During the period from November 13th to 19th, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. India signs deal with Singapore’s GSC Group for 1.5 GW hydro storage project
Maharashtra, India, has signed a $960 million Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore's GSC Group to build the 1.5 GW Panchmauli-Devalipada pumped storage hydropower plant in Dhule and Nandurbar districts, expected to create 2,500 jobs. This is GSC's third pumped storage project in India, helping address energy storage challenges amid rapid solar growth and stabilize the grid. Maharashtra plans 100 GW of such projects and has established a fast-track approval mechanism.
2. Indonesia expected to reach 23.2 GW of solar by 2035
GlobalData forecasts Indonesia's installed solar PV capacity will reach 23.2 GW by 2035, with cumulative capacity expected to exceed 1.5 GW this year. Solar PV is set to become the country's largest renewable energy source by 2028, driven by floating PV, large-scale ground-mounted plants, and rooftop projects. However, coal power will still dominate by 2035, necessitating enhanced inter-island grid development.
3. Ghana starts working on nation’s largest solar project
Ghana has commenced construction on the 200 MW Norbert Anku Solar Park, its largest renewable energy project to date. The project will be developed in two phases, with the first phase operational by end-2026 and plans to expand to 1 GW by 2032, making it the second-largest solar plant in Sub-Saharan Africa. Industrial park enterprises will receive a 10% discount on electricity tariffs. Ghana's current installed solar capacity is 188 MW.
4. India’s Sunsure signs 19.36 MW wind–solar supply deal with DFPCL
India's Sunsure Energy has signed a 19.36 MW wind-solar hybrid power supply agreement with Deepak Fertilizers, comprising 8.86 MW solar and 10.5 MW wind, with annual generation of approximately 55 GWh. The project will help the customer reduce carbon emissions by 40,000 tonnes annually and achieve round-the-clock clean energy supply. Sunsure currently has 600 MW of operational assets and targets 10 GW of capacity by 2030.
5. German network operators approve grid connection of 46 GWh of storage at medium voltage level
German grid operators received 9,710 applications for grid connection of medium-voltage storage systems in 2024, totaling 400 GW / 661 GWh. Approximately 3,800 projects with 25 GW / 46 GWh capacity were approved. An additional 51 GW of large-scale storage projects received connection permits at the transmission level. Current installed medium-voltage storage capacity in Germany is only 2.3 GW / 3.2 GWh, and the realization of approved projects remains uncertain.
6. IEA warns global solar growth may plateau at 540 GW annually to 2035
The IEA's World Energy Outlook 2025 forecasts annual global solar PV additions will reach 540 GW by 2035. However, under current policy scenarios, grid integration challenges could cause growth to stall at 2024 levels. China will continue to dominate global renewable deployment (45%-60%), while coal-fired power remains the largest single electricity source for the next decade. Accelerating equipment replacement could boost global PV generation by 15%.
7. Italy awards 2 GW in agrivoltaic tender backed by EU funds
Italy's Ministry of Environment and Energy Security announced the results of the first agrivoltaic tender, selecting 747 projects (total 2 GW capacity) funded by the EU Recovery Fund (€1.7 billion). Projects include 363 over 1 MW (1.76 GW) and 384 under 1 MW (253 MW). Winners can receive up to 40% cost subsidies and a guaranteed feed-in tariff premium, aiding the integration of renewables and agricultural land and advancing European Green Deal clean energy goals.
8. Record year for UK rooftop solar installations
2025 is a record year for UK rooftop solar installations, with MCS-certified installations reaching 203,125 by early November, breaking the 2011 record. New-build homes are a major driver, accounting for 35% of installations in 2025. The Future Homes Standard, mandating solar on new homes in England from 2027, will support growth. Regions like Somerset in the Southwest performed strongly. Certified energy storage installations increased 122% year-on-year in the same period.
