During the period from January 6th to 12th, 2026, the following international news occurred:
1. China’s switches on world’s first GWh-scale supercapacitor-energy storage project
The Jiayuguan Ningsheng 500 MW / 1000 MWh independent energy storage project, invested by China National Nuclear Corporation, has been connected to the grid and put into operation in Gansu. The project employs a hybrid configuration of 475 MW / 1000 MWh lithium iron phosphate batteries and 25 MW supercapacitors, making it the largest supercapacitor energy storage system in China to date. The supercapacitors provide millisecond-level fast response capability, supporting frequency regulation and inertia response, while the batteries handle energy time-shifting and peak shaving/valley filling. The project aims to enhance grid stability and promote renewable energy integration in the northwest region.
2. Malaysia launches new net metering scheme for rooftop PV
Malaysia has launched a new solar feed-in tariff scheme named "Solar ATAP," effective January 1, 2026, to replace the previous net metering mechanism which has ended. This scheme allows rooftop PV users to feed surplus electricity into the grid and receive credits. The maximum installation capacity for non-residential users is 100% of their maximum electricity demand or 1 MW, while for residential users it is 5-15 kW. The contract period is 10 years, and capacity allocation follows a "first-come, first-served" principle. It aims to continue promoting the adoption of commercial, industrial, and residential rooftop PV.
3. Singapore forecast to reach 5.3 GW of solar by 2035
GlobalData forecasts that Singapore's cumulative installed solar capacity will reach 5.3 GW by 2035. It is estimated that approximately 300 MW will be added in 2025, with annual additions thereafter stabilizing between 300-400 MW, enabling it to exceed 3.2 GW before 2030 and achieve the target set in the "Green Plan 2030" ahead of schedule. Growth is driven by rooftop, floating, and utility-scale projects, while the country is also ensuring system reliability through energy storage, gas modernization, and cross-border imports of low-carbon electricity.
4. India’s energy storage market set for breakout year in 2026
A report from the India Energy Storage Alliance shows that tendered energy storage capacity in India has reached 224 GWh, with 2025 setting a record for tendered volume. 2026 is expected to be a critical year for project execution, with a large number of projects awarded in 2023 entering the operational phase. However, ultra-low bid prices have raised concerns about project viability and financing challenges. As of 2025, only 0.7 GWh of battery storage is operational. The industry is closely watching the progress of major projects from developers like Adani. Meanwhile, policy support continues, including a second tranche of fiscal subsidies and an extension of grid connection fee waivers.
5. India’s smart metering boom reshapes grid through decentralized IoT
In the modernization of India's power grid, smart meter deployment is driving a transformation from a one-way delivery system to a dynamic, distributed network. Alongside growing electricity demand and residential PV, distributed radio frequency mesh networks have become a key data support. Utilizing an open multi-vendor ecosystem framework, smart meters are upgraded to edge sensors, laying a digital foundation for integrating high-renewable energy grids and setting a benchmark for large-scale global deployment.
6. India’s solar capacity additions on track in 2025, says SBICAPS
An SBICAPS report indicates that India achieved a record high of 40 GW of new PV capacity additions in 2025, driven by progress in large-scale power plants and the residential rooftop solar program. However, the PV utilization rate dropped to 16.5%, constrained by bottlenecks such as land acquisition and transmission grid integration. While energy storage tendering has accelerated, declining tariffs have raised viability concerns, with 27 GW of storage capacity awaiting pricing.
7. Türkiye installs 4.7 GW of solar in 2025
Türkiye added 4.694 GW of new PV capacity in 2025, bringing its cumulative capacity to 24.795 GW. "Unlicensed" projects, primarily industrial and commercial self-consumption plants, contributed 4.175 GW, accounting for nearly 90% of the additions. Analysts expect continued growth in this market segment in 2026, while the commissioning of "licensed" large-scale plants is expected to increase with the progress of earlier YEKA tenders and associated storage projects. The government recently refined the floating PV framework and needs to further streamline administrative barriers for residential PV to unlock its estimated rooftop potential of at least 120 GW.
8. Spain allocates funding for 9.4 GWh of large-scale storage projects
Spain's Ministry for Ecological Transition has approved €818.3 million in EU Regional Development Fund grants for 126 energy storage projects. These projects have a total power capacity of 2.2 GW and an energy capacity of 9.4 GWh, with hybrid storage projects (primarily solar-plus-storage and wind-plus-storage) constituting the majority. Projects must be completed within 36 months, no later than the end of 2029, aiming to enhance power system flexibility and facilitate renewable energy integration. Funding is allocated by region, with Andalusia and other areas receiving the highest number of projects.
9. Greece struggling to connect grid-scale battery storage projects
Greece has granted permits for nearly 900 MW of independent grid-scale battery storage projects through three auction rounds, but none are yet grid-connected, with approximately 300 MW of completed projects awaiting connection. The first batch of projects was originally scheduled for operation by the end of 2025. Delays are attributed to unclear market mechanisms, slow institutional responses, and potentially low corporate bids. The country urgently needs storage to accommodate green electricity, as renewable energy curtailment surged tenfold year-on-year in 2025.
10. Spain opens €90 million funding round for 7 GWh of pumped hydro storage
Spain's Ministry for Ecological Transition has launched a second round of funding for pumped hydro storage projects, with a budget of €90 million, aimed at supporting projects with a total installed capacity of nearly 1 GW and energy storage capacity of about 7 GWh. Individual projects can receive up to €50 million in support and must be completed by June 30, 2035. Projects will be selected competitively based on economic and technical feasibility criteria, aiming to strengthen grid stability and promote renewable energy integration. The application period runs from February 4 at noon until March 3 in the afternoon.
