Renewable generation supplied more than half of Australia’s electricity in the fourth quarter of 2025, driving wholesale power prices down by nearly 50% and coinciding with record battery output, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). Coal-fired generation fell 4.6% year on year to a record quarterly low, while gas-fired output dropped 27% to its lowest level in 25 years.

From pv magazine Australia

The last few weeks have been an object lesson in the benefits of the transformation of our energy market, dispelling the myths promulgated by fossil fuel vested interests that increased renewable energy means more expensive power and reduced grid reliability. We have seen exactly the opposite of that: with increased extreme weather events including unprecedented heatwaves and devastating fires in southeast Australia, the grid has proven resilient under surging demand and stress, and now AEMO confirms that increased renewables correlates with a significant decline in wholesale prices.

Grid reliability over the last decade has been significantly improving. The coincidence of extreme weather events and heatwaves has been matched by record production of variable renewable energy (VRE), particularly solar power.

But the big disruption that we’re seeing – which started profoundly in 2025 and is going to be even more consequential in 2026 – is batteries. AEMO reports that battery discharge nearly tripled in the fourth quarter. Behind-the-meter and utility scale battery storage capacity underpins reliable and stable energy supply when demand is high and grid transmission capacity is constrained, supplying power instantly during demand peaks, shifting low cost zero-emissions energy from low-demand to high-demand periods and reducing reliance on peaking gas plants.

The economics are unbeatable. We’ve seen the price of batteries plummet by 90% in the last decade and decline by 50% in the last three years. In a brilliant policy initiative, the federal government capitalised on the economic case to establish Cheaper Home Batteries scheme. We’ve now seen 200,000 batteries installed in just over six months, 4.7 GWh of batteries behind the meter in homes, supporting solar production in which Australia excels as we lead the world in rooftop solar installations. And Treasurer Jim Chalmers upscaled funding of this program to $7.2 billion last month.

But we’re also seeing a profound deployment of battery energy storage systems (BESS) at the utility scale. Australia was the third largest installer of batteries in the world in 2025, behind only the USA and China, and will likely repeat this again in 2026. It was important to see Akaysha Energy commission its second BESS near Brisbane this month, five months ahead of schedule, following its now operational 205 MW /410 MWh Brendale battery, which will play a key role in Queensland’s grid. As we continue this rapid build out into 2027, this allows an even greater share of renewable energy infrastructure to be deployed, leveraging the existing grid infrastructure. 2026 will be another year of record highs for renewables share in Australia. Non-solar households are set to be able to opt-in to benefit from the Solar Sharer three free hours of energy daily from July 2026.

The imperative of grid system reliability means at present we need as many solutions that are economically viable as possible, while focussing on transitioning as quickly as possible to a low-cost, clean, firmed renewables powered energy system. Gas currently plays an important but small and rapidly declining role in stabilising the grid. We are not going to run the Australian grid solely on batteries, but the positive impact of batteries operating and price setting is being seen an increasing percentage of the time, as battery energy densities improve phenomenally and two hour-discharge batteries become four-hour batteries, and even potentially eight-hour duration. This trajectory equates to record low use of prohibitively expensive fossil gas, as the AEMO report shows, with big batteries on the brink of making up a greater share of Australia’s electricity grid than gas in 2027.

Coal power is increasingly unreliable as our end-of-life coal clunker fleet is more and more prone to breakdown. The recent announcement of yet more taxpayer subsidies to extend the life of the Griffin Coal mine in WA, and Origin’s decision to delay the closure of its Eraring coal-power plant in NSW, the country’s largest, are timely reminders of the need to even further accelerate the transition by building replacement generation capacity fast, ahead of coal closures.

And for all the nuclear distractions in the 2025 Federal election, we note China just reported a staggering 446 GW of new renewable energy capacity additions and a world record 174 GWh of batteries in 2025. Nuclear additions of 1.7 GW are a rounding error in comparison.

The key point here is that the heatwaves and fires across southeast Australia and the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are evidence of the rapidly rising externalised cost to all of climate change. This is the very reason we must move away from climate-destroying coal and gas at speed and scale, to firmed renewables.

For all the misinformation and fearmongering of fossil fuel vested interests, the energy system transformation is unstoppable and its strengths increasingly evident to all, as the last few weeks have proven.

