AGP Executive Report

Hydro & Wind Deal: Canada’s Quebec–Newfoundland accord would unlock up to C$70B for Churchill Falls upgrades plus a 2,700 MW Gull Island hydro project, 2,000 MW of onshore wind, and new transmission—positioning eastern Canada as a major clean power supplier for U.S. demand. Grid Stress & Storage: A South Africa-focused CO2 long-duration battery from Proconics/Energy Dome targets up to 18 hours, aiming to fix the “night-time gap” that shorter storage can’t cover. Colorado River Fallout: Lake Powell and Lake Mead hit record lows, putting hydropower at risk as water nears turbine-stopping levels, with knock-on effects for millions. Policy Push (Renewables): Odisha extended net-metering duty exemptions and BESS STU exemptions, removed a 500 MW wind cap, and added wind-park/captive RE pathways under OREP 2022. Home Solar + EVs: A homeowner’s rooftop solar surplus is being routed to EV charging to avoid export limits—showing how households are adapting as interconnection rules lag. UK Wind Transparency Fight: UK critics say the Met Office removed wind-and-storm analysis from its climate report, raising questions about how Net Zero assumptions are being handled. Nepal Electrification: Nepal’s energy minister urged boosting domestic power use and exports, while an MP pushed “electric kitchens” to cut gas imports and raise clean electricity demand.

Offshore Wind Buildout: ScottishPower Renewables and Masdar hit a major milestone at East Anglia THREE, with all 95 offshore wind foundations installed and turbine work underway toward 1.4GW by end-2026. Grid & Reliability: Ukraine is burying key power substations and transformers to protect them from winter strikes, while Germany’s SuedLink Elbe tunnel link advances to move wind and solar power underground. Hydropower Under Pressure: Lake Powell dropped to a new record low, threatening hydropower and water supplies across the Colorado River system; in Europe, Danube low water is disrupting coal transport and power fuel chains. Policy & Permitting: The Trump administration scrapped three proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor routes, and it also agreed to pay about $4B to offshore wind leaseholders to stop projects. Solar & Storage Momentum: Zambia’s energy regulator approved licenses and construction permits worth about ZMW 18.4B, including 11 utility-scale solar projects, while Sri Lanka plans battery storage additions to manage El Niño-driven generation risk. Market Watch: Dimension Energy secured $857M to expand distributed solar-plus-storage across multiple U.S. states. Regulatory/Legal: India’s Supreme Court asked for responses on nuclear liability caps under the SHANTI Act, as operators and regulators face fresh scrutiny.

Hydropower Under Pressure: Lake Powell and Lake Mead on the Colorado River hit record lows, threatening water and hydropower for 40M people as drought and overuse bite. Grid Reliability & Renewables Policy: The U.S. wind pipeline faces a Pentagon-driven slowdown tied to radar checks, while NSW data centers must source 40% of power from wind—both moves show how permitting and demand rules can make or break clean buildouts. Solar for Households: New rules in New Zealand would legalize plug-in solar for renters and speed approvals; in India, rooftop solar keeps expanding, including a Gujarat plan for free panels for small homes and Tamil Nadu’s added rooftop incentives. Solar Scaling in Emerging Markets: Liberia cleared a 20MW solar license for Mount Coffee under a World Bank-backed program, and Bihar saw 7.7MW commissioned with string inverters under PM-KUSUM. Energy Transition Tensions: California is still paying ~$150M a year to keep a gas plant on standby as solar grows, and the UK oil industry is pushing for controversial North Sea approvals amid net-zero debate. Environmental Tradeoffs: North Macedonia’s Sar Mountain valley starts dismantling unused small hydropower infrastructure to restore river ecosystems.

