During the period from November 27th to December 3rd, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. Chinese PV Industry Brief: January-October solar additions reach 252.87 GW
China added 252.87 GW of new solar PV capacity from January to October 2025, with 12.6 GW added in October alone. The country's total installed PV capacity reached 1.14 TW. Inverter manufacturer Sungrow Power Supply received approval for a private placement to raise CNY 1.65 billion for capacity expansion. China Energy Engineering Corporation announced the results of a 17 GW module procurement, with several leading manufacturers shortlisted. Silicon wafer prices have recently seen a significant decline.
2. India awards 1 GW of round-the-clock renewables at INR 4.35/kWh
Indian Railways' energy management company (REMCL) has concluded a 1 GW round-the-clock (RTC) renewable energy tender, with six developers winning at a tariff of INR 4.35 per kWh (approximately USD 0.049). Projects can be paired with storage, must connect to the interstate transmission system, and achieve an annual availability of at least 75% in the first three years of operation, increasing to 85% thereafter. They must be built within 30 months of signing power purchase agreements, supplying stable clean power directly to Indian Railways to support its decarbonization goals.
3. India posts record 4.9 GW of rooftop solar additions in first nine months of 2025
India added 4.9 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the first nine months of 2025, a 157% year-on-year increase, bringing the cumulative total to 18.6 GW. The third quarter alone added a record 2.1 GW, with 73% coming from the residential market driven by the "PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana" scheme. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat were the leading states for new additions.
4. Japan’s PV module shipments hit 1.28 GW as residential demand accelerates
Data from the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA) shows Japan's PV module shipments reached 1.28 GW in the first quarter of the 2025 fiscal year, with surging residential demand (up 126%) as the core driver. Overseas manufacturers hold a 65% market share, with 95% of modules being produced overseas, while domestic supply accounts for only 35%. Japan is accelerating its energy transition through policies like subsidies for perovskite modules, targeting 20 GW of perovskite capacity by 2040.
5. Kuwait broadens bidding pool for 500 MW PV tender
Kuwait's Authority for Partnership Projects has launched a tender for a 500 MW solar project, adding a consortium led by Zhonghuan New Energy to the list, bringing the number of qualified bidders to six. The winning bidder will sign a 30-year power purchase agreement with the Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy. The project is located in the Al Shagaya Renewable Energy Park in Al Jahra Governorate. Kuwait plans to reach 10.1 GW of installed PV capacity by 2035.
6. Kyrgyzstan, Hungary sign $300 million solar development deal
Kyrgyzstan's State Investment Agency signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Hungary's Electron Holding company, planning a USD 300 million investment for 300 MW of solar projects. The country's solar market is still nascent, having previously relied heavily on hydropower. Recently, Kyrgyzstan also signed agreements with Vietnamese and Chinese companies to develop GW-scale solar projects, promoting diversification of its energy mix.
7. Residential installations lead Dutch storage boom
With the phasing out of the net metering policy, the residential energy storage market in the Netherlands is experiencing rapid growth. The country's total battery capacity is expected to reach 2.9 GWh this year, a 115% year-on-year increase, with the residential sector contributing 860 MWh. A report predicts total Dutch storage capacity will reach 36.8 GWh by 2030, with residential systems accounting for nearly 40%, driving the energy system towards self-consumption and flexibility.
8. Naturgy, BlueNewables build 1 MW offshore solar plant in Spain
Spain's Naturgy, in collaboration with startup BlueNewables, is developing a 1 MW offshore floating solar project in the Mediterranean, receiving support from the IDAE Renmarinas program. The project includes two 500 kW proprietary PV-bos platforms using a catamaran design to avoid wave impact. Currently under construction at the Vigo shipyard, it is scheduled for commissioning in March 2026 for testing at the Port of Valencia. Expected annual generation is 1,500 MWh, avoiding 620 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
9. UK adds 1.9 GW of solar in 12 months
The UK's installed solar PV capacity reached 20.7 GW by the end of October 2025, with nearly 1.9 GW added in the past 12 months. The 373 MW Cleve Hill solar farm is currently the largest ground-mounted project. Sixteen large-scale projects have been grid-connected this year under the Contracts for Difference mechanism. The government recently adjusted policies, shifting some Renewable Obligation costs to the public budget to lower household electricity bills.
