Global Industry News Flash | Week of Dec 6–12, 2025
A concise roundup of the most important global developments across solar, energy storage, grid policy, and renewable technology. Curated for EPCs, developers, distributors, and utility-scale stakeholders worldwide.
1. Global Utility-Scale Solar & Renewable Project Updates
Europe, Middle East, and Africa
A major European renewable developer secured $416 million in funding for a flagship energy park scheduled to go online in Fall 2026.
Belize opened a tender for national solar consultancy services, reflecting growing interest in Caribbean solar development.
Zambia issued a tender for a 25 MW solar project, reinforcing the region’s gradual shift toward large-scale PV.
South Africa saw 273 MW of new solar capacity energized, strengthening its renewable generation base.
Angola commissioned Africa’s largest off-grid solar-plus-storage facility, boosting energy access and grid independence.
Spain achieved another milestone as a 150 MW solar plant began commercial operations.
Asia-Pacific
A 1.6 GWh battery storage system at the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub was brought online—one of the largest BESS deployments in Australia.
A major floating-solar technology provider released a new rail-based floating PV structure, targeting faster and more flexible installation for Asian markets.
A leading developer signed a large BESS cooperation agreement supporting the Indonesia–Singapore renewable energy corridor.
United States
A Texas utility-scale project placed a 288 MW order for hail-resistant modules, underlining the need for extreme-weather-resilient hardware.
A Pennsylvania township approved a new solar project on 2,000 acres of reclaimed coal-mine land, demonstrating the rise of brownfield solar.
Multiple community and municipal solar projects—including a 191 kW installation in Milwaukee—continue expanding distributed generation across the country.
2. Technology Breakthroughs & Product Innovation
Solar Modules & Cells
A new perovskite–silicon tandem solar cell achieved 32.3% efficiency, marking a significant leap toward commercial-ready tandem technologies.
Astronergy introduced a 750 W anti-dust TOPCon module, designed for harsh environments and lower maintenance needs.
Researchers provided new insight into the thermomechanical effects of plated copper contacts on HJT cells—important for long-term reliability.
System Engineering & Sustainability
Studies revealed that solar farms can support local bird and bat activity, adding ecological value to utility-scale PV.
Innovations such as meter collars for residential solar-plus-storage aim to simplify installation and cut balance-of-system costs.
3. Energy Storage: Market Dynamics & Strategic Agreements
Market Movements
The UK removed 15.3 GW of battery storage projects from its grid connection queue as part of reform efforts—seen as painful but necessary for long-term system efficiency.
Despite reforms, UK BESS development submissions rebounded sharply in November, signaling strong underlying demand.
In Australia’s NEM, record renewable generation coincided with extreme price volatility, highlighting the urgent need for flexible storage assets.
Corporate Deals & Strategic Growth
A major energy company signed 2.5 GW of renewable + storage agreements with a major tech corporation in the U.S.
Coastal regions continued advancing long-duration solutions, including successful demonstrations of tidal + storage + hydrogen hybrid systems.
Safety & Performance
A detailed investigation into a fire incident at the world’s largest battery power plant revealed how wetlands captured toxic metals, offering new insights for emergency planning and environmental safeguards.
4. Policy, Regulation & Grid Modernization
Europe
The European Commission unveiled new grid rules designed to accelerate cross-border interconnection projects.
European solar module prices stabilized in November, though industry groups warn of a potentially “self-destructive” oversupply situation.
In Italy, 1.1 GW of solar capacity was awarded in a national auction, supporting mid-term deployment stability.
United States
A statewide market-transformation initiative focused on energy efficiency programs received approval in California.
Los Angeles officially completed its exit from coal, marking a symbolic milestone for U.S. decarbonization.
A study found that broad electrification could exert downward pressure on electricity rates, benefiting long-term consumers.
Global Outlook
A new analysis estimates the global energy transition market could reach USD 624 trillion by 2035, driven by electrification, renewables, and smart-grid adoption.
New project pipelines from national system operators highlight massive long-term investment in grid resilience and renewable integration.
5. Market Trends & Industry Insights
Solar and storage accounted for 91% of all clean-power additions in the U.S. in Q3 2025, reinforcing the dominance of PV+BESS as the preferred new-build choice.
The world officially surpassed 1 TW of operating utility-scale solar capacity, marking a historic milestone for global energy transformation.
The U.S. added 11.7 GW of solar in Q3 despite persistent permitting and political barriers.
“Solar and storage together could provide more than 50% of future supply additions,” according to broader market modeling.
6. Events & Community Initiatives
EU PVSEC announced its 2026 call for papers, signaling continued global focus on scientific advancement in PV.
Enel launched a new solar hub integrating technology with community-driven engagement, emphasizing social and environmental value in solar development.
Australia’s grid planning agency reinforced the essential role of long-duration storage in its next integrated system plan.
KUKA Cable’s Takeaway
Across all regions, one theme is clear:
The world is accelerating toward high-efficiency solar, robust energy storage, and grid-ready infrastructure.
As deployment scales, the industry increasingly prioritizes:
Reliability under extreme weather
Fire safety and environmental resilience
High-performance cabling for hybrid PV+storage systems
These trends directly reinforce the need for durable, certified, and safety-first DC and AC cabling solutions—the core strength of KUKA Cable.