Authors: Tim Buckley, director of Climate Energy Finance, and AM Jonson, editorial director of Climate Energy Finance

UL Solutions has published new technical guidance and a proposed certification pathway for plug-in balcony solar systems, outlining safety risks and design requirements as several US states move to legalise the technology.

From pv magazine USA

UL Solutions has released new design guidance and a proposed certification framework for balcony solar, also known as plug-in PV (PIPV), as US policymakers and manufacturers begin to explore consumer-installed solar systems that connect directly to wall outlets.

In a white paper titled “Interactions of Plug-In PV (PIPV) with Protection of Existing Power Systems,” UL outlines safety considerations for products that allow consumers to plug solar modules into existing residential circuits. The document identifies three primary risk categories: overcurrent protection, touch safety and ground-fault protection.

UL moved quickly to develop a new certification pathway, UL 3700, an Outline of Investigation for Interactive Plug-In PV Equipment and Systems, following the passage of Utah’s balcony solar legislation. Similar bills are now under consideration in other states, including California’s Senate Bill 868.

According to UL, overcurrent protection presents a key challenge because PIPV systems can inject power into branch circuits without being detected by standard circuit breakers. In some scenarios, combined household loads and injected solar power could exceed a circuit’s design limits without triggering protective devices, increasing the risk of overheating conductors and associated components.

UL said potential mitigation measures include dedicated circuits for PIPV systems, solar-specific receptacles, or connection to circuits with oversized conductors.

Touch safety is another concern, as PIPV systems are handled directly by consumers rather than trained electricians. While standard household plugs are well understood as loads, UL notes they have not been evaluated as power sources. The organization also flagged challenges related to inverter behaviour, particularly anti-islanding and grid-response functions that may not be designed for frequent plug-in and unplugging events.

Ground-fault protection was identified as the third major risk area. Because PIPV systems are typically installed outdoors and exposed to weather, UL said interactions with ground-fault circuit interrupters require careful design. Current electrical code requires outdoor receptacles to be on dedicated branch circuits, which may necessitate new outlet designs or dedicated connections for PIPV systems.

Ken Boyce, vice president of principal engineering at UL Solutions, said the organisation’s role is to evaluate safety outcomes rather than commercial viability. As of mid-January, he said UL was not aware of any PIPV products that had completed certification under UL 3700, noting that the outline was only released in mid-December.

To continue reading, please visit our pv magazine USA website. 

The 10-year bond yield rises as much as eight basis points to 6.78%, the highest since January 17, 2025

CNESA says China’s non-pumped storage technologies hit 144.7 GW in 2025, with 66.43 GW added.

From ESS News

A report from LevelTen Energy finds solar PPA prices in North America rose 3.2% in Q4 2025, marking a nearly 9% year-over-year increase as developers and buyers navigate a complex “post-OBBBA” regulatory environment.

From pv magazine USA

Renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA) prices continued their upward trajectory in the final quarter of 2025, driven by persistent policy headwinds and a shifting tax credit landscape.

According to the Q4 2025 PPA Price Index from marketplace operator LevelTen Energy, solar P25 prices rose by 3.2% following a 4% increase in the third quarter.

While solar costs climbed, wind PPA prices saw a slight dip, declining 1%. However, on an annual basis, both technologies have seen prices surge by nearly 9% compared to the same period last year.

Post-OBBBA

The market is currently adjusting to the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), which introduced tax credit cuts. LevelTen noted the second half of 2025 was defined by “ruthless” prioritization as firms scrambled to safe-harbor projects.

Despite these challenges, a November survey of developers representing over 230 GW of capacity found that more than 75% of projects slated to go online before 2029 expect to successfully retain access to tax credits.

This clarity has allowed some developers to dial in pricing by removing risk premiums that had previously accounted for OBBBA-related uncertainties, said the report.

Regional pricing

The report highlights significant price disparity across North American ISOs. For solar, P25 prices reached as high as $115 per MWh in ISO-NE and $81.03/MWh in PJM, while ERCOT remained the most competitive at $49 per MWh.

