completed. The tunnel stretches 2,406.4 meters with a clear width of 2.8 meters and height of 3.0 meters, making it the longest key tunnel in the plant's underground cavern complex. The station, one of the first pumped storage projects started by Guangdong Energy Group, has a total installed capacity of 1,400 MW.
PowerChina's Sinohydro Bureau 14 wins electromechanical installation contract for Gansu Zhangye pumped storage plant
On September 9, Sinohydro Bureau 14 of PowerChina won the electromechanical installation and powerhouse finishing works contract for the Zhangye pumped storage power station in Gansu, valued at RMB 210.7 million with a planned duration of 40 months. The 1,400 MW plant (4 x 350 MW units) is a Class-I large project, a key implementation project of the 14th Five-Year Plan, and the first million-kilowatt-class pumped storage station deployed by China Three Gorges Corporation in Northwest China.
Hebei Chengde 300 MW/1,200 MWh storage plant EPC contract awarded
On September 8, the EPC contract for the Hebei Jiaotou Shengde 300 MW/1,200 MWh energy storage station in Chengde County was opened and awarded to a consortium of Tianjin Installation Engineering, Hebei Chuanghui Design and Shanghai Installation Engineering Group for about RMB 106.7 million. Construction is scheduled to start in September 2026, with full-capacity grid connection on December 20 and commercial operation by March 31, 2027, strengthening grid regulation capacity in the Chengde region.
Guizhou 110 MW Bandi Shuangshishan agrivoltaic project fully connected to grid
On September 9, the 110 MW Bandi Shuangshishan agrivoltaic project in Weining County, Guizhou, built by Sinohydro Bureau 5 of PowerChina, achieved full-capacity grid connection with all commissioning tests passing. The DC-side module capacity is about 131.17 MW. A key project of Guizhou's 14th Five-Year Plan, it uses fixed and flexible mounting brackets in combination and is expected to generate about 130 million kWh annually and cut CO2 emissions by roughly 100,000 tonnes per year, practicing a solar-plus-agriculture model of power generation above and crop planting below.
Hebei Chahan Nur 400 MW solar-plus-storage demonstration project connected to grid
In mid-September, the 400 MW photovoltaic-plus-storage demonstration project in Shangyi County, Hebei, built by Sinohydro Bureau 9 of PowerChina under the Chahan Nur river basin governance and rural revitalization phase II program, was successfully connected to the grid. The project further stabilizes renewable output in northern Hebei and continues to deliver green electricity to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, forming an important component of the basin's ecological protection and rural revitalization strategy.
Philippines' MTerra Solar Phase 1 begins commercial operations, world's largest solar-plus-storage project
On September 7, MTerra Solar Phase 1 declared commercial operations for 600 MWac of mid-merit capacity after receiving the Final Certificate of Approval to Connect from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, confirming that 950 MWac of solar and 825 MW (3,300 MWh) of battery storage are safely integrated into the grid. Jointly developed by MGEN and Actis, the project is planned at 3,500 MWp of solar paired with 4,500 MWh of BESS, making it the world's largest single-site integrated solar-plus-storage facility, reaching commercial operation less than two years after groundbreaking.
EDF commissions 150 MW/600 MWh BESS in Belgium as Engie breaks ground on 296 MWh project
On September 8, EDF Power Solutions placed its 150 MW/600 MWh battery energy storage system in Belgium into commercial operation, while Engie simultaneously started construction of a 74 MW/296 MWh storage project. The twin developments underscore Belgium's accelerating grid-scale storage buildout to support its rising share of renewable generation and strengthen the country's grid flexibility.
Tesla signs framework agreement with Italy's Zhero for about 3 GWh of Megapacks
In mid-September, Tesla signed a framework agreement with Italian storage developer Zhero and South African IPP H1 Holdings to supply approximately 3 GWh of Megapack systems, one of Tesla's largest European storage orders. The deal underpins Zhero's pipeline of more than 1.5 GW of utility-scale storage projects in Italy, which will be monetized through long-term offtake agreements as Italy procures storage capacity via its MACSE auctions to balance rapid solar and wind growth.
Amazon signs Asia-Pacific's first standalone BESS capacity lease in Australia
On September 11, Amazon's Australian arm signed a capacity lease agreement with Anza Power for the 50 MW/200 MWh Bairnsdale standalone battery storage system in Victoria's East Gippsland, the company's first standalone storage capacity lease in the Asia-Pacific region. Anza Power was established in January 2026 by I Squared Capital with USD 300 million in committed funding. Amazon has now invested in ten storage projects across Australia, totaling 368 MW when completed, supporting its AUD 20 billion data center investment pledge.
All 200,172 panels installed at Australia's 131 MW Winton North solar farm
On September 10, European Energy's Australian unit announced that all 200,172 PV modules have been installed at the 131 MW Winton North Solar Farm in Victoria, just two months after financial close despite a wet winter. A 100 MW/220 MWh battery is being co-located on site and is expected online by winter 2027. Once operational, the farm will generate about 251 GWh annually, with Amazon holding separate PPAs for both the solar and storage components.
EU deploys 33.8 GW of solar in H1, with record generation shares in summer
On September 8, SolarPower Europe's mid-year market update showed the EU installed at least 33.8 GW of new solar capacity in the first half of 2026, up 1.9 percent year on year and exceeding end-2025 forecasts. In the six months after the Middle East conflict escalated on March 1, solar is estimated to have avoided about EUR 30 billion in EU gas import costs, and photovoltaics met a record 25 percent of EU electricity demand in June, becoming the union's largest power source. The 2026 full-year outlook was raised to 68.1 GW, though the report warns that grids and storage are failing to keep pace, with curtailment and negative pricing intensifying.