During the period from October 12th to 17th, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. US government cancels 6.2 GW Esmeralda solar project in Nevada
The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has cancelled the 6.2 GW Esmeralda 7 solar project in Nevada, which was originally planned to be the largest solar facility in the US, capable of powering nearly 2 million homes. This move aligns with the Trump administration's crackdown on renewable energy, implementing a series of anti-green energy measures including heightened reviews and revoking subsidies. However, the EIA expects the US to add 64 GW of new generation capacity in 2025, with solar accounting for 33.3 GW.
2. Engie, Masdar win 1.5 GW solar project in UAE
The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has awarded the development contract for the 1.5 GW Al Hazna solar PV project in Abu Dhabi to a consortium of France's Engie and the UAE's Masdar. The consortium will be responsible for project design, financing, etc., and has signed a power purchase agreement based on paid-for energy delivered. The project plans to integrate digital technologies, expects to reach financial close by year-end, and upon operation could power 160,000 households, helping Abu Dhabi achieve its 2035 targets of 18 GW of solar and 60% clean electricity.
3. France cuts feed-in tariffs for solar up to 100 kW
The French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has announced new feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar installations up to 100 kW in mainland France, effective until January 1, 2026. The tariff for systems ≤9 kW remains unchanged at €0.04/kWh, while the tariff for 10-100 kW systems is reduced to €0.0617/kWh, a 15% decrease. Additionally, PV systems between 100-500 kW are excluded from the FIT scheme for the first time and will participate in competitive tenders.
4. Iran inaugurates 250 MW of new solar plants
Iran inaugurated 250 MW of new solar power plants on October 11, with President Masoud Pezeshkian attending and announcing the launch of an additional 450 MW of PV projects. He stated the government would remove project obstacles, demanding implementation within the year, and resolve customs clearance issues for PV components. The Energy Minister said the country's total renewable capacity reached 2,550 MW (solar approx. 2 GW), targeting 10 GW by March 2026.
5. Zimbabwe plans competitive bidding for electricity projects
Zimbabwe's Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) plans to introduce competitive bidding for electricity projects starting in 2026, replacing unsolicited bids, aiming to enhance transparency, reduce electricity prices, and ensure project quality. A framework will also be developed to attract domestic and foreign investors. Additionally, the country plans to open the electricity retail market to private companies next year. Current solar capacity is 203 MW, and permits for 116 MW of PV projects were issued in March 2024.
6. EDP to advance 1.7 GW of solar and storage under Australia’s CIS
EDPR, the clean energy subsidiary of Portugal's EDP, will accelerate the development of the Punch Creek (Queensland) and Merino (New South Wales) major solar and storage projects, totaling 1.7 GW of combined solar, wind, and storage capacity, after receiving support under the Australian federal government's Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS). The projects are planned for commissioning before 2030, generating 2.2 TWh of green electricity annually, enough for 380,000 homes, and creating over 1,600 jobs during construction.
7. India installs record 29.5 GW of solar in first nine months of 2025
According to JMK Research data, India added a record 29.5 GW of new solar capacity in the first nine months of 2025, a surge of 70% year-on-year, driven primarily by utility-scale and rooftop solar. Utility-scale solar accounted for 22.5 GW (up 70.3% YoY), and rooftop solar reached 5.8 GW (up 81.6% YoY). As of September, India's total renewable energy capacity reached 247.3 GW, with solar accounting for 52%.
8. Ivory Coast breaks ground on 50 MW solar project
Ivory Coast has officially launched construction of the 50 MW Kong solar power plant in the northern Tchologo region, with an investment exceeding 37 billion CFA francs, scheduled for operation in Q1 2027. The project is a key part of the government's goal to achieve 1.04 GW of solar capacity and 45% renewable energy share by 2030. The country currently has 58.2 MW of operational solar PV.
9. German railway areas have 37.6 GW of solar potential
Research by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems shows that 37.6 GW of solar PV could be deployed within 2 km of German railway substations, generating approximately 32,920 GWh annually, over four times the railway's electricity demand in 2023. The project team has developed specialized inverter technology allowing PV electricity to be fed directly into the 16.7 Hz railway grid, overcoming grid integration bottlenecks.
10. Philippines approves world’s largest solar project for grid connection
The Philippines Energy Regulatory Commission has approved the grid connection application for the self-built transmission facilities of the world's largest under-construction solar-plus-storage project – MTerra (3.5 GW solar + 4.5 GWh storage). The first phase (2.5 GW solar + 3.3 GWh storage) is planned for commissioning in 2026 and will connect to the Luzon grid via a dedicated line. Transmission facilities are currently 90% complete.
11. Novar establishes own grid connection for solar park in the Netherlands
Dutch renewable energy company Novar has established a dedicated grid connection system, Avermieden, for its Eekerpolder solar park, connecting directly to transmission system operator TenneT's high-voltage grid. This closed distribution system solves local medium-voltage grid congestion. The first 87 MW phase is nearing grid connection. The project's total capacity is nearly 200 MW, making it the largest solar park in the Netherlands upon completion, with future plans for storage.
12. India’s solar-plus-storage tender sets record low INR 2.86 tariff
A Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) tender for 2 GW solar + 1 GW/4 GWh storage has set a record low tariff of INR 2.86 per kWh (approx. $0.033). Shivalaya Construction Company secured the largest share of 600 MW. This is the first time a solar-wind-storage hybrid project in India has broken the INR 3 barrier, marking continued decline in renewable energy costs.
13. Vietnam proposes financial support for residential solar, storage systems
Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed financial support for household self-consumption solar and storage systems from 2026 to 2030: systems (≥1kW PV + ≥2kWh storage) could receive a subsidy of up to 3 million VND (approx. $114) and must commit to using the system for at least 3 years; preferential loans of up to 40 million VND (8.4% annual interest, 3-year term) are also available. This aims to help achieve the 2030 target of 50% of households using rooftop solar for self-consumption and alleviate grid pressure.
14. UK’s largest solar project approved, joins 2.1 GW cluster
The UK has approved the Tillbridge Solar project, east of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The project covers 1,400 hectares with a capacity of 500 MW, making it the largest solar project approved in the UK to date. It will be developed by Tribus Clean Energy and renewable energy company. Upon joining the local cluster, the total capacity of approved projects within an 8 km radius reaches nearly 2.1 GW, though opponents raise concerns about agricultural land use. This is the 17th major renewable energy project approved since the Labour party's election victory in July 2024, aiding the UK's 2030 clean energy goals.
15. Germany deploys 920 MW of solar in September
Data from the German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) shows 920 MW of new solar PV capacity was added in September, a significant decrease from 1,936 MW in August, mainly due to fewer utility-scale grid connections. The cumulative addition in the first nine months reached 11.78 GW, roughly flat compared to the same period last year. Germany's total installed PV capacity exceeded 112.2 GW by the end of September.