ISO Market	Solar P25 Price ($/MWh)
ISO-NE	$115.00
PJM	$81.03
MISO	$64.95
CAISO	$62.00
ERCOT	$49.00

In the wind sector, ERCOT has seen a massive 19% year-over-year price hike, fueled by an ongoing boom in data center development and a premium on available capacity. 

Buyer headwinds

LevelTen pointed to several factors that could continue to apply upward pressure on prices:

• Tariff uncertainties: Ongoing Section 232 investigation tariffs are adding direct development costs.
• Permitting hurdles: “Harsh” new federal permitting procedures have stalled substantial amounts of development nationwide.
• FEOC: The industry is still awaiting guidance on Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) rules, which are expected to add compliance costs and further complicate tax credit qualification.

Corporate strategy

Many corporate buyers are now pausing or adjusting their procurement strategies due to proposed updates to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) Scope 2 standards, said the report. The updates, expected to be finalized in 2027, may introduce more stringent accounting for hourly matching and physical deliverability.

“The current uncertainty has caused some buyers… to adjust or even delay their procurement strategies,” the report said.

LevelTen encourages industry players to weigh in on the proposal, as 97% of companies tracking emissions currently utilize the GHGP.

As buyers and sellers work to establish a “pricing equilibrium,” the report said in markets where contract values are challenging, sellers may need to find more transactable pricing levels to get deals done.

 

What is particularly reassuring is the Government’s choice to work with prudent and achievable estimates, reinforcing credibility and signalling policy continuity

From semiconductors and biopharma to textiles, MSMEs and urban economic clusters, the Budget signalled a clear intent to deepen domestic manufacturing while insulating the economy from external shock

Real GDP growth is projected at 6.8-7.2 per cent for the coming fiscal, underpinned by a calibrated mix of growth-oriented capital spending and disciplined fiscal management

It ‌proposed to raise ​the securities transaction tax by more than 50% on futures to 0.05% from 0.02% and to 0.15% from 0.01% on options

Targeted measures expected to support export-oriented sectors facing US tariff pressures; defence spending likely to rise to ‍bolster domestic manufacturing

Sensex, Nifty, Share Price LIVE: Benchmark indices were trading in sharply negative territory after the Budget proposed taxing buyback for all types of shareholders as capital gains, and the securities transaction tax on futures was raised to 0.05% from present 0.02%. STT on options premium and exercise of options are both proposed to be raised to 0.15 per cent from the present rate of 0.1 per cent and 0.125 per cent, respectively.

The Survey noted that although net additions to the investor base moderated in the current fiscal, net inflows of domestic investors into equity markets remained resilient

UK-based Octopus Energy has agreed to set up a joint venture in China focused on spot power trading, in a bid to scale renewable electricity volumes as market reforms and demand growth accelerate.

Octopus Energy Group said it has partnered with China’s PCG Power to create a new company, Bitong Energy, to trade renewable energy across China’s electricity market. The joint venture was announced during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing in the final week of January.

Bitong Energy will combine PCG Power’s experience in commercial and industrial renewable energy with Octopus Energy’s technology for green energy trading and optimization. The company aims to annually trade up to 140 TWh of renewable power by 2030, with projected profits of around GBP 50 million ($68.7 million) per year, half of which will return to the United Kingdom.

The venture will launch in Guangdong province, China’s leading spot market, and expand nationwide as additional regions open. Octopus Energy said in an online statement that it will deploy its software to optimize the performance of batteries and renewable generation.

China’s electricity demand is expected to rise by about one-third over the next five years, with government mandates requiring at least 10% of electricity to be traded on spot markets this year, according to Octopus Energy.

The China joint venture follows earlier partnerships and capital commitments that have supported the UK energy supplier’s expansion beyond retail supply into energy software and clean energy infrastructure. Recent transactions in Europe and the United Kingdom show that the company aims to combine proprietary technology with institutional capital and industrial partners.

In July 2025, UK workplace pension provider Smart Pension committed GBP 330 million to two clean-energy funds managed by Octopus Energy Generation, targeting renewable energy projects and energy transition technologies in the United Kingdom. The allocation includes financing the United Kingdom’s first investor-funded ground-source heat pump network.

