Renewable Energy Weekly — 2026-07-12
India installed 26 GW of solar and 2.9 GW of wind capacity in H1 2026, marking a sharp acceleration in solar additions. Meanwhile, India's energy storage demand is projected to reach 888 GWh by 2035-36, driven by rapid renewable expansion. The UK approved 1.2 GW of new solar projects including a landmark 720 MW facility, while JSW Energy commissioned 442 MW of solar projects and expanded its locked-in capacity to 32.1 GW.
Renewable Energy Weekly — 2026-07-12
Top Stories
India Installs Record 26 GW of Solar, 2.9 GW of Wind in First Half of 2026
- What happened: India added approximately 26 GW of solar PV capacity and 2.9 GW of wind power capacity during H1 2026, according to research firm JMK Research and Analytics. Solar installations showed particularly sharp growth compared to the prior year.
- Why it matters: This rapid deployment pace demonstrates India's accelerating renewable energy transition and increasing grid capacity additions. The strong solar growth reflects falling equipment costs, improved supply chains, and growing corporate renewable procurement.
- Scale: 28.9 GW combined capacity (26 GW solar + 2.9 GW wind) in six months
India to Require 888 GWh of Battery Energy Storage by 2035-36, IESA Report Projects
- What happened: The India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) released analysis projecting India will need 888 GWh of battery energy storage capacity by 2035-36 to support renewable energy integration and grid stability.
- Why it matters: This substantial storage requirement underscores that solar and wind expansion must be paired with proportional investment in energy storage. The projection signals urgent need for domestic battery manufacturing scale-up and financing mechanisms to support storage deployment across India's power sector.
- Scale: 888 GWh required by 2035-36 (approximately 10 years out)
UK Approves 1.2 GW of Solar Projects, Including Major 720 MW Facility
- What happened: The UK granted development consent orders for three solar projects totaling 1.2 GW of capacity, including a flagship 720 MW facility. The approvals arrived days before the eighth Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction round opened for renewable energy bidding.
- Why it matters: These large-scale solar approvals signal continued investor confidence in UK renewable energy development despite recent policy changes. The timing creates momentum ahead of the competitive CfD auction, which allocates long-term contracts and subsidies for wind and solar projects.
- Scale: 1.2 GW total approved (720 MW largest single project)
Sungrow Launches 3 MW Solid-State Transformer; 30 MW Order Begins Production
- What happened: Chinese inverter manufacturer Sungrow launched a new 3 MW solid-state transformer technology. The company announced a 30 MW order with HEC Technology, with deliveries scheduled in batches from 2026 to 2027.
- Why it matters: Solid-state transformers represent next-generation power electronics for grid integration, offering improved efficiency and grid stability compared to conventional transformers. This commercial deployment signals the technology is moving from R&D toward market adoption in utility-scale solar installations.
- Scale: 30 MW order; product capacity 3 MW per unit
Project Tracker
| Project | Type | Capacity | Location | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JSW Energy H1 2026 Commissions | Solar + Wind | 442 MW (solar) | India | Operational | |
| UK Solar Approvals (3 projects) | Solar | 1,200 MW | United Kingdom | Approved | Link |
| Sungrow 3 MW Transformer Order | Grid Technology | 30 MW | China/Global | Under Construction | Link |
Policy & Regulation
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India: Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) issued draft generic renewable energy tariffs for projects commissioning in FY 2026-27, covering biomass, biogas, hydro, and waste-to-energy facilities. Stakeholder consultation period opened for feedback on tariff structures.
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Netherlands: The Netherlands allocated 773 MW of solar capacity in its 2025 subsidy round. The next subsidy window (SDE++ 2026) is scheduled to open October 27 through November 26, 2026, one month later than the prior year's timeline.
Investment & Finance
- JSW Energy: The Indian renewable energy developer added 1,081 MW of renewable capacity in recent periods, with total locked-in generation capacity reaching 32.1 GW (14.53 GW operational, 13 GW under construction, 4.6 GW in development pipeline). The company also secured 29.6 GWh of energy storage capacity commitments.
Technology Spotlight
Green Hydrogen Activity Accelerates in India: India's green hydrogen and ammonia market continues expanding with growing project pipelines, supply agreements, and policy support. Activity now spans green hydrogen production for industrial applications, clean ammonia synthesis, and hydrogen storage. The sector benefits from falling electrolysis costs and emerging offtake agreements from industrial customers seeking decarbonized supply chains.
What to Watch Next Week
- India renewable tariff finalization: Stakeholder comments on CERC's FY 2026-27 draft tariffs will shape final rates for biomass, biogas, hydro, and waste-to-energy projects
- CfD Auction 8 activity: Track bid results and winning project list from UK's eighth renewable energy Contracts for Difference round
- Green hydrogen supply agreements: Monitor announcements of industrial offtake agreements linking green hydrogen producers to large corporates seeking net-zero supply chains
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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