Hydropower Under El Niño Pressure: Philippine hydropower operators are bracing for drought as El Niño drags reservoir levels, cutting efficiency to about 35%–40% and threatening output. Pumped-Storage Progress: Prime Infrastructure says its Rizal pumped-storage hydro project is on track for early completion, aiming to add 600 MW and 6,000 MWh of storage to balance renewables. Colorado River Crisis: Lake Powell and Lake Mead are hitting record lows, pushing hydropower closer to operational limits and underscoring drought-driven grid risk in the US Southwest. Offshore Wind Setback: Louisiana’s offshore wind prospects dim after RWE agreed to relinquish Gulf leases, citing no path forward under current US policy. Solar Export Boom (UK): Octopus Energy reports nearly £100m paid to households for surplus solar sent to the grid, with heatwaves boosting installation demand. Battery Storage Surge (China): China’s circular-economy push targets closed-loop recycling for wind and solar equipment by 2030, as battery storage capacity keeps accelerating globally. Met Office Transparency Fight (UK): Critics say the UK Met Office quietly removed wind-and-storm analysis from its climate report, raising concerns about how Net Zero assumptions are being framed. Grid Reliability in Drought: Arizona and Colorado River stakeholders continue debating new water rules as hydropower and power reliability face mounting stress.

Renewables Build Momentum: Indonesia plans 30 GW of solar and to phase out 13 GW of diesel-fired power in 2026, aiming for energy self-reliance and cheaper electricity for remote islands. Grid & Storage Reality Check: A U.S. grid snapshot shows solar and batteries dominating new utility-scale additions in 1H 2026, while wind lagged—highlighting how storage is reshaping power planning. Home Energy Push: Tamil Nadu unveiled a rooftop solar subsidy scheme (up to Rs 1 lakh) to cut installation costs alongside the national PM Surya Ghar program. Local Power Politics: Wisconsin Democrats back more wind and solar but leave data-center siting decisions to communities, while Gilbert, Arizona proposes tougher data-center rules over water and power impacts. Climate-Driven Disruption: Floods in Odisha have forced evacuation of 95,000+ people, and NOAA warns a very strong El Niño is likely—raising stakes for water, farming, and energy reliability. Hydropower Risk: Myanmar is set to restart the Myitsone dam, a China-backed project that could flood an area the size of Singapore. Solar Supply Chain: Africa’s solar boom is pushing governments toward local panel manufacturing, but China’s dominance may slow progress. UK Energy Debate: The UK Met Office reportedly removed a wind-and-storms section from its climate report, reigniting scrutiny of how weather data is handled.

Solar & Storage in the Real World: A UK homeowner says winter is the real test for rooftop solar plus batteries plus a heat pump, because cold days reveal whether stored power can carry evening demand. Grid & Market Signals: Greece’s wholesale power is among the cheapest in the EU at €97/MWh, with wind and solar expected to cover 65.5% of demand. Renewables Under Pressure: South Africa is betting on wind and solar to add 105GW by 2039, but transmission bottlenecks could “gridlock” projects. Policy Fight Over Gas: New Zealand’s opposition is escalating its attack on LNG imports, arguing released modelling shows LNG isn’t needed and renewables plus geothermal and storage can cover dry-year risk. Hydropower Milestone: Tanzania is preparing to launch the 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project on Aug. 22, aiming to trade surplus power regionally. Homegrown Solar Projects: Nagaland commissioned a 10MW Hovukhu solar plant and launched education and governance tech alongside it. Offshore Wind Setback: The Trump administration reached a deal to pay RWE $1.2B to abandon US offshore wind, including a Gulf of Mexico project. Climate Risk Watch: NOAA warns a very strong El Niño is likely by late 2026, raising stakes for rainfall and food supplies across Latin America. Infrastructure Reliability: Andhra Pradesh reported record-low transmission losses of 2.60% in 2025-26 while expanding generation, including hydropower and pumped storage. Solar Waste Ahead: A study flags PV waste could reach 402 million tonnes by 2060, but recycling could unlock major material value.

