Afghanistan starts building 40 MW of solar
Afghanistan has started building a 40 MW solar project, with completion expected within 18 months.
SolarPower Europe predicts negative annual growth of EU’s solar market
SolarPower Europe’s mid-year market analysis is forecasting negative annual growth in 2025 for the first time in almost a decade. It is expecting 64.2 GW of solar to be added this year, compared to 65.1 GW last year.
Global average solar LCOE stood at $0.043/kWh in 2024, says IRENA
The International Renewable Energy Agency’s latest report finds little change in the global average levelized cost of electricity for utility-scale solar plants year-on-year, while the global average total installed cost of utility-scale solar projects fell by 11%.
Photovoltaic inventions increased seventeen-fold in three decades
The European Patent Office says China has overtaken other countries in photovoltaic patent filings over the past 15 years, while European startups and universities retain a lead in agrivoltaics and niche solar applications.
Saudi Arabia signs 5 solar PPAs totaling 12 GW
Saudi Arabia has inked five solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) with a developer consortia led by ACWA Power covering 12 GW of new capacity. Alongside two wind PPAs totaling 3 GW, the seven projects have been billed as the largest renewable energy capacity signed for in a single phase globally.
Myanmar’s Prime Minister calls for increased local solar panel production
Myanmar Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing called for greater domestic production of solar panels and raw materials during a recent visit to a factory in central Myanmar, citing the need to strengthen local supply chains for renewable energy.
World’s largest 1 MW/100 MWh sand battery commissioned in Finland
Finnish startup Polar Night Energy has commissioned the world’s largest sand battery in Pornainen, southern Finland. The industrial-scale system delivers 1 MW of thermal power with 100 MWh storage capacity, covering up to a month’s summer heat demand and nearly a week’s winter demand for the local district heating network.
Global solar capacity to surpass 7.5 TW in 2035, says GlobalData
UK consultancy GlobalData projected, in figures shared with pv magazine, that global renewable capacity could hit 11.2 TW by 2035, led by solar. It expects cumulative PV capacity to hit 2,378 GW by year-end and 2,849 GW by 2026.
Zambia completes 100 MW solar farm
Zesco has completed the 100 MW Chisamba solar farm in southern Zambia and has launched plans for a second 100 MW phase at the site, now home to sub-Saharan Africa’s largest grid-connected solar plant outside South Africa.
Heliup switches on 100 MW lightweight solar panel factory in France
Heliup has commissioned a 100 MW factory in France to produce lightweight solar panels for flat commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftops with limited load-bearing capacity, using ultra-thin glass technology.