And in September, South Korea’s LG Electronics announced plans to integrate its high-efficiency heat pumps with Octopus Energy’s AI-driven Kraken energy software platform for key European markets, including the United Kingdom and Germany. The collaboration aims to optimize residential heating and cooling by linking heat pumps with Kraken’s grid-responsive controls to reduce energy costs and improve renewable integration.

Wuxi DK Electronic Materials is pursuing two patent infringement cases against domestic competitors, seeking injunctions, equipment destruction, and combined damages of CNY 400 million ($57.5 million).

Wuxi DK Electronic Materials has filed two patent infringement lawsuits with the Jiangsu High People’s Court against Jiangsu Riyu Photovoltaic New Materials and Suzhou Jinyin New Materials Technology , seeking CNY 200 million in damages and related legal costs in each case.

The company said both filings have been formally accepted and registered by the court, although hearing dates have not yet been scheduled.

The lawsuits concern two Chinese invention patents, ZL201180032359.1 and ZL201180032701.8, covering thick-film conductive paste formulations for semiconductor devices, including solar cells. DKEM said the patents are held by its subsidiary Solamet Electronic Materials and relate to lead-tellurium-lithium and oxide-based paste technologies.

DKEM is seeking injunctions to halt the manufacture, sale, and offering for sale of the allegedly infringing pastes. The company is also requesting the destruction of dedicated production equipment and molds, and compensation for economic losses, enforcement costs, and related expenses.

The patents trace back to the intellectual property portfolio of DuPont’s former Solamet photovoltaic paste business, acquired by another entity in 2021 for $190 million. DKEM later consolidated control of the Solamet assets and associated intellectual property.

Suzhou Jinyin is described in Chinese financial reporting as a leading supplier of front-side silver paste for solar cells, ranking third globally by market share. Founded in 2011, it was later acquired by listed electronics firm Suzhou Good-Ark Electronics. Jiangsu Riyu is a fast-growing paste supplier that filed a Hong Kong listing application in 2025, with plans to expand into n-type and back-contact paste products.

This follows earlier high-value patent actions by DKEM. In 2025, its subsidiary filed a suit against Zhejiang Guangda Electronic Technology seeking similar remedies. A Solamet-linked entity also pursued related claims against Changzhou Juhe New Materials in 2021, with domestic and overseas disputes reportedly settled in August 2022.

Separately, DKEM flagged earnings pressure, forecasting a net loss of CNY 200 million to CNY 300 million for 2025, primarily linked to non-operating factors, according to Chinese financial media.

The Finnish start-up says its sand battery technology is scalable from 20 to 500 MWh with charging power from 1 to 20 MW, depending on industrial needs.

From ESS News

Finnish cleantech startup TheStorage says that its thermal storage technology could reduce industrial energy costs by up to 70% and cut carbon emissions by as much as 90%. The system converts renewable electricity into heat, stores it in sand, and delivers it on-demand for industrial heating.

The concept emerged in Finland in 2023, with engineering work beginning in 2024. In January 2026, TheStorage installed its first industrial-scale pilot at a brewery, putting the technology to the test in a real-world setting. There, it produces fossil-free steam for the brewery’s production lines.

“Producing steam without fossil fuels is a major step toward carbon-neutral production,” says Vesa Peltola, Production Director of the brewery.

TheStorage’s technology captures electricity when it is abundant and inexpensive, converts it into high-temperature heat, and stores it in sand. This stored heat can later be used in industrial processes independently of real-time electricity availability.

To continue reading, please visit our ESS News website.

Polysilicon trading in China remained largely inactive, with production cuts accelerating and wafer prices falling week on week, while downstream cell prices continued to rise and module prices held steady, according to a trade group representing China's nonferrous metals sector.

The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNMA) said polysilicon trading remained largely stalled, with only limited exploratory orders completed. One leading producer has halted operations, while two others have implemented production cuts. January output is expected to fall by about 15% month on month, broadly in line with wafer production schedules, with February output forecast at 82,000 to 85,000 metric tons. The association said most wafer prices declined week on week, with average transaction prices at CNY 1.26 per piece for n-type G10L wafers, down 3.82%; CNY 1.32 for n-type G12R wafers, down 7.04%; and CNY 1.52 for n-type G12 wafers, down 8.43%. Downstream cell prices rose to CNY 0.41/W to CNY 0.45/W, up 4.88%, while module prices were stable at CNY 0.71/W to CNY 0.75/W.

