Global Solar Market Highlights (21 Feb.)
01 India Overhauls Solar Module Policy for Distributed Renewables
India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has proposed a new Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) specifically for distributed renewable energy (DRE) applications. The new ALMM List-I (DRE) will cover solar modules below 200W, exclusively for off-grid projects such as solar lights, lighting systems, streetlights, and fans. It excludes solar agricultural pumps and rooftop PV projects. MNRE mandates a minimum 18% efficiency for modules on the DRE list, applicable to crystalline silicon (c-Si) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film modules, down from the previous 19% threshold for c-Si modules.
02 Germany Surpasses 100GW in Cumulative Solar Installations?
Germany added 1.12GW of solar capacity in January, pushing its total installed solar capacity over 100GW. The new capacity includes 19.3MW from balcony systems, 756MW from rooftop installations, 237.5MW from ground-mounted projects, and 13MW from other types. In 2024, Germany installed approximately 16.73GW of solar.
03 Solar Overtakes Coal in European Power Generation?
In 2024, solar power generation in Europe surpassed coal for the first time, highlighting the growing importance of solar in the region's energy mix. This shift reflects increased investment in clean energy across European countries.
04 Trump Establishes National Energy Council?
On February 14, U.S. President Trump signed an executive order creating the National Energy Council, which will oversee licensing, production, distribution, regulation, and transportation of all forms of energy. The council aims to develop strategies for U.S. energy dominance.
05 Philippines Bets Big on Solar Energy?
The Philippines has removed restrictions on foreign investment and accelerated solar project approvals over the past three years. The government aims to rapidly expand power generation through renewables, with plans for one of the world's largest solar and storage projects. Solar Philippines New Energy Corp. will build a 3.5GW solar and 4.5GWh battery project in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan provinces.
06 EPA Seeks to Terminate $20B Clean Energy Grant Program?
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced plans to immediately end a $20 billion clean energy grant program funded by the Biden administration's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The fund, part of the $27 billion Inflation Reduction Act, aims to finance clean technology projects.
07 Mexico Plans 4.67GW of Large-Scale Solar by 2030?
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed a plan to add 13.02GW of new generation capacity by 2030. The plan includes nine solar projects totaling 4.67GW, with an investment of $4.9 billion, expected to come online between 2027 and 2028.
08 Germany's Ground-Mounted Solar Bidding Sees Record Low Prices?
Germany's Federal Network Agency announced results for the December 1 ground-mounted solar tender, awarding 2.15GW of capacity. Bids ranged from €0.0388/kWh to €0.0495/kWh, with an average weighted price of €0.0476/kWh, nearly 6% lower than the previous round. This marks the first time average prices have fallen below €0.05/kWh since February 2019.
09 Spain's Self-Consumption Solar Market Declines for Second Year?
Spain added 1.431GW of self-consumption solar in 2024, down 26.3% from the previous year, according to APPA Renovables. Cumulative installations reached 8.58GW. The decline is attributed to the end of EU Next Generation incentives and falling electricity prices, despite historically low solar technology costs.
10 China Datang Group Opens Bidding for 22.5GW Solar Modules?
China Datang Group's framework procurement for 2025-2026 includes three categories: TOPCon, HJT, and BC, totaling 22.5GW. Bids range from ￥0.66/W to ￥0.832/W, with an average of ￥0.696/W. Six companies bid above ￥0.70/W, while the top four component firms uniformly bid ￥0.705/W.
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