Markets & Policy · Day
2026-11-06
15 stories in this section.
Solar Panel Prices in Egypt Rise Amid Dollar Surge (Exclusive)
Solar panel prices in Egypt have risen significantly, with some categories seeing increases of over 70% compared to previous lows. This price volatility impacts the total cost of residential, commercial, and industrial solar projects, affecting budget planning for developers and installers in the region.
Even the Sun Has Become Expensive in Tunisia: Who Is Blocking the Reduction of Solar Equipment Prices?
Tunisian parliamentarians rejected a government proposal to reduce customs duties on solar panels in the 2026 Finance Law, a move that follows a 2024 decision to increase import tariffs from 10 to 30 percent. This legislative resistance to lowering trade barriers creates significant uncertainty for the local solar market, potentially hindering the adoption of renewable energy solutions needed to address recent grid stability issues.
Italy Installs 4.83 GW of Solar Power in First Nine Months of 2026
Italy added 4.83 GW of solar capacity in the first nine months of 2026, with new installations increasingly concentrated in utility-scale and commercial and industrial segments. This shift highlights the growing importance of storage and grid flexibility rules for integrating renewable energy into the power system.
Austria: Dissatisfaction Among Guntramsdorf Energy Community Members in Mödling District
The Guntramsdorf Renewable Energy Community has objected to E-Control's 2027 tariff draft, which reduces neighborhood sharing discounts from 57% to 49%. This regulatory shift threatens the economic viability of local solar sharing models in Austria's Mödling district.
$156 million for Mass. solar projects in limbo after courts say EPA illegally withheld funds
Two federal judges ruled that the EPA illegally canceled the Solar for All program, leaving $156 million in Massachusetts grants in limbo. This legal uncertainty impacts project developers and low-income communities relying on federal funding for solar access.
IEA: Solar PV To Drive 75% Of Renewable Growth Through 2031
The IEA's Renewables 2026 report projects that solar PV will account for 75% of global renewable capacity growth through 2031, with India emerging as the second-largest market after China. This analysis highlights the critical need for grid investment and battery storage to support the rapid expansion of renewable energy infrastructure.
Poland: New technical requirements for energy storage systems to be delayed; insurers already applying their own standards
The decree specifying technical requirements for energy storage in buildings has been delayed, allowing investors to use 2002 regulations for 18 months. This regulatory gap creates uncertainty for designers and insurers, who are currently applying independent, often stricter, risk assessment standards.
Solar in Spain: Wholesale Prices Hit Lows
Spain's wholesale electricity prices averaged 44 euros per megawatt-hour in early 2026, significantly lower than neighboring markets due to high solar penetration. This shift highlights the impact of renewable energy on market pricing and the emerging challenges for grid stability and producer revenues.
Poland: Up to 19,000 PLN from NFOŚiGW for Home Energy Storage: Who Is Eligible for Subsidies and Under What Conditions?
Poland's NFOŚiGW has launched a new program offering up to 19,000 PLN in subsidies for residential energy storage systems, funded by the EU Modernization Fund. This initiative is significant for solar and energy-storage professionals as it creates a direct financial incentive for homeowners to adopt battery storage, potentially driving demand for residential BESS solutions in the Polish market.
Africa Renewable Energy Market to Add Over 120 GW by 2031 as Solar Power Drives Growth in South Africa and Nigeria: IEA
The IEA's Renewables 2026 report forecasts that sub-Saharan Africa will add over 120 GW of renewable capacity by 2031, with solar PV accounting for more than 80 percent of new installations. This significant upward revision highlights the critical role of solar in meeting rising electricity demand and supports strategic planning for energy professionals in the region.
IEA's Latin America Renewable Energy Market Report: Brazil to Add 90 GW, Chile 20 GW as Solar Power Overtakes Hydropower by 2030
The IEA's Renewables 2026 report forecasts that solar PV will become the largest source of renewable electricity capacity in Latin America by 2030, with Brazil and Chile leading new installations. This projection highlights the critical need for grid integration solutions and policy adjustments to address transmission congestion and curtailment issues in the region.
Australia: Federal Labor drops anti-dumping rule after solar industry warns of rising costs and delays
The Australian federal government has revoked plans to impose a 48 percent anti-dumping duty on imported hollow steel tubing used in solar tracking systems. This reversal is significant for developers and EPCs as it prevents immediate cost increases and construction delays for utility-scale projects that rely on imported torque tubes.
India: Government Likely to Introduce Energy Storage Procurement Mandate for Discoms by March 2027
The Indian government plans to mandate state utilities to procure energy storage capacity as part of renewable purchases, with regulations expected by March 2027. This move aims to address evening and night-time electricity shortages while supporting the national target of 411 GWh of grid-scale storage by 2031-32.
Vietnam: Hanoi Spends 158.76 Billion VND to Support Residents in Installing Rooftop Solar Power
Hanoi has approved a resolution allocating 158.76 billion VND to support households with rooftop solar and energy storage installations through 2030. This policy provides financial incentives for self-consumption systems, which is significant for professionals tracking the adoption of distributed solar and storage in Vietnam.
United States: US unveils three-phase plan to build domestic supply chain, aiming to counter Chinese battery dominance; LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI expected to benefit
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a three-phase national battery strategy to build a domestic supply chain by 2030 and secure global leadership by 2035. This policy shift aims to reduce reliance on Chinese manufacturing, creating a new strategic landscape for battery manufacturers and energy storage developers.