Policy

Despite vocal bipartisan support for clean energy tax credits, US House and Senate Republicans failed to adjust policies that would continue the rapid buildout of domestic clean energy.

Industrial belts in Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu are becoming hotspots for captive solar. The drivers vary from steep tariffs and policy incentives to strong ESG commitments by export-oriented businesses, but the result is the same: a distributed solar network powering India’s industrial economy.

A new report by SBICAPS anticipates that the incentive cut under the second phase of the viability gap funding (VGF) scheme for standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) could lead to a tariff increase of around 10%. However, it adds, this increase is manageable and could be absorbed in the coming months as capex costs continue to decline.

China’s polysilicon output hit 3.25 million metric tons (MT) in 2024, driving global prices below $4.50/kg, says Bernreuter Research. The Germany-based market analytics firm warns the market could swing to a shortage by 2028 if capacity cuts overshoot.

Nexamp will receive investment to build community solar projects, reported Tokyo-based news outlet Nikkei.

Moneypoint in County Clare, Ireland, joins the ranks of other European nations exiting coal by shutting off power generation at its sole remaining coal plant. Industry observers say Ireland’s increased renewable energy generation in recent years, particularly in wind, has contributed to this milestone. Moneypoint now functions as a backup oil burner under emergency instruction, but it is no longer active in the wholesale electricity market.

Supporting a Just Transition in emerging economies requires not only large-scale capital for infrastructure such as renewables but also targeted financing for communities and small businesses. Capital should be matched to specific activities based on risk and impact, says a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

The Omnibus Proposal’s sustainability mandates can either unlock new market opportunities and enhance India’s global standing, or create trade barriers that can damage brand’s reputation and hamper profits. Indian businesses can’t afford to ignore this shift.

In a world where electricity defines sovereignty, allowing foreign-made devices to sit at the core of India’s solar infrastructure is nothing short of national negligence. In today’s age, power is not just electricity—it is sovereignty. We cannot afford blackout-level vulnerabilities induced by foreign-made solar inverter hardware with security loopholes.

A recent Wood Mackenzie report examines two possible tariff scenarios and concludes that costs will skyrocket for both utility-scale solar development and battery energy storage systems.