On April 1, 2026, the launch ceremony for the Zhongke Liquid Sunshine (Shawan) Green Hydrogen Coupled Zero‑Carbon Liquid Sunshine Methanol Circular Economy Industrial Project was held in Shawan, Tacheng Prefecture, Xinjiang. As a flagship project of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan strategic hydrogen energy layout, the project has officially entered the construction phase. Led by the research team of Academician Li Can of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and developed by Zhongke Liquid Sunshine (Shawan) Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd . , the project will build an integrated zero‑carbon circular economy system centered on wind‑solar power, green hydrogen, and methanol. It comprises three core modules: an annual output of 3.6 million tonnes of methanol, 13.5 GW of photovoltaic hydrogen production capacity, and an annual output of approximately one million tonnes of coal. Compared with conventional coal chemical industry, this model cuts coal consumption by two-thirds while enabling efficient utilization of green electricity and green hydrogen. The project adopts domestically developed oil‑methanol co‑refining technology to produce polyester fiber, supporting high‑value resource utilization in conjunction with Xinjiang’s textile industry. Multiple enterprises have participated in the joint construction, including China National Chemical Engineering Third Construction Co., Ltd. In alignment with national policies such as the West Hydrogen East Delivery pipeline initiative, the project will help upgrade Xinjiang’s wind and solar energy resources. It is expected to create nearly 2,000 jobs, serve as a model for Xinjiang’s green energy transition, and support national energy security and low‑carbon development.

India's Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has launched a tender for 1 GW of round-the-clock (RTC) renewable energy projects under a build-own-operate (BOO) model. A mandatory requirement is the inclusion of energy storage systems (ESS), which can be owned directly or contracted via third parties, and all projects must connect to the interstate transmission system (ISTS). SECI will offer 25-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) to successful bidders, with individual bid capacities ranging from 100 MW to 500 MW. Notably, developers with existing 'untied capacity' from operating or under-construction projects are also eligible to participate and may benefit from extended PPA terms.

Silver is once again at the center of global financial markets, with prices moving in the range of $80 to $90 per troy ounce. For many investors, this already sounds extreme. However, while the majority of investors focus primarily on price and charts, professional investors are looking at something entirely different: the structure of the market.

Indonesia's planned solar energy exports from Batam to Singapore are stalled due to financing hurdles. Developers aim to deliver up to 3.4 GW by 2028 but struggle to secure bank loans because an Indonesian regulation requires export permits to be renewed every five years. This clashes with the 20-25 year certainty that financiers demand, rendering the massive projects 'unbankable'.

Silver prices steadied into the end of the week, with the metal recovering modestly after the sharp swings seen earlier in March.

The Indonesian Solar Energy Association (AESI) has called on the government to establish a robust legal umbrella for its ambitious 100 GW solar power program. During a stakeholder discussion on February 23, 2026, AESI emphasized that regulatory certainty is vital to move beyond "business-as-usual" and attract the estimated $78 billion in investment needed for the program's priority phase. The initiative aims to deploy distributed solar across 80,000 villages via the "Merah Putih" Village Cooperatives (KDMP). Financing institutions, including PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI), echoed these concerns, noting that standardized contracts and tariff clarity are essential to ensure the projects are bankable and sustainable.

According to a message from the National Energy Administration's official Weibo account, 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan. On one hand, efforts will be made to steadily advance strategic and symbolic major projects, safely and orderly promote the construction of the hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, and plan the construction of backbone transmission channels such as wind and PV power bases in the "Three Norths" regions, integrated hydro, wind and solar energy bases in the southwest, coastal nuclear power bases, and offshore wind power bases. On the other hand, the implementation of EV charging network enhancement projects and the construction of a number of solar thermal power generation projects will be carried out.

A US solar industry association projects that the energy storage market will grow by 21% this year, as demand for batteries outpaces policy headwinds. According to a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association and market research firm Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Ltd., battery deployments will increase to 70 gigawatt-hours by 2026, compared to 58 gigawatt-hours in 2025. The report states that the market size is expected to exceed 110 gigawatt-hours by 2030.

ACME Solar Holdings, through its subsidiary ACME Urja One, has signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for a 190 MW wind-solar hybrid project. This project is the first phase of a larger 380 MW hybrid capacity allocation. The agreement mandates a minimum annual capacity utilization factor (CUF) of 50% and requires the developer to meet 80% of daily peak power demands. Backed by financing from Power Finance Corp. (PFC), the ‘assured peak power’ project has already secured grid connectivity for its solar, wind, and battery energy storage system (BESS) components. With this addition, ACME Solar’s total signed PPA portfolio now stands at 5.8GW

Cambodia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy has approved a 30 MW quota for new rooftop solar installations this year, a measure primarily targeting commercial and industrial consumers to manage grid integration. While residential systems under 10 kW remain exempt from prior approval (requiring only notification to local providers), larger projects must now secure explicit authorization from the Electricity Authority of Cambodia (EAC). Currently, solar energy accounts for 18.91% of the nation's power mix, contributing to a total renewable share of 61.11%, which remains dominated by hydropower.