Hoymiles has signed a supply contract with Indian renewable energy solutions provider KOSOL Energie to deliver 360 MW of its HMS series microinverters in 2026. The company said the products are optimized for India’s high-temperature, high-humidity, and high-irradiance conditions, as well as for larger module formats, large-scale commercial and industrial rooftops, and complex grid environments.

Boway Alloy has issued a profit warning, forecasting full-year 2025 net profit attributable to shareholders of CNY 100 million to CNY 150 million, down 88.9% to 92.6% year on year. The China-listed parent of Vietnam-based Boviet Solar said the decline reflects impairment charges linked to high US anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Vietnam-manufactured products, which made relocating production uneconomic, as well as reduced subsidies and order losses at its United States subsidiary following passage of the United States “Big and Beautiful” Act. Boway Alloy said it is exploring equity divestment options.

PowerChina has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract through its Colombia branch for a 251 MW solar project in Santander province, Colombia. The scope includes PV plant development, equipment supply, installation and commissioning, with a string inverter plus tracking system configuration intended to improve generation efficiency and operational stability.

Deye said it submitted an application on Jan. 27 to issue H shares and list on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company said its listing application materials were published on the exchange’s website the same day.

This week Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Alba Sande, lawyer at Spanish law firm ASande Legal. She states that, despite progress, women remain underrepresented in the renewable energy industry. "As a woman and a mother, I have often encountered the unspoken assumption that professional ambition must take a backseat to family life, a bias rarely applied to men," she says.

The solar, energy storage, EV charging, and grid infrastructure sectors sit at the heart of the energy transition. What makes these industries particularly suited to, and in need of, gender diversity and inclusion is the nature of the challenge itself. The energy transition demands innovative thinking, long-term vision, and the ability to manage complexity across technical, legal, regulatory, and social dimensions. Gender diversity brings varied perspectives, leadership styles, and problem-solving approaches. Inclusion ensures those voices are heard and valued.

These industries work best when they reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. Decision-making becomes stronger when collaboration replaces uniformity. Diverse teams are not only fairer; they are more effective, more resilient, and better prepared to build a sustainable future.

From my experience, diversity, equity, and inclusion are directly linked to the resilience and success of the renewable energy sector. DEI broadens the range of inputs organizations rely on to navigate complexity. Inclusive workplaces foster trust and psychological safety, encouraging open dialogue and the kind of bold ideas that innovation requires. This is essential in a fast-evolving sector like renewable energy, where adaptation is constant. When professionals feel empowered to contribute, retention improves, decision-making becomes more robust, and strategies are better aligned with societal needs. DEI is not separate from business success, it is integral to long-term impact.

Looking back at my own career, I encountered systemic barriers that many women in male-dominated industries will recognise. Implicit biases about how leadership should look and sound, often shaped by traditional models, were persistent. The absence of visible female role models and the lack of structural support, particularly for those balancing care responsibilities, created additional friction. Overcoming these challenges required building strong support networks, staying grounded in purpose, and allowing results to speak clearly. It also meant resisting pressure to “fit the mould” and instead demonstrating that strategic thinking, empathy, and consistency are powerful leadership traits.

Over time, I have observed important shifts in how the industry approaches gender inclusion in leadership. There is greater recognition that diverse leadership is not simply desirable; it is necessary. We are seeing more women in strategic roles and greater openness to flexible career paths. That said, inclusion at senior levels still requires deliberate effort. True progress happens when organisations understand that leadership potential is not tied to a single profile or personal circumstance. Valuing varied life experiences, including those shaped by caregiving, strengthens leadership culture and builds resilience.

Navigating bias and scepticism has been a defining part of my professional journey. As a woman and a mother, I have often encountered the unspoken assumption that professional ambition must take a backseat to family life, a bias rarely applied to men. Yet this is not about choosing one over the other; it is about integration. Early on, I realised that women with young children are frequently expected to prove they are prioritising work in order to be taken seriously. My response was consistency, results, and a clear message: commitment is not gendered.