India Energy Push: PM Narendra Modi used Independence Day to lay out a 2047 roadmap spanning 100 GW nuclear by 2047, new reactors, solar expansion, hydrogen and rail electrification, while also accelerating offshore resources under Samudra Manthan—opening nearly 99% of coastal waters from “no-go” to “go-ahead” under a ₹84,084 crore plan. Grid & Renewables Risk: In Curaçao, Aqualectra warned of Saturday night power interruptions as wind generation drops while demand climbs. Hydropower Safety Shock: In Uttarakhand, a tunnel at the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydropower project collapsed after water and debris surged in; at least 7 died with rescue and missing workers still reported. Solar Policy Moves: Telangana notified a grid-connected rooftop solar subsidy scheme capped at 50% (with domestic panel/cell conditions) and Goa launched a up to 50% subsidy for grid-tied rooftop solar. Renewables Market Shift: A new global snapshot says solar overtook wind in electricity generation for the first time in 2025, with solar driving most renewable growth. Regional Power Instability: Central Asia reported simultaneous blackouts across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan after disruptions in interconnected flows.

Grid Resilience & Storage: Moldova approved bids for 170 MW of onshore wind, with a requirement to add 44 MW of battery storage—an early sign that storage is becoming part of new wind capacity, not an afterthought. Distributed Solar Growth: Ukraine’s DTEK Grids connected 2,700+ household solar stations and 14 distributed generation facilities in H1 2026, plus new storage and hybrid setups to boost resilience. Solar Cost Relief: Massachusetts regulators approved a plan to shield solar customers from unexpected connection charges, cutting barriers for new rooftop installs. Heat, Water, and Power Stress: Romania shut down its only nuclear plant after record-low Danube levels, while Europe’s heatwaves pushed solar output up to 17% on hot days—helping grids even as drought threatens hydropower and cooling. Major Outage Risk: Central Asia saw simultaneous blackouts across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, highlighting fragility in interconnected grids. Hydropower Safety: A tunnel collapse at an Indian hydropower project killed at least 7 workers as water and debris surged into the site. Policy & Markets: Turkey reported June licensed generation up 6.51% year-on-year, led by hydropower and wind, while the Met Office controversy in the UK raised questions about how wind and storm data are handled in climate reporting.

Solar on the front line: Ember says Europe’s heatwaves pushed solar output up to 17% on hot days in June–July, helping cover demand spikes of as much as a quarter when air-conditioning surges. Grid politics in the US: USA TODAY reports at least 15% of U.S. counties have effectively halted new utility-scale wind and solar, using bans and moratoriums that slow clean buildout. Hydropower safety under pressure: In India’s Uttarakhand, a water-and-debris surge flooded a hydropower tunnel under construction, killing at least 7 and injuring 14, with rescue teams still searching for trapped workers. Utility turnaround: PNG Power faces a six-month rescue plan targeting losses and theft, with the government linking reliability problems and blackouts to the company’s financial strain. Solar for public services: New Zealand’s Kaikōura schools are set to get solar under a national “solar on schools” program, while Carterton expands council solar at high-use sites. Solar tech rules: India’s MNRE draft raises efficiency and safety requirements for solar pump controllers, including broader operating ranges and battery-ready features. Energy security and water stress: Romania’s Danube drought is forcing nuclear shutdowns, underscoring how low river flows can hit power generation. Renewables finance: Australia marks 500,000 “cheaper home batteries” installed, aimed at storing rooftop solar and cutting bills.

Nuclear Under Drought Pressure (Romania): Romania began a controlled shutdown of Unit 2 at Cernavodă after Danube flows plunged to record lows, leaving the country without about 20% of its electricity and pushing reliance toward wind, solar, and imports. Grid Resilience & Heat (Europe): The Danube’s extreme low levels are disrupting cooling and hydropower across central Europe, with operators scrambling to keep supply steady. Renewables in the Real World (Ireland): EirGrid data shows July hit a record for solar, with renewables at 32% of generation and grid operators working toward higher variable-renewables limits. Solar for Bills (US): DC Water finished a 1.8-MW solar array on a reservoir, aiming to cut costs for 500+ income-qualified households through community solar. Clean Energy Policy Fight (Michigan, US): Gov. Gretchen Whitmer opposed Consumers Energy’s plan to sell 13 hydropower dams, warning private ownership could raise safety and taxpayer risks. Solar in Industry (Canada): Old Dutch Foods opened an energy-efficient PEI facility using solar and geothermal systems to cut fossil use. Space-Based Solar Test (US): Reflect Orbital won FCC approval to test beamed sunlight from a satellite, but scientists are urging caution over wildlife, astronomy, and health impacts. Wind Build-Out (Turkey): Turkey plans its first offshore wind tender in early 2027, targeting 5 GW by 2035.

