During the period from September 4th to 10th, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. Australia rooftop solar installs fall to 206 MW in August
Australia added 206.1 MW of rooftop solar capacity in August 2025, a 12% month-on-month decline, returning to 2022 installation levels. The federal government’s battery subsidy policy has shifted consumer interest toward energy storage systems, contributing to the continued decline in solar installations. Most states saw reduced capacity except for a slight increase in Victoria.
2. China energy storage project pipeline grows by 140 GWh in July
China recorded 1,556 new energy storage project filings in July 2025, including 1,468 project applications with a total capacity of 53.8 GW/139.6 GWh, a 164% year-on-year increase. Grid-side projects dominated, while commercial and industrial user-side storage grew 110%. Inner Mongolia and Gansu were key regions for large-scale projects, with manufacturing investments expanding and the market maintaining rapid growth.
3. India rooftop solar installs hit 2.8 GW in H1, up 155% year on year
India added 2.8 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the first half of 2025, a 155% year-on-year surge. The second quarter alone contributed 1.6 GW, with the residential sector accounting for over 74%. Five states—Gujarat, Maharashtra, and others—contributed 64% of the total. Growth was driven by policy support and backlog clearance, though module shortages and grid connectivity issues may impact future progress.
4. Malaysia approves 2 GW of large-scale solar
Malaysia’s fifth large-scale solar tender awarded 13 projects with a total capacity of 1.975 GW, including a 200 MW floating solar plant, one of the country’s largest to date. The winning projects will be operational between 2027 and 2028, supporting Malaysia’s goal of achieving 40% renewable energy by 2040.
5. Italy allocates 1.72 GW in rooftop PV tender for agricultural firms
The Italian government allocated €2.35 billion in subsidies for rooftop PV projects for agricultural businesses, supporting 22,942 projects with a total capacity of 1.72 GW. The budget was fully utilized. Unlike agrivoltaic projects, this tender focused exclusively on rooftop PV systems for agricultural buildings, aiming to promote renewable energy adoption in the farming sector.
6. Türkiye deploys 3.1 GW of solar in H1
Türkiye added 3.1 GW of solar capacity in the first half of 2025, exceeding 23 GW cumulative capacity and achieving its 2025 target ahead of schedule. Unlicensed commercial and industrial self-consumption projects accounted for 76% of the additions, but limited grid connection capacity remains a major bottleneck for near-term growth. The government is promoting grid investments and hybrid power plants while streamlining approvals to unlock 120 GW of rooftop PV potential.
7. SEIA unveils policy agenda to expand US solar, storage and grid reforms
The U.S. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released a new policy agenda calling for grid reforms, domestic supply chain investments, and expanded solar and storage deployment to meet surging electricity demand. Key priorities include streamlining project approvals, optimizing grid interconnection processes, supporting long-duration storage technologies, and promoting distributed energy resources to enhance grid reliability and support industries like AI.
8. US installs 14.5 GW of large-scale solar in H1
Solar dominated U.S. grid-scale additions in the first half of 2025, accounting for 75% with 14.5 GW installed. Wind and natural gas added 3.1 GW and 1.7 GW, respectively. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) expects an additional 92.6 GW of solar in the next three years, while over 25 GW of coal capacity is set to retire.
9. Sweden’s largest solar plant goes online
Sweden’s largest solar farm, the 100 MW Hultsfred facility, began operations. Developed by Alight and Neoen in Småland County, it will generate enough electricity annually to power 18,000 households and supply 95% green power to H&M Group under a long-term PPA, accelerating Sweden’s transition to subsidy-free renewables.
10. Italy launches 1.6 GW solar auction
Italy’s energy services manager GSE launched the second solar auction under the new “Transitional FER X” renewable incentive scheme. The auction aims to allocate 200 MW to 1.6 GW of PV capacity, open to commercial, industrial, and large-scale projects from October 17 to November 16. Projects under 1 MW are prohibited from using Chinese-made solar modules, cells, and inverters. The tender aims to boost domestic renewable energy development.
11. Solar production falls in US Midwest, Southeast amid wildfires and hurricanes
In August, solar irradiance in the central and eastern U.S. fell 10–15% year-on-year due to ongoing Canadian wildfire smoke and tropical storms in the Southeast, significantly reducing PV generation. The Northeast, under high-pressure systems, saw above-average irradiance. Regional weather variations led to stark contrasts in solar performance.
12. Philippines renewables auction awards 9.4 GW, short of 10.6 GW goal
The Philippines’ fourth Green Energy Auction (GEA-4) preliminarily awarded 9.4 GW of solar, wind, and storage projects, achieving 88% of its 10.6 GW target. Unallocated floating solar and solar-storage capacity will be reopened to qualified bidders. Winning projects are expected to come online between 2026 and 2029, supporting the country’s goal of 35% renewable energy by 2030.
13. AleaSoft notes mixed electricity price trends in European markets
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting reported mixed trends in major European electricity markets in the last week of August. Weekly prices rose in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Nordic markets but fell in Belgium, the UK, France, Portugal, and Spain. Most markets averaged below €85/MWh, with Germany and Italy at €90.19 and €109.82/MWh due to lower solar output, while France was lowest at €55.56/MWh. Prices are expected to decline in the first week of September due to increased wind generation and lower electricity demand.