Even today, driving DEI initiatives at an executive level remains challenging. Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in decision-making spaces. In my experience, around 80% of strategic meetings still involve only men, particularly when critical decisions are being made. One of the greatest challenges is feeling like an equal, owning expertise, and expressing it with confidence in environments where women are often required to repeatedly prove their competence, while male colleagues are assumed to be capable by default. This imbalance makes DEI both essential and deeply personal to lead.

There are still specific gender dynamics within the energy sector that influence career progression. Women, especially mothers, are more frequently questioned about long-term commitment or availability. There remains an unequal expectation to prove expertise. While these dynamics are evolving, progress is slow. Acknowledging them and addressing them without penalising different life experiences is essential for building an inclusive, high-performing industry.

To young women entering the solar and renewable energy sector today, my advice is simple: believe in your voice and your contribution from day one. This industry needs critical thinkers, communicators, and leaders who reflect the diversity of society. Do not allow outdated assumptions to shape your path. Seek mentors who support your growth and organisations that recognise potential beyond traditional models. Being a woman is not a limitation, even when you are the only one in the room. Trust your expertise, ask questions boldly, and bring your full self to the table. The sector will be stronger for it.

Alba Sande is an administrative and regulatory lawyer specialised in energy, environment, and infrastructure. After several years advising major national and international clients at Clifford Chance Madrid, she founded Asandelegal, a boutique legal practice focused on strategic regulatory support for the energy transition. Her experience includes advising banks, funds, and energy companies on permitting, litigation, and regulatory matters in large-scale renewable energy projects—especially wind, solar PV, and storage. Alba holds a double degree in Law and Economics (ICADE) and a Master’s in Energy from the Spanish Energy Club. She is a regular contributor to industry publications and a speaker at sectoral forums. As a woman and mother working in a traditionally male-dominated industry, she is an advocate for inclusive leadership and visibility of diverse talent in energy law and infrastructure. She believes that legal certainty, diversity, and sustainability must go hand in hand to meet the challenges of the green transition.

Interested in joining Alba Sande and other women industry leaders and experts at Women in Solar+ Europe? Find out more: www.wiseu.network

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that in January most of East Asia experienced normal to above-average solar irradiance, with southeastern China seeing surges due to reduced clouds and low aerosol levels under lingering La Niña effects. In contrast, the Philippines faced below-average irradiance from early Tropical Storm Nokaen, while other regional cities like Seoul, Tokyo, and Taipei recorded modest gains.

Most of East Asia recorded normal to above‑normal solar irradiance in January, as weak La Niña conditions continued to influence regional weather patterns. The largest gains were observed across southeastern China, where suppressed cloud formation and reduced aerosol-effects delivered a strong start to the year for solar operators, while unusual early tropical storm activity brought significant rainfall and irradiance losses to parts of the Philippines. With two days left in January at time of publishing, this data uses live data from 1-29 January, and forecasts for 30-31 Jan from the Solcast API.

Irradiance in southeastern China surged well above historical averages in January, with Hong Kong exceeding 25% above average. A dominant Siberian high pressure system, with temperatures in parts of Siberia more than 10 C below normal, extended into western China. The resulting northerly flow delivered drier air into southeastern China, reducing both precipitation and cloud formation. This irradiance pattern aligns with typical La Niña effects, even though the La Niña signal was weak and fading toward neutral by late January. Additionally, lower than normal aerosol levels contributed to above average irradiance in coastal parts of China.

In a continuation of the irradiance and aerosol pattern seen in 2025, many parts of China, in particular low-lying industrial areas saw significant drops in aerosol load and a corresponding increase in available irradiance. Both Hong Kong and Shanghai regions saw significantly lower winter average aerosol loads, than the historical average for winter months from 2007-2026. Whilst this supported the exceptionally high irradiance in Hong Kong through January, Shanghai recorded slightly above-average irradiance, despite experiencing a rare snowfall late in the month. By contrast, Beijing has historically lower aerosol loads, however still saw slightly below-average irradiance due to prevailing cloud levels.

Elsewhere in East Asia, irradiance levels were generally normal to above normal for this month. Seoul and Tokyo recorded irradiance 5–10% above January averages and Taipei saw gains exceeding 10%. Across the maritime continent, irradiance and precipitation anomalies were near normal.

