During the period from April 9th to 15th, 2026, the following international news occurred:
1. World’s largest PV-CSP plant under construction in China
China Energy Engineering Corporation has begun construction on the world's largest single-unit PV-CSP hybrid power plant in Hami, Xinjiang, with a total installed capacity of 1.5 GW, including 1.35 GW of photovoltaic and 150 MW of molten salt tower concentrated solar power, at an investment of approximately $950 million. The project is expected to connect to the grid in June 2026, generating about 2.9 TWh of electricity annually and enabling round-the-clock stable power supply.
2. Jupiter, AMPIN open 1.3 GW solar factory in India
Jupiter International and AMPIN Energy Transition have commissioned a 1.3 GW solar cell and module factory in Bhubaneswar, India, through a joint venture. Built under the production-linked incentive scheme and inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Odisha, the factory's output will be used for captive supply and third-party supply, supporting the enhancement of India's domestic manufacturing capabilities.
3. Vietnam’s solar capacity surpasses 19 GW
According to data from the International Renewable Energy Agency, as of the end of 2025, Vietnam's cumulative installed solar capacity reached 19,252 MW, with 586 MW added during the year, up from 79 MW in 2024. Rooftop solar performed best, driven by industrial and commercial demand. The government plans to raise the cap on surplus electricity fed into the grid from 20% to 50%, which could further drive market development.
4. First solar project backed by EU’s cross-border tender starts operating
The first solar project supported by the EU's cross-border renewable energy tender mechanism—Finland's 20 MW Loukkaanaro PV plant—has commenced operation, backed by €2.35 million in funding from Luxembourg. The plant is the largest operational PV project in northern Finland, with annual generation covering approximately 4% of local electricity consumption, providing valuable data for large-scale PV construction in high-latitude regions.
5. France, Germany set daily solar records for April
Driven by increased solar generation and falling natural gas futures prices, average electricity prices in most major European markets fell last week. Germany generated 426 GWh of solar power on April 8, and France generated 136 GWh the following day, both setting new single-day records for April. Spain and Portugal also recorded their second-highest April values. TTF natural gas prices fell to their lowest level since the end of February.
6. European power grid investment set to rise sharply by 2027
A report from the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators shows that distribution grid investment in Europe grew 51% to €35.3 billion between 2021 and 2024 and is expected to reach €46.7 billion by 2027. However, issues such as fragmented planning rules, a preference for capital expenditure, and exemptions for small operators from planning requirements could affect efficiency and the energy transition. The report recommends strengthening regulatory mandates, enhancing transparency, and optimizing incentive mechanisms.
7. RWE drops 99.9 MW solar project in Wales on grid constraints
Germany's RWE has abandoned its 99.9 MW "Butterfly" solar-plus-storage project in Wrexham, UK, due to grid connection infeasibility. UK grid connection applications surged 460% in the first half of 2025, with queue delays of up to 15 years. RWE stated it will concentrate resources on advancing projects that can be delivered efficiently, highlighting that grid bottlenecks have become a key constraint on solar and storage development in the UK.
8. Italy PV grid connection requests reach 144 GW as ready-to-build pipeline grows to 9.34 GW
As of the end of March, Italy had 3,670 PV grid connection applications totaling 144 GW, showing a slight downward trend. Among these, "ready-to-build" projects increased to 210, totaling 9.34 GW. PV accounts for 62.5% of all renewable energy applications, with Sicily, Apulia, and Sardinia leading in capacity. Energy storage integration applications remained stable at 786, while data center applications grew to 480.
9. Germany adds record 1 GWh of battery storage in March
Germany added 985.9 MWh of new battery storage in March, approaching the milestone of 1 GWh added in a single month for the first time, setting a new record. This includes approximately 45,000 new residential storage units and 30 new large-scale storage units. As of the end of March, the country's cumulative installed energy storage capacity reached 27.23 GWh, with total power of 17.90 GW, and over 2.4 million registered storage systems.
10. France deploys 1.41 GW of solar in Q1
According to French grid operator Enedis, 1,418 MW of new PV capacity was installed in the first quarter of 2026, roughly flat compared with the same period last year, of which 1,093 MW were full feed-in projects. Due to regulatory policy adjustments and tender delays, the industry's growth rate has slowed recently. As of the end of March, France's cumulative installed PV capacity stood at approximately 31.1 GW.
11. Italy installs 1.43 GW of PV in Q1
According to data from the Italian Photovoltaic Association, Italy added 1,439 MW of new PV capacity in the first quarter of 2026, bringing cumulative capacity to 44.9 GW. Among this, the residential market declined 13% year-on-year, the commercial and industrial market grew 24%, and utility-scale added 560 MW. Lombardy led new installations with 266 MW.
