Markets & Policy · Day
2026-11-04
17 stories in this section.
Key wind and solar auction looms amid viability concerns
Ireland's RESS 6 auction opens this week with a €110/MWh solar price cap that Solar Ireland argues is too low for current construction costs. This outcome will determine which wind and solar projects can proceed toward Ireland's 2030 renewable targets.
Exclusive: Apartment Complexes Banning Balcony Solar Panels Misapplied Management Rules
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment released a plan to promote balcony solar in 2 million households and issued 37.5 billion won for household solar promotion. This matters because it addresses regulatory barriers in apartment complexes and supports the national goal of expanding distributed solar adoption.
EU sold wind turbines worth 3.1 billion euros in 2025, and the story flips with solar panels: nearly all imports come from China
Eurostat data shows the EU exported 3.1 billion euros in wind turbines in 2025 while importing 8 billion euros in solar panels, 98.6% from China. This trade imbalance highlights the EU's reliance on Chinese manufacturing for solar modules despite its wind export strength.
MPs warn solar farms are putting Britain's best farmland at risk
MPs warned that large-scale solar developments in Britain are putting high-quality farmland at risk, citing a specific project in Cheshire. This debate highlights the critical tension between renewable energy expansion and food security, requiring professionals to consider land-use conflicts in project siting.
ICSC urges renewable energy, battery storage over new gas plants
The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) has urged the Philippine government to prioritize renewable energy and battery storage over new natural gas plants. This policy stance highlights the critical need to evaluate long-term consumer costs and energy security before proceeding with large-scale gas capacity auctions.
United States: FCC Ban Hits A-Share Inverter Sector, Global Expansion Becomes Key to Corporate Success
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has updated its Covered List to regulate foreign-made connected power inverters, causing significant volatility in the A-share market and impacting Sungrow's stock price. This regulatory shift highlights the critical importance of global market diversification and supply chain resilience for solar inverter manufacturers facing new trade restrictions.
Uruguay issues 99 MW solar tender and changes PPA rules for investors
Uruguay's UTE has issued a tender for 99 MW of new solar capacity, marking a return to private development after a decade of state-led expansion. This shift is significant for investors as it introduces new PPA structures and risk allocations that differ from previous market mechanisms.
Photovoltaics in the 2027 Budget Bill Text Transmitted to the Chamber
The 2027 Italian budget bill proposes a 1.2 billion euro grant for small photovoltaic plants and support for energy-intensive companies investing in renewables and storage. These measures aim to reduce electricity costs and promote renewable energy adoption within the national energy framework.
Solar, China Raises Industrial Standards
China's MIIT proposed 2026 photovoltaic manufacturing standards with differentiated efficiency thresholds for TOPCon, HJT, and BC cells. These updates aim to improve quality and address overcapacity in the solar supply chain.
India: Delhi Bets on ULA Model to Meet 230,000 Rooftop Solar Target by 2027
Delhi is adopting a Utility-Led Aggregation model to address execution gaps in its rooftop solar program, which has installed only 15,000 units against a 230,000 target. This shift to centralized procurement and performance-based vendor contracts aims to improve adoption rates and ensure long-term maintenance compliance for residential solar systems.
Budget measure allocates funds for hydropower, photovoltaics, and building energy efficiency
The 2027 Italian budget allocates 1.2 billion euros for new photovoltaic installations and 800 million euros for hydropower maintenance. These funds support renewable energy expansion and provide aid to energy-intensive companies and SMEs.
Romania: AFIR selects 60 solar projects over 1 MW worth 89 million euros across 26 counties
The Rural Investment Financing Agency has selected 60 solar projects exceeding 1 MW for self-consumption by farms and food processors, with a total public value of 89 million euros. This state aid scheme, funded by the Modernization Fund, supports renewable energy generation for on-site use, which is critical for reducing grid dependency and operational costs in the agricultural sector.
Petro's government allocated nearly 28 billion pesos to a solar energy program, but no community received the infrastructure
The EN-Comunidad program allocated 28 billion pesos but failed to deliver infrastructure to beneficiary communities by December 2025. This highlights significant execution risks in government-backed renewable energy initiatives for indigenous and rural groups.
Never before have so many batteries been registered as in October, record after record as the netting scheme approaches its end
October 2026 set a record for new battery registrations in the region, with 63,002 units registered in the first ten months of the year. This surge highlights the urgent need for storage solutions as the netting scheme ends on January 1, 2027.
Lack of demand and prices threaten the solar energy business
The article highlights that declining electricity prices and grid constraints are reducing the profitability of solar plants in Spain. This matters to professionals because it indicates that market mechanisms and grid capacity are currently limiting the financial viability of existing renewable assets.
Greece: Energy autonomy on the islands: Why technology alone is not enough for the transition to renewables
The IEA-PVPS report analyzes 11 islands to show that governance and financing are as critical as technology for renewable transitions. This insight helps professionals understand the non-technical barriers that must be addressed to ensure project success in isolated grids.
Solar up to 1 MW, 40% subsidies in 2027 Budget
Italy's 2027 budget bill authorizes GSE to grant capital contributions of up to 40% for new PV plants under 1 MW, with a €1.2 billion allocation for 3 GW. This measure is reserved for entities accessing the FER X mechanism and requires parliamentary approval and an implementing decree to become operational.