CGN Connects First Unit of World's Highest-Altitude CSP Plant in Tibet
On November 6, the first 25 MW turbine-generator unit of CGN's Ali zero-carbon solar-thermal demonstration project in Ngari, Tibet, was connected to the grid, making it the world's highest-altitude grid-connected CSP plant at 4,300 metres and Tibet's first CSP project. The plant pairs a 100 MW PV station with a 20.5 MW molten-salt electric heater, the largest of its kind, and a 14-hour molten-salt storage system holding 29,500 tonnes of salt. PV power is converted to heat during the day and released at night for continuous generation and district heating. Once fully operational the project will generate about 270 GWh a year, saving 74,200 tonnes of standard coal and cutting CO2 emissions by about 168,200 tonnes.
Inner Mongolia's 300 MW Desert-Steppe Agrivoltaic Pilot Fully Grid-Connected
On November 4, China's first desert-steppe 'grass-PV' complementary pilot project, a 300 MW solar plant in Damao Banner, Baotou, reached full grid connection. Built by Mengxi New Energy Group at an investment of 1.05 billion yuan, the project raises panel racks to two metres so grass can grow beneath, combining power generation with degraded rangeland restoration and carbon sequestration. Electricity is exported through a dedicated 220 kV substation to the KaiLinhe 500 kV station. The plant is expected to generate about 480 GWh a year and avoid roughly 420,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Huadian's 1.8 GW Jingyu Pumped Storage Plant Begins Main Works in Jilin
On November 5, main construction officially started on the 1.8 GW Jingyu pumped storage hydropower station in Baishan, Jilin Province, a national 14th Five-Year Plan key energy project and China Huadian's first pumped storage scheme in Northeast China. The 11.689 billion yuan plant will install four 300 MW reversible units and is scheduled to begin generation in 2032, with an annual output of 14.81 TWh against 19.75 TWh of pumping and an overall efficiency of 75%. The 1,299-metre ventilation tunnel broke through in October, clearing the way for excavation of the underground powerhouse.
Hunan's 1.4 GW Jianghua Wanshuiyuan Pumped Storage Plant Starts Main Construction
Hunan Energy Group has started main construction of the Jianghua Wanshuiyuan pumped storage power station in Jianghua County, Yongzhou, launching the reservoir and water-conveyance power-generation works in parallel. The 8.96 billion yuan project will install four 350 MW reversible units for a total of 1.4 GW, one of the largest pumped storage plants under construction in Hunan. The upper dam is an asphalt-concrete core rockfill dam. Once complete, the station will generate about 15.8 TWh a year, save 527,000 tonnes of standard coal and cut CO2 emissions by about 1.5 million tonnes, providing peaking, frequency regulation and reserve services for the Hunan grid.
PowerChina's 1.5 GW Al Ajban Solar Plant in Abu Dhabi Nears Grid Connection
Xinhua reported on November 2 that the 1.5 GW Abu Dhabi PV3 Al Ajban solar project, built by PowerChina, is approaching grid connection in the UAE. Spanning about 20 square kilometres, it is PowerChina's first large-scale solar EPC project in the country, with Huadong Engineering as designer and contractor. Once complete the plant is expected to generate about 4.4 TWh a year, enough for some 160,000 households, and to cut CO2 emissions by around 2.4 million tonnes annually. Chinese-made robotic module installation systems have been deployed at scale, and Chinese contractors are also delivering the Dubai Al Maktoum Solar Park phases IV and V, which pair 700 MW of CSP with 250 MW and 900 MW of PV.
India's ReNew Signs MoU for 1.5 GW Pumped Storage Project in Odisha
On November 4, Indian renewable energy producer ReNew signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government of Odisha to develop a 1,500 MW pumped hydro storage project at Putabali in Ganjam district, with an estimated investment of 90 billion rupees, about US$1.08 billion. The scheme is part of ReNew's broader 450 billion rupee clean energy investment plan in the state and is intended to stabilise the grid and support round-the-clock renewable power supply. It was signed at the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit in the presence of the state's chief minister.
Australia's Genex Signs EPC Contracts to Launch 250 MW / 2,000 MWh Kidston Pumped Hydro
Genex Power has signed EPC contracts with a McConnell Dowell and John Holland joint venture, clearing the way for construction of the 250 MW / 2,000 MWh Kidston pumped storage project at a former gold mine in Queensland, one of Australia's first new pumped hydro schemes in decades. The two disused mine pits will serve as upper and lower reservoirs. Beon will build the grid connection works, and utility Powerlink has received notice to proceed on a new 186-kilometre 275 kV transmission line to Mount Fox. About 800 workers are expected on site, backed by a 610 million Australian dollar concessional loan from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility and a 47 million dollar ARENA grant.
Oman Signs Engineering Services Contract for 500 MW Al Kamil I Solar Project
On November 4, Omani firm Hamed Engineering Services signed an engineering services contract with China's Shanxi Installation Group for the 500 MW Al Kamil I photovoltaic project in Oman's southern governorate, where Shanxi Installation holds the EPC general contract won in July 2026 with a value of about 1.5 billion yuan. The plant will cover roughly 4.7 million square metres and include design, procurement, construction, a high-voltage substation, testing and commissioning, plus 2.5 years of operation and maintenance. Led by France's EDF Power Solutions with local partners, it will feed the Oman national grid under offtaker Nama PWP.
Malaysia Starts Construction of 200 MW Chereh Floating Solar Project
Construction has started on the 200 MW Chereh floating solar project in Pahang, Malaysia, built under an EPC contract held by China Energy Engineering Corporation's Jiangsu Institute and developed with Abu Dhabi's Masdar, for whom it is the first project in the country. The scheme is a key component of Malaysia's fifth large-scale solar programme (LSS5+), which awarded a total of 1,975 MW across 13 projects, and is scheduled to begin operation in early 2028, adding floating solar capacity to the Chereh dam reservoir.
Vietnam Energises 220 kV Line to Relieve Southwest Renewable Bottlenecks
In the early hours of November 3, Vietnam's national power transmission company EVNNPT energised a 4.37-kilometre 220 kV double-circuit line linking the Bac Lieu substation to the Ca Mau-Soc Trang power plant corridor, together with substation bays and equipment expansion. The project completes the regional 220 kV network in the southwest, strengthens inter-regional power exchange and reduces losses. It is expected to relieve transmission constraints on renewable generation in the region, improving the grid's ability to absorb wind power from Bac Lieu and neighbouring provinces.
EDF Commissions Its First Transmission Asset in Latin America in Brazil
On November 3, EDF Power Solutions began commercial operation of Acu Transmissora in Rio de Janeiro state, its first electricity transmission concession in Latin America. The asset comprises a 345/138 kV substation serving the Porto do Acu industrial and logistics complex and about 40 kilometres of lines connecting to the Campos network, now integrated into Brazil's National Interconnected System. EDF won the concession in regulator ANEEL's 2022 transmission auction, and the project also includes environmental compensation work restoring about 30,000 square metres of coastal forest.
Italy's Qair Breaks Ground on 24.2 MWp Sicilian Solar Plant
On November 5, French developer Qair started construction of the 24.2 MWp Castellammare solar plant in Trapani province, Sicily. The project has an EPC contract with SIREOS and closed about 22 million euros of financing arranged by Credit Agricole Transitions & Energies in October. Commercial operation is expected in July 2027. Qair's Italian portfolio includes 1.5 GW of wind, solar and renewable hydrogen projects under development, and the company operates assets in Piedmont and Sardinia.