10. Switzerland introduces winter electricity bonus for solar installations
The Swiss Federal Council has introduced a winter electricity bonus mechanism, effective from 2026, for PV systems over 100 kW. Systems generating more than 500 kWh per kW installed during the winter half-year will receive a one-time bonus. This aims to incentivize increased winter generation, particularly in high-altitude areas, replacing previous altitude-based subsidies. Switzerland has also raised its 2030 solar electricity generation target to 18.7 TWh.
11. Austria deploys 1 GW of PV in January-September period
Austria added 1.036 GW of new PV capacity in the first nine months of 2025, a decrease compared to the same period last year and the lowest in three years. Weak demand for residential rooftop systems is the main reason, with the industry attributing the decline to policy uncertainty, the removal of VAT exemptions, and legislative delays. Cumulative PV capacity is now about 9.3 GW, making it difficult to achieve the annual target of 2 GW.
12. Technique Solaire buys Iberdrola’s French renewables unit
French solar developer Technique Solaire has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Iberdrola's French onshore renewables subsidiary. The acquisition includes 118 MW of operational wind assets and a development pipeline of 639 MW of wind and solar projects, marking its first entry into the wind sector and strengthening its storage portfolio. The group currently operates 750 MW of solar PV and four biogas plants across several countries, targeting 4 GW of solar capacity by 2030.
13. Hydro Tasmania seeking 1,500 GWh new solar, wind
Australia's Hydro Tasmania has launched a tender seeking power purchase agreements for 1,500 GWh per year from new solar or wind projects to complement its hydropower and meet the state's growing energy demand. Projects must be operational within the next 5-6 years, aiming to support local energy-intensive industry expansion and interstate grid connections. The tender closes on December 5.
14. Brazil distributed solar market set for lower annual additions in 2025
Brazil's distributed solar capacity additions from January to September 2025 totaled 6.4 GW, a 12% year-on-year decrease. Full-year additions are projected to be around 8.5 GW, marking the first year-on-year decline since 2010. Installations in the residential, commercial, and other segments all fell, and there were also regulatory reporting delays. The state of São Paulo led in installations, while the cumulative capacity in the Northeast region has surpassed that of the South. Brazil's total installed PV capacity currently stands at 62 GW (including 19 GW utility-scale).
15. 611 MW Arinos Solar Park accelerates the energy transition in Brazil
The 611 MW Arinos Solar Park in Minas Gerais, Brazil, commissioned on January 30, 2025, is E.ON's first solar project in southeastern Brazil. It generates 1.4 TWh annually, enough to power 680,000 homes and reduce CO2 emissions by 790,000 tonnes. The project involved an investment of BRL 2.8 billion, utilizes advanced technologies like AI-assisted operation and maintenance, created 3,500 jobs during construction, and benefits local communities through training and community solar initiatives.
16. Mexico advances new wave of large-scale solar and storage projects
Following a new decree issued in October clarifying rules for private energy investment, Mexico has seen a surge in applications for large-scale solar and storage projects. Recently submitted projects include a 90 MW project in Jalisco, a 118.8 MW project in Hidalgo, and a 788.7 MW solar project paired with 177.7 MW of storage in Campeche. The new regulations aim to provide a clearer regulatory framework and timeline for investors, promoting diversification of the energy mix.
17. Somalia launches tender for solar-storage systems at health facilities
Somalia's Ministry of Energy and Water Resources has launched a tender to build off-grid solar-plus-storage systems at 22 healthcare facilities in the country's Northeast State. One site requires at least 150 kW of solar PV paired with 300 kWh of storage, while the other 21 sites require 25 kW solar PV paired with 80 kWh of storage each. The project has an 8-month construction period including one year of operation and maintenance. The bid deadline is January 15, 2026, with funding provided by the World Bank.
18. Global grid-scale BESS deployment rises 38% through October
Global grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) deployments reached 156 GWh through October 2025, a 38% year-on-year increase. Steady growth was seen in China, Europe, and the US, while other regions saw a 242% surge. Deployments in October alone were 12.7 GWh, with China contributing nearly 8.8 GWh. Annual planned capacity exceeds 153 GWh, but delays and cancellations may impact the final figure.