12. Mexico updates distributed generation rules to formally integrate energy storage
Mexico's Energy Regulatory Commission has opened a public consultation on new distributed generation regulations, formally incorporating energy storage systems for the first time and specifying technical requirements for hybrid photovoltaic systems including batteries. The new regulations revise capacity metering, grid connection procedures, and surplus electricity settlement rules to adapt to current technological developments and improve regulatory consistency, while also strengthening compliance and documentation requirements.
13. Suniva to build 4.5 GW solar cell factory in South Carolina
US-based Suniva plans to invest $350 million to build a 4.5 GW solar cell factory in Laurens, South Carolina, which will begin production in the second quarter of 2027. At that time, its total capacity will exceed 5.5 GW, making it the largest independent solar cell manufacturer in the United States, helping domestic module manufacturers meet the local content requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act.
14. U.S. community solar passes 10 GW milestone despite market contraction
Cumulative installed community solar capacity in the United States surpassed 10 GW by the end of 2025, but new additions during the year were 1.4 GW, a 25% decline year-on-year, primarily due to slowdowns in mature markets such as New York and Maine. Wood Mackenzie expects a 12% rebound in 2026, with long-term growth relying on emerging markets such as Illinois and Ohio and community-scale projects.
15. Omani company to build 500 MW of solar in Botswana
Oman's Naqaa Sustainable Energy Company will design, finance, construct, and operate a 500 MW solar project in northwestern Botswana, including energy storage, located in the town of Maun, with an operational life of at least 25 years. The project supports Botswana's goal of achieving 50% renewable energy by 2030; the country's current installed solar capacity is 181.5 MW.
16. Tunisia launches 200 MW call for PV projects under new licensing scheme
Tunisia's Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy has launched its sixth round of PV project tenders, with a total capacity of 200 MW, targeting private developers, with all electricity to be sold to state-owned utility STEG. The application submission period runs from April 15 to June 15. The country's current operational solar capacity is approximately 728.8 MW, approaching the 1 GW mark.
17. Togo opens solar minigrid tender
The Togolese government has launched a solar minigrid tender covering 27 rural areas in the Plateaux region, divided into two lots: Lot 1 comprises 1.295 MW of PV with 2.252 MWh of storage across 11 sites; Lot 2 comprises 1.03 MW of PV with 1.85 MWh of storage across 16 sites. Bids close on May 26, with funding from the Islamic Development Bank.
18. Inside the financing of Egypt’s largest solar -plus-storage project
Norway's Scatec ASA has completed Phase 1 of the 1.1 GW Obelisk solar-plus-storage project in Egypt (561 MW PV + 100 MW/200 MWh storage), securing over $479 million in financing. The project has signed a 25-year US dollar-denominated power purchase agreement, with full offtake of dispatchable storage and no spot market exposure. The second phase of 564 MW PV is expected to come online in summer 2026.
19. Fortescue fast-tracks delivery of ‘world first’ off-grid project combining solar, wind, up to 5 GWh of BESS
Australia's Fortescue is accelerating the construction of an off-grid renewable energy network comprising 1.2 GW of solar, 600 MW of wind, and 4-5 GWh of energy storage, aiming to achieve round-the-clock fossil-fuel-free operations by 2027 and completely eliminate diesel use in iron ore mining. The project represents a $2.5 billion investment and is expected to be fully completed by 2028.
20. St. Kitts and Nevis tenders major solar-storage project
St. Kitts Electric Company has launched a tender for its first utility-scale solar-plus-storage project, planning 50 MW of PV with 30.5 MWh of battery storage, located in the capital's Basseterre Valley. The project aims to enhance energy security and reduce fuel dependence. The country's current cumulative installed solar capacity is 5 MW. Developers must register via a portal to obtain tender documents.
21. Dominican Republic opens bids for 600 MW renewables tender
The Dominican Republic has opened financial bids for a 600 MW renewable energy tender, requiring wind and solar projects to mandatorily include 4-hour battery energy storage systems to ensure grid resilience. Winning projects must commence operation within 24 months of signing a power purchase agreement. The country currently generates 25% of its electricity from renewables, targeting 30% by 2030.
22. Solar leads global additions in 2025 as wind growth accelerates
According to the latest report from Ember, global additions in 2025 reached 647 GW of solar and 167 GW of wind, with solar growing 11% year-on-year and wind accelerating at 47%. Cumulative installed wind and solar capacity has exceeded 4 TW, enough to replace more than one-seventh of global natural gas-fired power generation, establishing itself as a major pillar of power systems.