11. Germany adds 17.5 GW of solar in 2025
Preliminary data from the German Solar Association shows that Germany added approximately 17.5 GW of new PV capacity in 2025, roughly on par with 2024. Ground-mounted plants contributed about 8 GW, and residential rooftop systems about 5.2 GW. The cumulative installed capacity reached about 118 GW, completing 55% of the 2030 target of 215 GW. However, growth has slowed, with installations of small rooftop systems under 30 kW dropping by 25% year-on-year. The association calls on the government to avoid further weakening support policies.
12. Poland’s massive new airport project to host utility-scale solar-plus-storage project
Poland's Central Communication Port company has selected an EPC contractor to build a 20 MW photovoltaic power plant and a 50 MW / 100 MWh energy storage system at the planned Port Polska airport. The project aims to enhance the airport's energy independence, reduce reliance on the grid, and support its climate neutrality goals. The airport is expected to be operational by 2032, at which time the PV and storage capacities may be further expanded. The company is also exploring the potential use of geothermal energy.
13. California water district plans up to 21 GW of solar on fallowed farmland
The Westlands Water District in California, USA, has approved a clean energy plan to develop up to 21 GW of solar power generation projects on farmland fallowed due to water shortages. This plan, authorized under state bill AB 2661, addresses the issue of widespread farmland fallowing caused by persistent drought, helping farmers consolidate limited water resources and explore alternative income sources. Projects will include supporting energy storage and transmission facilities and require the development of community benefit plans. This move is seen as a crucial step to protect the long-term viability of agriculture and promote local economic transformation.
14. US state repurposes wastewater land for 250 MW solar plant
Consumers Energy, a utility company in Michigan, USA, has commissioned a 250 MW solar power plant at the site of a wastewater treatment center in Muskegon County. This is the company's largest solar project to date. The plant utilizes buffer zones and irrigation areas of the wastewater treatment facility, achieving "stacking" of land functions. The project uses First Solar's bifacial modules and Array Technologies' trackers and is connected to the grid via a newly built dedicated 138 kV transmission line. The generated electricity can meet the needs of approximately 40,000 households.
15. La Niña Ridge drives December solar gains across U.S. Southwest
A Solcast report by DNV indicates that solar resources in North America in December 2025 followed a typical La Niña pattern: The US Southwest and Texas experienced blocking high pressure leading to clear skies, resulting in irradiance 10%-20% above the long-term average (large-scale PV generation in ERCOT exceeded the mean by 8.09%). In contrast, the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada experienced irradiance 20%-30% below average, while tule fog severely impacted PV output in California's Central Valley.
16. Regulatory changes could shape Brazil’s 2026 battery storage auction
Brazil plans to hold its first battery energy storage system capacity reserve auction in April 2026, with a projected procurement scale already reaching 18 GW. Projects must meet minimum requirements of 30 MW capacity and 4 hours of daily supply capability, with planned commissioning in August 2028. However, the auction faces regulatory uncertainties, including a new legal framework allocating the cost of storage reserves only to power generators and unresolved payment methods for grid usage fees. Meanwhile, a thermal and pumped hydro auction in March 2026 might fulfill most of the capacity needs beforehand.
17. Peru adds 454 MW of large-scale PV in 2025
Data from Peru's Ministry of Energy and Mines shows that the country added approximately 454 MW of utility-scale PV capacity in 2025, bringing cumulative PV capacity to 952 MW. Major new projects include the 252.4 MW San Martín plant and the 204 MW Sunny plant Phase I, representing a total investment of about $306 million. Hydropower and thermal power added 231 MW and 29.8 MW respectively in the same year. The government estimates that if the 14 planned PV projects with a total capacity of 2.5 GW proceed as scheduled, cumulative installed capacity will reach at least 2.98 GW by 2028.
18. Ecuador plans 2.1 GW power auction with high share of solar
The Ecuadorian government plans to tender 2.1 GW of new power generation capacity, with solar playing a central role, including large-scale PV projects such as a 200 MW project in Santa Elena and a 1500 MW project in Zapotillo. This initiative is a response to the power crisis triggered by drought in 2024. Leveraging legislation from October 2024, it aims to attract domestic and international private investment. Currently, 970 MW of renewable energy projects are under approval and expected to be operational in 2027-2028.
19. Australia rooftop solar installs rise as households shift to larger systems
Australia added 334 MW of rooftop PV capacity in December 2025, a 22% increase month-on-month, marking the highest December monthly figure in two years. Growth was primarily driven by residential high-power systems (in the 10-20 kW range), incentivized by the federal government's "Cheaper Home Batteries" subsidy scheme, which promotes solar-plus-storage packages. The average system capacity increased to 11.57 kW. Despite the strong year-end performance, the total small-scale PV capacity added in 2025 was still about 11% lower than in 2024.
20. Australia adds 1.2 GWh of behind-the-meter battery storage in December
In December 2025, Australia added 1.203 GWh of behind-the-meter battery storage capacity, surpassing 1 GWh for the second consecutive month. The market grew 19% year-on-year, with the average system capacity increasing to 32.86 kWh. High-capacity batteries (in the 30-100 kWh range) performed particularly strongly, boosted by incentives from the federal government's "Cheaper Home Batteries" subsidy scheme. Since the scheme's implementation in July 2025, 184,700 home batteries have been installed nationwide, with a total capacity of 4.27 GWh. The government adjusted the subsidy in December, planning a gradual reduction in discounts for larger systems starting May 2026.