The global energy transition continues to accelerate in early 2026, with solar, storage, and grid infrastructure emerging as the dominant forces reshaping power systems worldwide. This week’s developments highlight not only rapid capacity growth, but also deeper structural shifts across policy, technology, and energy system design.
Solar Expansion Enters a New Phase
Solar power is reinforcing its position as the backbone of global renewable growth.
In the United States, solar has officially overtaken wind to become the country’s largest renewable energy source. Forecasts indicate nearly 70 GW of new solar capacity by 2027, representing close to 49% growth within just two years. Utility-scale projects continue to roll out across states, from large desert installations supplying commercial power demand to county-level solar plants becoming primary local energy sources.
Similar momentum is visible globally.
Pakistan’s installed PV capacity has surpassed 27 GW, reflecting one of the fastest adoption curves in emerging markets.
Africa’s total installed PV capacity is now estimated above 63 GW, driven by energy access demand, falling system costs, and decentralized solar solutions.
Australia is preparing for massive utility-scale solar and wind investment in 2026, with developers prioritizing hybrid systems and long-duration assets.
At the same time, new application models are gaining traction. Agrivoltaics integrated into greenhouse systems could potentially deliver over 20% of Europe’s renewable electricity needs, while floating solar is projected to evolve into a USD 69 billion market by 2035, unlocking underutilized water surfaces worldwide.
Energy Storage Moves from Support to System Core
Energy storage is no longer supplementary — it is becoming structural.
Across Europe, large-scale battery and thermal storage projects are breaking ground. Italy has launched its largest BESS project to date, forming the foundation of a multi-gigawatt-hour expansion roadmap. In Germany, industrial-scale thermal energy storage is being deployed to decarbonize heat-intensive manufacturing processes.
Meanwhile, the UK and Australia are both facing grid reform challenges as developers grapple with connection backlogs and evolving long-duration energy storage (LDES) frameworks. These pressures are accelerating investment decisions around flexible capacity.
Beyond batteries, diversification is accelerating:
Flywheel energy storage markets are projected to reach USD 671 million by 2035, offering ultra-fast response capabilities.
Hybrid solar-plus-storage plants continue to dominate new approvals, from Greece to South Australia.
Off-grid applications are reaching new performance records, including a 101-hour renewable energy operation milestone at an Australian gold mine.
Even global corporations are stepping in — with major tech companies acquiring ready-to-build solar-plus-storage projects to secure long-term clean power supply.
Grid, Infrastructure & Security Under the Spotlight
As renewable penetration increases, grid reliability and system security are becoming defining topics.
Several regions are now facing the consequences of delayed grid modernization. In Puerto Rico, the cancellation of major solar projects has intensified concerns around grid resilience, while developers in the UK continue to struggle with reform uncertainty.
At the policy level, the European Union has introduced revised cybersecurity regulations targeting high-risk suppliers within energy infrastructure — signaling that energy security is now viewed as both physical and digital.
Meanwhile, environmental and consumer groups in the US and EU are actively challenging fossil-fuel extensions and carbon-intensive biofuel pathways, reinforcing the long-term direction toward electrification and clean energy dominance.
Technology Evolution Inside the PV Industry
Inside the photovoltaic sector itself, technological refinement continues.
Manufacturers are expected to accelerate adoption of copper metallization in 2026, driven by cost optimization and material sustainability concerns. Research developments — such as symmetric surface structures — are opening new efficiency pathways for next-generation solar cells.
At the project level, environmental factors are gaining attention. Issues like sand erosion on mounting structures are becoming critical considerations for large-scale PV plants, particularly in desert and high-wind environments — underscoring the growing importance of durable system design and long-life components.
Solar’s Expanding Economic Role
Beyond electricity generation, solar continues to demonstrate broader economic value.
Community-scale and utility-scale projects are proving their ability to deliver long-term job creation, local tax stability, and regional energy independence. In multiple US states, solar portfolios are increasingly viewed not just as climate solutions, but as economic infrastructure assets.
At the same time, comparative analysis shows that solar projects can be deployed significantly faster than conventional gas-fired power plants — a critical advantage in markets facing urgent capacity shortages.
Key Takeaway
The energy transition in 2026 is no longer defined by ambition — it is defined by execution.
Solar is scaling faster than any other generation technology. Energy storage is becoming indispensable to grid design. Infrastructure durability, cybersecurity, and system reliability are moving to the center of investment decisions.
For the global power industry, the focus is shifting from whether renewable energy will dominate — to how well the supporting systems, connections, and components are built to last.
At KUKA Cable, we continue to monitor these developments closely — because in a rapidly electrifying world, long-term reliability begins with every connection.