Wind & Grid Buildout: ACEN is pumping up to P1B into its Quezon North wind project in the Philippines, with Phase 1 at 344.5MW due late 2026 and Phase 2 at 208MW following into 2027-28. Hydropower Dealmaking: JSW Energy and Bhutan’s DGPC signed to jointly develop the 920MW Punatsangchhu-III hydropower project, with DGPC holding 51% and JSW Neo 49%, and DPR work now underway. Solar in the Real World: Victoria’s inquiry backed building-integrated solar for apartments, arguing BIPV can unlock savings where rooftop space is limited. Energy Security, All-of-the-Above: Prime Infra CEO Guillaume Lucci says the Philippines needs “power of all sorts” after the Hormuz shock—reliability and affordability can’t be sequenced away from decarbonization. Climate Stress on Water: India’s Jolaput reservoir water drop is raising alarms for hydropower and farming as rainfall deficits persist. Solar Waste Warning: A new study projects PV waste could reach 297–402M tonnes by 2060, but proper recycling could unlock nearly $1T in value. Policy & Markets: India’s coal mine proposals jumped in 2025, driven largely by Jharkhand and Odisha, even as renewables keep gaining ground.

Grid Reliability & Solar Eclipse Fallout: Britain’s grid operator warned of a sharp shortfall as a near-total solar eclipse is set to crush solar output, prompting “backup” payments to generators and calls for households to cut power use during the 6pm–8pm peak. Energy Storage & Inverters: Huawei rolled out Bangladesh’s first grid-forming smart string inverter paired with large-scale battery storage, aiming to keep renewables stable as solar scales. Renewables Policy: Italy’s final FER X decree entered into force, setting a new renewables support framework through 2030 for solar, onshore wind, hydropower and sewage-gas. Solar Growth & Hybrids: LevelTen says Europe’s PPA market is shifting toward solar-plus-storage, with hybrid deals pricing just above blended PPAs. Hydropower Under Pressure: Austria’s Danube hydropower output is being curtailed by record-low water levels, underscoring how heat and drought are squeezing water-dependent power. Water Stress in the West: Lake Mead hit a new record low as megadrought persists, raising stakes for power and water planning across the Colorado River system. Local Power Planning: Waterloo Region is moving toward a framework for large data centers after residents raised grid and water concerns. Project Updates: Nepal’s 132 kV Dandakhet–Rahughat transmission line is at 89% progress but likely needs more months due to permitting, geology and local disputes.

US Legal Update: A federal judge permanently dismissed major criminal charges against Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani, with the dismissal “with prejudice,” removing a long-running legal overhang for the ports-to-energy group. Grid & Storage: Tucson Electric Power doubled battery capacity at Roadrunner Reserve to 400 MW, storing daytime solar for evening peaks and helping manage extreme heat demand. Renewables Dealmaking: CESC’s renewables arm Purvah Green Power will buy a 1.4 GW operating solar portfolio from ReNew Solar for about $510M, boosting contracted clean capacity as India’s solar keeps cutting midday fossil generation. Hydropower & Climate Stress: Lake Mead hit a new record low as drought persists across the US Southwest, underscoring pressure on hydropower-linked water and power systems. Policy & Planning: Vietnam’s energy leaders say policy and institutional reforms are the key bottleneck for scaling LNG, renewables, and hydrogen as demand rises. Project Pipeline: EDF-led partners reached financial close on Oman’s 120 MW Jaalan Bani Bu Ali wind project, targeting operations in 2027. Local Clean Power: Solomon Islands and Australia-backed work is extending renewable electricity via a new Tina River hydropower transmission line to Honiara.

