During the period from July 31th to August 6th, 2025, the following international news occurred:
1. Romania adds over 900 MW of solar in H1
Romania added 900 MW–1 GW of new solar capacity in the first half of 2025, including 400–450 MW from residential and commercial projects and 500–550 MW from large-scale plants, bringing its total installed capacity to nearly 6 GW. Residential solar subsidies cover up to 90% of installation costs (capped at €6,000), while large-scale projects benefit from streamlined permitting (reduced to two years) and a second CfD auction. Full-year installations are expected to exceed 7 GW, with 2 GW of large-scale projects in advanced development stages.
2. Kyrgyzstan signs 1.9 GW solar deal
The Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan signed a 1.9GW solar power project investment agreement with Vietnam's Rox Energy Global and RECA Company, planning to complete the project in Kyzyl-Oruk Village, Issyk-Kul Oblast in 2027. The project will be implemented with foreign investment and, once completed, will become one of the largest solar power plants in Central Asia. Currently, Kyrgyzstan has zero solar installed capacity. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development promised in March 2024 to provide 210 million US dollars in financing support for a 300MW solar power project.
3. DP Energy plans wind farm with 2,000 MWh battery in Australia
Irish developer DP Energy announced the plan for the Windy Plains Renewable Energy Park in Queensland, Australia, which will include a 1.4GW wind farm (about 197 7MW wind turbines) and a 500MW/2000MWh battery energy storage system. The project is located 40 kilometers southeast of Julia Creek and will be connected to Queensland's 330kV copper wire transmission system, utilizing the flat terrain to achieve optimal wind energy utilization.
4. Masdar and EDF’s Emerge signs long-term solar deal with Saudi’s Misk City
Emerge, a joint venture between UAE's Masdar and EDF, signed a 20-year agreement to develop a 621kWp solar carport project for Misk New City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is part of Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" urban experiment, and Emerge will be responsible for the entire process of design, financing, construction and operation and maintenance. The company currently has over 250MWp of solar projects in the Middle East, including the 3MWp rooftop power station of AJ Steel.
5. US states advance energy storage and grid reforms in Q2
A report from the NC Clean Energy Technology Center shows that in the second quarter of 2025, states passed nearly 300 grid modernization bills, with energy storage deployment (77 bills) and business model reforms (37 bills) attracting the most attention. Virginia requires Dominion Energy to develop a 450MW virtual power plant pilot, New Jersey launched an energy storage incentive program, and Oregon and West Virginia relaxed restrictions on microgrid construction. States are incorporating energy storage and grid enhancement technologies into transmission and distribution system planning.
6. TotalEnergies starts building 1 GW solar plant in southern Iraq
TotalEnergies began constructing a 1 GW solar project in southern Iraq, with the first 250 MW phase slated for late 2024 and full completion by 2028. The JV (Total 45%, Basra Oil 30%, QatarEnergy 25%) will power 350,000 households. Iraq aims for 12 GW of solar by 2030; current capacity is just 42 MW.
7. India could cut power costs to $50/MWh with solar-wind system by 2050
The latest model of the Energy Transition Commission shows that by building a power system dominated by solar energy (80%) and wind energy (20), combined with short-term energy storage to achieve day-night balance, India can reduce the comprehensive power cost to about 50 US dollars/MWh by 2050, which is significantly lower than the current fossil energy electricity price. It is expected that the annual power generation will reach 7300TWh, which can meet three times the power demand of 2024. This plan is particularly suitable for "sunbelt" countries with abundant solar resources.
8. Bhutan commissions first utility-scale solar plant
The Ministry of Energy of Bhutan recently put into operation the country's first large-scale ground-mounted solar power station - the 17.38MW Sephu project, and the second phase of 5MW will be completed by the end of the year. The project is jointly constructed by Bhutan's Rigsar and India's PES Company, with financing support from the Asian Development Bank. Bhutan plans to achieve 25GW of renewable energy installed capacity (including 5GW of solar energy) by 2040, and currently, the country's total solar installed capacity is 3MW.
9. Global electricity demand to rise in 2026 as renewables lead, says IEA
The IEA projects global power demand will grow >3% annually through 2026, driven by Asian emerging economies and data center/transport electrification. Renewables are set to overtake coal as the top power source by 2025–2026, with nuclear output peaking. Despite 30–40% wholesale price hikes in the EU/US, power sector emissions may dip slightly by 2026.
10. Chinese PV Industry Brief: China adds 268 GW of renewables, led by solar
China added 268GW of new renewable energy installed capacity in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 99.3%, including 212GW of solar energy (100GW of centralized and 112GW of distributed) and 51.39GW of wind energy. As of the end of June, the country's total installed capacity of renewable energy reached 2.159TW, accounting for 59.2% of the total installed power generation capacity. Solar power generation increased by 42.9% year-on-year to 559.1TWh, with a utilization rate of 94%. The prices of photovoltaic products such as polysilicon and silicon wafers rose slightly, and many enterprises promoted related procurement and investment.
11. Croatia’s solar capacity reaches 1.1 GW
Croatia’s solar capacity hit 1.099 GW by June 2025 (980 MW distribution grid, 119 MW transmission grid), covering 5.4% of national generation. Monthly additions averaged 32 MW in H1, led by residential/commercial projects with 50% subsidies. However, 3 GW of large-scale projects stalled due to unresolved grid fees. The government is drafting storage policies and plans pro-renewables legislation for H2.
12. Afghanistan starts building 40 MW of solar
Afghanistan broke ground on a $28 million, 40 MW solar project in Logar province, including a 126 MVA substation and $7.6 million transmission line expansion, set for completion in 18 months. The plant will power 40,000 households and an industrial park, easing shortages. Afghanistan’s solar capacity stood at 53 MW at end-2024, with no additions in three years.