The most significant negative irradiance anomaly in the region was associated with Tropical Storm Nokaen (Ada), which marked an unusually early start to the 2026 Pacific typhoon season. Making landfall in January—the first such occurrence since 2019— Nokaen delivered intense rainfall and heavy cloud cover to the central and northern Philippines. Daily rainfall totals reached up to 200 mm, triggering mudslides and widespread disruption. Irradiance across the northern Philippines dropped by as much as 10% below average, while the southern parts of the archipelago, spared from the worst of the storm, saw irradiance climb to 10% above average.

Solcast produces these figures by tracking clouds and aerosols at 1-2km resolution globally, using satellite data and proprietary AI/ML algorithms. This data is used to drive irradiance models, enabling Solcast to calculate irradiance at high resolution, with typical bias of less than 2%, and also cloud-tracking forecasts. This data is used by more than 350 companies managing over 300 GW of solar assets globally.

Sweden deployed less solar in 2025 than the year prior despite record growth in the large-scale segment. Solar association Svensk Solenergi predicts last year was likely the bottom of Sweden's installation curve.

Sweden commissioned 652 MW of new solar last year, according to estimates from Swedish solar association Svensk Solenergi. The figure is down on the 848 MW installed in 2024 and takes cumulative capacity to around 5.4 GW.

Residential installations totaled 239 MW in 2025, a 39% year-on-year decrease. Alex Jankell, head of politics at Svensk Solenergi, told pv magazine the household market has been impacted by the removal of a tax rebate scheme as of the start of this year. He added that lower energy prices in comparison to massive hikes in 2022, higher interest rates and inflation have also impacted the market segment.

Although the residential market contracted in 2025, installations smaller than 20 kW continue to represent more than half of Sweden’s solar market, with a little over 3 GW of total capacity. There are now just over 287,000 solar power plants of less than 20 kW in Sweden, equivalent to 90% of all grid-connected solar plants.

Commercial and industrial installations reached 215 MW in 2025, down 35% year-on-year, but utility-scale installations increased, deploying a record 198 MW for 46% more than in 2024.

The large-scale segment accounted for 30% of new solar power in 2025, compared to 7% in 2024. New installations were led by Sweden’s largest solar plant to date, the 100 MW Hultsfred solar farm, and the 64 MW Ax-el solar park. Last year also saw developer Svea Solar announce plans to build eight new solar parks in Sweden with a total capacity of approximately 500 MW.

Jankell said the market is experiencing a shift to more large-scale solar, often combined with large-scale battery installations, but added that challenges remain in high costs or long waiting times for grid connections. He recommended Sweden adopt proposed changes to permitting procedures to make them quicker and more predictable.

The residential battery market is also broadening, with preliminary figures from the Swedish Tax Agency showing around 75,000 private individuals received a green reduction for battery installations in 2025, a 34% increase on the previous year.

Jankell suggested that Sweden’s solar market could be supported further by abolishing energy tax for all electricity that is produced and consumed behind the same meter and implementing proper power-tariffs which reflectively reward the ability of solar and battery installations to help the grid. He also recommended proposed proper revenue frames for Swedish grid companies that reward flexibility, and not only grid expansion.

Jankell told pv magazine more solar is likely to be installed this year than in 2025. “Given the implementation of solar demands in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, new permitting processes on the way, and a general deflation of PV and battery prices, we predict that 2025 is the bottom of the installation curve,” he said.

Pacifico Energy Chief Operating Officer Kevin Pratt says projects such as the planned 7 GW GW Ranch microgrid in Texas highlight a shift toward private grids as developers seek faster, more reliable ways to meet surging power demand from data centers and industry.

From pv magazine USA

Electricity demand is here and climbing, and solar generation is being pressed on reliability and affordability like never before. Developers are looking at opportunities pragmatically and investing in generation to meet demand using the most cost-effective solution for the location. Solar is showing that it can still perform on its own merits.

Beyond the availability of fuel sources is the issue of interconnection and grid availability. Large-scale solar projects that pencil in terms of levelized cost of energy over the lifespan of the installation are running into scheduling issues involving grid interconnection queues that may be years long. Delays are not relegated to renewable energy. Developers looking to build combined-cycle gas-fired facilities are reporting similar wait times for delivery of suitable turbines.

