Significant Developments in Solar Energy and Renewable Initiatives
Each week, pv magazine compiles crucial news from the solar energy sector, highlighting key developments that have occurred over the last seven days. Recently, Russia's total installed solar energy capacity has reached approximately 3.1 gigawatts (GW), marking a notable milestone in the country's renewable energy journey. Despite this progress, the European Union's (EU) Court of Auditors has expressed concerns in a recent report, indicating that the EU's objectives for establishing energy communities are lagging behind reality. The report suggests that the ambitious goal of creating a renewable energy community in every municipality with over 10,000 inhabitants by 2025 is unlikely to be achieved.
In Morocco, significant strides are being made in renewable energy as the state energy agency collaborates with the national utility company to initiate the construction of the Noor Atlas solar program, which will deliver 305 megawatts (MW) of power. This project, backed by KfW, the European Investment Bank, and the African Development Bank, aims to expand renewable energy sources, bolster the local industry, and create regional employment opportunities. Meanwhile, Wales has become the first region in the United Kingdom to mandate solar panels for new buildings, with updated building regulations set to come into effect in early 2027. This proactive approach is expected to pave the way for similar initiatives throughout the UK as part of the Future Homes Standard.
Renewable Energy Milestones and Future Projections
Volkswagen has also made headlines by launching its first large-scale battery storage project in Salzgitter, Germany, with a capacity of 20 MW/40 MWh. This initiative marks a significant step in the company's strategy to integrate battery production, storage, and energy trading under a cohesive corporate framework. The Netherlands, on a different note, has achieved record electricity production and exports in 2025, generating 132 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity—a 10% increase from the previous year—while renewable sources accounted for 49% of this production, and exports surged by 25% to reach 30 billion kWh.
Japan's recent solar auction concluded with an average final price of $0.029 per kWh for 79 MW of photovoltaic capacity, reflecting the competitive nature of the solar market. Additionally, the 'Battery Atlas 2026' report highlights the consolidation within the European battery market, forecasting that realistic production capacity for early 2026 will be around 1,190 GWh, despite over 2,000 GWh of capacity announced in 2023. Australia is witnessing a remarkable recovery in its rooftop solar market, with 281 MW of new capacity recorded last month, the highest total ever documented for February. Meanwhile, Germany's solar generation is projected to account for 16.1% of its electricity generation by 2025, with solar output reaching 70.1 TWh—a 17.4% increase compared to the previous year.
Tunisia is also making strides in solar energy, having launched a tender for a 300 MW solar plant with 150 MW/540 MWh of storage capacity, which will be situated on 400 hectares near Kébili. In Albania, over 180 MW of solar capacity was added in 2025, bringing the country's total to between 600 MW and 650 MW, propelled mainly by utility-scale installations and increasing interest from the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector. Lastly, GlobalData reports that Russia added around 100 MW of solar power in 2025, raising its total installed solar capacity to approximately 3.1 GW, with projections of annual additions of about 200 MW over the next decade, potentially reaching 5.3 GW by 2035.
As reported by pv-magazine-latam.com.