9. Thailand develops solar plan for community power supply
Thailand's Ministry of Energy is advancing a Community Solar Scheme, aiming to add 1.5 GW of capacity through small ground-mounted PV projects under 10 MW. Projects are developed by private companies, with the Provincial Electricity Authority signing 25-year Power Purchase Agreements at $0.07/kWh, benefiting over 300 communities nationwide. The scheme is part of Thailand's "Quick Win" energy action.
10. Poland raises permit-free energy storage limit to 30 kWh
Poland's lower house of parliament passed an amendment to the Building Law, raising the capacity limit for energy storage systems exempt from building permits from 20 kWh to 30 kWh. Systems between 30-300 kWh require construction notification, those between 300-2000 kWh require submission of a fire protection plan, and systems over 2000 kWh still need a building permit. This aims to simplify the deployment process for small-scale storage and promote Polish storage development.
11. Switzerland forecasts 1.5 GW annual solar growth through 2027
The Swiss Solar Energy Association's (Swissolar) "Solar Monitoring Report 2025" forecasts average annual solar PV additions of approximately 1.5 GW from 2025-2027. Solar generation in 2025 is expected to exceed 8 TWh (14% of consumption), a scale sufficient to support 2050 climate targets. The report outlines three scenarios, with 2030 capacity potentially reaching 12-27 GW. Current challenges include low feed-in tariffs and policy uncertainty. The association calls for adjusted grid fee rules and promotion of storage and shared solar models.
12. US developers hold 33 GW of safe-harbored renewables, says LevelTen
LevelTen Energy's Q4 2025 report indicates that, influenced by the "Big and Beautiful Act," over 33 GW (more than three-quarters) of US wind and solar projects scheduled for operation before 2028 have qualified for federal tax credits. However, eligible projects drop sharply post-2028, facing permitting delays, high costs, and pressure from the "Foreign Entity of Concern" rule effective 2026. Developers are turning to wind-solar-storage hybrid projects, with hybrid capacity expected to surpass single-technology projects after 2030.
13. Ireland surpasses 2 GW of installed solar capacity
Ireland's installed solar capacity has reached 2.1 GW, breaking the 2 GW mark for the first time, accelerating since the first utility-scale project was grid-connected in April 2022. Growth is led by utility-scale projects, with over 155,000 homes and businesses participating in small-scale PV installations, supported by policies like RESS auctions and PR5/PR6 grid investments. The country's 2030 target is 8 GW. Solar met over one-fifth of national electricity demand during summer peaks.
14. South Korea switches on 47.2 MW floating PV project
South Korea's 47.2 MW Imha Dam floating solar PV project is now operational. It is the country's largest floating PV project adjacent to a multi-purpose dam, designated as the first renewable energy complex in 2021, with a total investment of $50.2 million. The plant complements the dam's 50 MW hydroelectric plant, generating solar power during the day and hydro power at night, with annual output of 61 GWh, enough for 22,000 households. Using a community participation model, 4,500 residents within 1 km can share approximately KRW 22.2 billion in benefits over 20 years, realizing a "sunshine pension" community return.
15. Netherlands forecast to reach 79.9 GW of solar by 2035
GlobalData forecasts the Netherlands' installed solar capacity will reach 79.9 GW by 2035, with an expected 4.7 GW added this year. Annual additions of 4.5-5 GW are projected from 2026, surpassing 50 GW by 2029. Policy support and grid upgrades drive growth, but grid congestion, curtailment risks, and insufficient storage remain challenges. Total renewable capacity is projected to reach 111.7 GW by 2035.
16. Italy added 4.8 GW of solar from January to October, says grid operator
Data from Italian grid operator Terna shows Italy added 4.81 GW of new solar PV capacity from January to October 2025, a 12.98% year-on-year increase. October alone saw 735.63 MW added, with 164.35 MWh of new energy storage capacity added in the same period. By the end of October, Italy's total installed PV capacity reached 41.89 GW, accounting for 51.25% of its total renewable capacity; cumulative energy storage capacity reached 10.66 GWh.