Kevin Pratt, chief operation officer of developer Pacifico Energy, told pv magazine USA that the combination of increasing demand, grid interconnection queues and equipment supply chains are making off-grid, behind-the-meter generation on larger scales more attractive. Not all of this can be laid at the door of rising demand from data centers.

“The reason why we’re bullish on private grids, and microgrids generally, is because of the response we’ve seen in the market,” Pratt said. “Even before the big data center push that’s come along, we’ve had clients needing reliable power in a number of different scenarios. We decided that we needed to be forward thinking on this. So, you talk about chicken and egg. The demand wasn’t there yet, but we did think it was coming.”

Pratt cited customer requirements from about three years ago, where modest operations relatively speaking were not able to secure utility access to increased capacity. These included a business park in Southern California, a residential complex in Hawaii and aerospace company in Los Angeles that want to expand its existing operation.

Technologies have advanced to the point where a variety of generating sources such as solar, hydrogen fuel cells and linear generators – like those produced by Mainspring – are available for urban environments and non-attainment areas where environmental regulations and codes are very strict. Combined with storage, Pratt said, these options enable customers to circumvent a lot of permitting and interconnection queues by getting as much of their generation as they can handle behind the meter.

Microgrids no longer imply modest size, with new projects scaling up into the hundreds of megawatts and even gigawatt size. Pacifico is building its GW Ranch project in Pecos County, Texas, as a behind-the-meter generation facility for data centers specializing in artificial intelligence development. This project is building in phases, with 1 GW scheduled to be operational in 2028, and the full facility being online in 2030.

The primary generation sources for GW ranch will be simple-cycle gas turbines, which are not as efficient as combined-cycle turbines but access to natural gas is not an issue in that part of West Texas. Combined-cycle generators, which produce steam, also require more water and the GW Ranch project will not require access to off-site water. Moreover, as indicated previously, combined-cycle turbines are in high demand at present, with long wait times, and Pratt said Pacifico was lucky to have secured the generators earmarked for GW Ranch. 

The project will also incorporate 1.8 GW of on-site battery storage. But what about solar?

“For our big GW Ranch project, we do have in our design about a GW worth of solar on site as well,” Pratt said. “We’ve designed it. We’ve planned for it. Solar has kind of been our bread and butter, so that’s very natural to us. But we will leave it up to the customer. And ultimately, what’s driving decision making is speed: speed to reliable power.”

While some advocates view solar and fossil fuels as a zero-sum competition, consumers are more pragmatic. At the same time, renewable energy, particularly photovoltaic solar, has shown that it is not only effective in many applications, it is the only reliable source in many parts of the United States.

“Anything west of El Paso, gas is hard to come by,” Pratt said. “In California and Arizona there’s a lot of demand. In Arizona, they are reshoring manufacturing and bringing semiconductor manufacturing there. People want to put data centers there. They need off-grid power, but situation off grid is pretty challenging because they don’t have the gas availability.”

This is an opportunity for solar plus storage to shine in competition with other sources. For example, the recently announced Pioneer Clean Energy Center in Yuma County, Arizona, under development by BrightNight and Cordelio Power, will supply 300 MW of solar plus 1,200 MWh of storage to bolster local infrastructure for Arizona Public Service. While grid connected, the project demonstrates that large-scale solar remains competitively attractive.

According to Pratt, increasing electricity demand from manufacturers needing to scale up and the new generation of “hyperscale” data centers will make private microgrids and behind-the meter generation, whether paired with grid interconnection or not, more important in the U.S. energy landscape. Quoting a study from the National Center for Energy Analytics, Pratt hundreds of data centers each with power requirements in excess of 300 MW are being planned.

“You talk about the decision to go private grid or utility grid; that’s really the struggle I see,” he said. “It’s not simply generation. It’s how to get the power to where it’s needed. Those lines are overtaxed already. Massive upgrades are required in transmission and substations to deliver the electricity. And new transmission is really slow and hard to get. So, I think microgrids are going to be a big part of the solution going forward.”

Solar developers will have to make their case to customers needing more power that the demonstrable benefits of PV plus storage at the utility scale could be theirs without the need to jump through permitting hoops or wait on interminable interconnection queues. And no wait for gas turbines, either.