Solar Eclipse Grid Stress Test: Britain’s Octopus Energy is urging households to cut electricity use during the Aug. 12 eclipse (6–8 p.m.) as solar output could drop by up to 1.3 GW, while Europe’s transmission operators are also preparing for a wider PV dip (up to 9.7 GW in some regions). Grid Stability Push in Kenya: Kenya Power says solar and wind already make up about a third of peak generation and warns that rapid swings raise frequency/voltage risks—calling for more geothermal, hydro, and imports to balance the system. Hydropower Storage Priority: India’s parliamentary panel urges NHPC to fast-track a 20,000 MW pumped storage pipeline to strengthen grid stability as renewables expand. Renewables Dealmaking: Bangladesh’s Idcol is financing a 5.85 MWp industrial rooftop solar project; India’s CESC/Purvah Green is buying 1.4 GWp of solar assets from ReNew for about $509M; and the Philippines’ Yuchengco group completes its buyout to take full control of PetroWind’s 49.56 MW wind portfolio. Long-Duration Storage Spotlight: Flow batteries get renewed attention as the next step beyond short-lived lithium-ion for multi-day renewable backup. Water-Energy Reality Check: Lake Mead hits a new record low as drought deepens across the U.S. Southwest, underscoring how water scarcity can tighten power supplies.

Solar M&A in India: RPSG’s CESC arm Purvah Green Power will buy ReNew Solar’s 1.4 GWp operating solar portfolio for ₹4,859 crore (₹48.6bn enterprise value), with 90%+ tied to long-term SECI PPAs—an instant scale-up plus more storage in the pipeline. US legal overhang on solar: A US judge dismissed with prejudice the Adani Group bribery/fraud case after the DOJ dropped it, citing jurisdictional and proof challenges tied to alleged solar contract conduct in India. Hydropower engineering milestone: China’s Datang Zhala impulse hydropower project in Xizang completed rotor hoisting for the world’s largest impulse unit (500 MW), a step toward commercial operation and cleaner power transmission. Grid stress + gas turbine demand: JPMorgan says global gas turbine orders hit a record quarter as data centers and electrification drive demand, while turbine shortages and higher costs raise pressure on power planning. Data centers vs power reality: In the Philippines, officials say hyperscale AI firms passed on New Clark City largely due to insufficient electricity supply, despite incentives. Hydropower disruption from hazards: Nepal’s Gharkhola hydropower plant was damaged by a dry landslide, leaving one missing and power production disrupted. Renewables policy push (Malaysia): Malaysia approved 42 FiT projects (biogas, biomass, small hydropower) totaling 331.355 MWp, aiming to spur investment and local supply-chain jobs. Water-energy resilience (Qatar): Kahramaa launched a 2026 customer satisfaction survey covering electricity and water service quality from July to November.

Solar M&A in India: RPSG’s Purvah Green Power will buy Renew Solar Power’s 1.4 GWp operating solar portfolio for INR 4,859 crore, with 90%+ of capacity under long-term SECI contracts—an immediate scale-up toward 10 GW renewables. Grid resilience for eclipse season: Europe’s operators are bracing for Wednesday’s solar eclipse, with Portugal’s REN estimating a 450 MW solar drop (about 7% of consumption) and calling for extra hydro and/or thermal reserves; the UK’s Octopus is urging households to cut evening power use to avoid firing up gas plants. Batteries replacing diesel: Malawi commissioned its first battery storage system (20 MW/40 MWh) to stabilize the grid and unlock more renewables, while also bringing a 10 MW Salima solar plant online. Hydropower risk from extreme weather: India’s NHPC told a parliamentary panel that the Sikkim glacial flood caused 3,770 million units of hydropower generation loss over two years, prompting early-warning upgrades. Local power-policy friction: Iowa’s Linn County rejected rezoning that would have allowed large data centers near a nuclear plant, citing community concerns over water and power. Energy security in Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka is set to connect 16 substation-based battery storage systems (10 MW each) to the grid in early September to cut nighttime diesel generation. Water stress watch: Lake Mead hit its lowest level since it was filled nearly 90 years ago, underscoring pressure on Colorado River hydropower and supply.