As of March 31, Italy had 3,670 PV grid connection applications totaling 144 GW, according to the grid operator Terna. Ready-to-build (RtB) solar projects increased to 210 applications representing 9.34 GW. Solar accounts for 62.5% of renewable connection applications and 44.64% of the total 322.67 GW renewable capacity requested. Regionally, Puglia leads in number of PV applications, while Sicily ranks first by capacity at 37.39 GW. Approved PV projects reached 1,139 applications totaling 46.49 GW. Integrated storage requests remained stable, while stand-alone storage declined slightly. Meanwhile, data center connection requests rose to 480 projects totaling 82.63 GW, reflecting rising electricity demand from digital infrastructure.

Recently, the State Grid New Energy Cloud published the results of the unified competitive bidding for mechanism electricity prices in Zhejiang Province for 2026. The PV mechanism electricity price was 0.3816 yuan/kWh, with the shortlisted mechanism electricity volume totaling 4.29 billion kWh and 31,024 shortlisted projects. The vast majority of the projects were distributed PV projects, with only 24 centralized PV projects shortlisted.

Major power developer China Huaneng has announced the results of its construction and installation tender covering 2.18 GW of PV projects in Pu'er City, Yunnan Province. The tender includes more than 20 sub-projects with 1,890 MW AC and 2,182.64 MWp DC capacity, divided into 5 packages covering civil works, installation of PV arrays, booster stations, and collection lines, as well as land and environmental coordination. Winning bid prices ranged from RMB 0.657/W to RMB 0.721/W.

Mexico's Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) has launched a consultation on proposed updates to its distributed generation (DG) framework, officially recognizing energy storage within DG facilities for the first time. While maintaining the general 500 kW limit, the draft clarifies capacity measurement (AC vs. DC) for hybrid systems and introduces stricter technical requirements for grid interconnection and impact assessments. It also updates metering and settlement rules to accommodate surplus energy from storage-equipped setups. In a broader push for renewables, President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled a 2025-30 expansion plan in February, targeting 13.02 GW of new power capacity over six years, which includes 4.67 GW of solar PV projects backed by a $4.9 billion investment.

Recently, Shandong, Shanxi, and other regions issued notices to adjust or revoke certain wind power and PV power generation projects, involving the adjustment of PV investment layouts by multiple central state-owned enterprises and state-owned enterprises. Industry insiders pointed out that behind this change are multiple adjustments in policy orientation, market conditions, and corporate strategy. It also reflects that China’s new energy industry has reached a critical watershed on the path toward “high-quality development,” with the industry landscape, technological routes, and development models all undergoing comprehensive restructuring.

Recently, geopolitical turbulence in the Middle East has emerged, bringing a certain degree of impact to the overall overseas PV market. Below, we provide an in-depth analysis of the current Middle East PV market from various perspectives:

On February 23, 2026, TrinaTracker announced a partnership with a Spanish EPC to provide a 360 MW smart tracking system solution for two major PV projects in Spain. The plan includes the delivery of approximately 11,000 sets of Pioneer 1P single-row tracking systems.

[SMM News] Xinbaerhu Left Banner, Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia, Initiates Competitive Allocation Application for 2025 Decentralized Wind Power and Distributed PV Projects Recently, Xinbaerhu Left Banner, Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia, issued the "Announcement on Launching the Competitive Allocation Application for 2025 Distributed PV and Decentralized Wind Power Projects in Xinbaerhu Left Banner, Hulunbuir City," with the total capacity of decentralized wind power projects not exceeding 25 megawatts (MW).

I. Exhibition Scene: When PV Giants Collectively Reveal Their "Hydrogen" Cards As the world's largest PV exhibition, the exhibition halls of SNEC 2025 were somewhat different from previous years. Traditional solar cell and module companies occupied the prime positions, but the booths for energy storage systems (ESS), hydrogen energy, and smart chemical industrial parks were also bustling with activity. More notably, the four leading companies—LONGi, Trinasolar, Jinko, and GCL—also showcased their latest hydrogen energy equipment at their booths. Of course, there were also many gas companies and hydrogen energy enterprises presenting complementary offerings. Three Major Phenomena Addressing Industry Pain Points: Booth Structure Transformation : Trinasolar displayed electrolyzers alongside N-type TOPCon modules; LONGi's booth featured a full-process sand table of "green electricity → green hydrogen → green chemicals" at its core. Signings Data Insights : Among the 23 projects exceeding 100 MW signed during the exhibition, 17 included hydrogen production modules (compared to only 6 in 2024). Integration of Technological Routes : Huawei introduced the "Intelligent Hydrogen Production Energy Management System," achieving, for the first time, coordinated control of electrolyzers and PV inverters. II. In-Depth Analysis of the PV Winter: Why Hydrogen Energy is the Key to Breaking the Deadlock (I) Core Contradictions in the Industry's Predicament Hydrogen energy, however, provides a three-dimensional breakthrough point: Dimension Current Situation Limitations of Traditional Counterparts Capacity Utilisation Rate Global module capacity stands at 1.28 TW Shutting down production lines incurs significant losses Price System 182 bifacial modules priced at 0.78 yuan/W Cost inversion leaves no room for compression Consumption Bottleneck The curtailment rate of PV power generation in north-west China has rebounded to 5.3% The power grid expansion cycle is lengthy Capacity Conversion Valve: 1 GW of PV capacity can be paired with 200 MW of electrolyzers, with a conversion rate exceeding 1:5 (demonstrated at LONGi's Baotou base). Value Amplifier: PV electricity 0.3 yuan/kWh → green hydrogen 18 yuan/kg → synthetic ammonia 4,000 yuan/ mt , with a value-added rate exceeding 300%. Strong Policy Drivers: The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) requires a 40% reduction in the carbon footprint of imported fertilizers, compelling the procurement of green ammonia. III. Practical Pathways for PV-Hydrogen Integration Revealed at SNEC 2025 (I) Technological Coupling and Innovative Breakthroughs 1. Dynamic Response Electrolysis System (a key technology featured at the exhibition) The load adjustment speed of Siemens ENERGY SP system reaches 10% per second (compatible with minute-level fluctuations in PV power) Sungrow showcased an off-grid hydrogen production power supply, maintaining stable energy consumption at 4.3 kWh/Nm³ under fluctuating conditions 2. New Engineering Solutions China Energy Engineering Group released the "Three Innovations in Desert-based Hydrogen Production": 1. Fixed-mount brackets for sandy terrain (reducing costs by 40%) 2. Air-cooled electrolyzers (saving 95% of water) 3. Mobile liquefaction units (resolving transportation bottlenecks) (II) Strategic Insights from Overseas Giants TotalEnergies Launches "Solar-to-X" Initiative : Mandating that all new PV projects reserve interfaces for hydrogen production by 2027 Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power Signs Jilin Project at the Exhibition: 400 MW PV + 80 MW electrolyzer + 200,000 mt green ammonia plant, achieving full off-grid operation for the first time IV. From the Exhibition Floor to the Battlefield: The Hydrogen Energy Transition Matrix of PV Enterprises Comparison of Strategic Layouts Among Top-tier Enterprises: Enterprise Technology Route Project Scale Core Advantages LONGi PEM electrolyzers 12 projects at the 100 MW level 18% lower cost due to in-house equipment development Trina Solar Parallel alkaline and PEM technologies 9 off-grid hydrogen production projects 54.3% efficiency in coupled systems Jinko Integrated PV-hydrogen production units Partnership with Sinopec's distribution channels 40% reduction in operation and maintenance costs GCL Ammonia synthesis technology Secured European orders Leading green ammonia certification system V. Policy Trends and Market Tipping Points New Global Policy Developments in 2025: China Initiates "Hydrogen into Every Home 2.0" : Requiring new chemical parks to be equipped with 15% green hydrogen EU Revises the Renewable Energy Directive: Allowing green hydrogen projects to be exempted from grid fees US IRA Extension of Tax Credits: Up to $3 in subsidies per kg of green hydrogen Critical Data Indicating the Approaching Tipping Point: The "White Paper on the Economics of PV-Hydrogen Integration" released at the exhibition predicts: When the LCOE of PV drops to 0.25 yuan/kWh (expected by 2026), the cost of green hydrogen will fall below 15 yuan/kg (lower than coal-based hydrogen) Conclusion: At the Crossroads of the Energy Revolution SNEC 2025 has become a milestone in industrial transformation—when LONGi replaced its final new module product on display with a 2.5 MW electrolyzer, and when Trina Solar's technical personnel explained hydrogen refueling station parameters to the audience instead of module power, this once purely PV-focused event has transformed into a global roadshow platform for "PV-hydrogen integration." After the exhibition concluded, an analyst from the International Energy Agency commented, "The Chinese PV contingent is creating a new paradigm: they are not just manufacturing components, but building cross-dimensional energy conversion hubs. Hydrogen energy has not only saved the PV industry but also reshaped the entire value chain of clean energy." In this industrial transformation, PV enterprises that were the first to embrace hydrogen energy are evolving from survivors of the PV winter into definers of a new energy era. When sunlight is converted into hydrogen energy to power 10,000-mt-class vessels, humanity truly embarks on the journey of transitioning from the "photovoltaic era" to the "hydrogen energy civilization."

[SMM Flash News] Announcement of Winning Bid Result for EPC of Transmission Line Project for 495MW PV Project of SDIC Yunnan Recently, China Investment Consulting issued an announcement stating that, on behalf of SDIC Yunnan New Energy Co., Ltd., the public announcement period for the winning bid candidates of the EPC general contracting project for the transmission line project of the 45MW Baishiya, 100MW Shiya, 300MW Zhuyuangou, and 50MW Hangshan PV projects in Xundian County, Kunming City, Yunnan Province (Tender No.: 000645-25ZB0466/01) has concluded. The bid winner for this project is Sichuan east China Electric Group Co., Ltd., with a bid price of 10,906,997.47 yuan.