AGP Executive Report

Renewables Policy Shock (Serbia): More than 60 Serbian power plants have lost their 12-year privileged feed-in tariff status since 2022, led by small hydropower (28 plants, ~23 MW) and a wave of solar (27 plants, 3.6 MW), raising fresh questions about how these assets will compete without guaranteed prices. Grid + Power Quality Reality Check (Philippines): Solaren says many factory losses aren’t from lack of solar supply, but from voltage instability, harmonics, and phase imbalance—pushing industry to audit power quality before adding generation. EV Charging Push (Namibia): Namibia’s Works and Transport ministry launched a pilot EV charging station at its Windhoek HQ, aiming to map a nationwide charging network. Solar/Wind Legal Win (US): A federal judge struck down IRS guidance that tightened when wind and solar projects “begin construction,” a key eligibility trigger for expiring tax credits. Corporate Clean Power Deals (Malaysia/El Salvador): DayOne signed for 1.5GW solar plus 2.2GWh storage via TNB; El Salvador advanced a Kuwait-backed solar plant expected to generate ~20,000 MWh annually. Energy Security via LNG (New Zealand): NZ selected two bidders for an LNG import terminal to start in 2028, targeting winter backup as gas supply declines. Business Tariff Warning (South Africa): Consumer-facing advice in SA flags that renewable tariffs can still cost more at night, especially for firms needing 24/7 power.

Middle East Energy Security: With Strait of Hormuz disruption driving “me-first energy,” the world is accelerating domestic supply and renewables—while oil and gas prices spike on renewed conflict risk. Grid & Storage: Australia’s fast-growing battery fleet is helping decouple local power prices from global shocks, and BMI warns grids are the next bottleneck for renewables unless investment and flexibility keep up. Battery Market Signals: CATL expects stationary energy storage to hit 50% of its 2030 sales, underscoring the shift from EV-only demand. Renewables Buildout in Asia & Africa: Philippines offshore wind bidders narrowed to nine for infrastructure evaluation; India’s rooftop solar keeps expanding via captive and commercial projects; and Africa’s solar power pools face rising synchronization risk as climate change makes low-output days line up. Project Finance & Policy: Italy won €23bn EU-approved state aid for renewables; Maharashtra’s BESS fight continues after APTEL challenged a post-bid condition, while the state also moved ahead with RTC renewable procurement. Local Solar for Industry: Ondo’s “Lucky Light” plan targets solar-plus-storage for 1,000 businesses, and Uttar Pradesh sees its first 15 MWp captive solar for manufacturing. Data Centers & Power: Lesotho is in talks for a 1.2GW hydropower plus AI data center project, and Equinix faces Cape Town scrutiny over water and environmental impacts.

Energy Security & Policy: Bangladesh’s special parliamentary committee is pushing a 12-point fix for fuel shocks—bigger strategic reserves (at least three months), diversified import sources, and full automation plus digital monitoring of the fuel supply chain, alongside faster pipeline and refinery expansion. Renewables Incentives: A new national budget in Bangladesh is set to add tax breaks for solar—full income-tax exemption for solar earnings until 2035 and a 5% rebate tied to electricity bills—plus reduced advance tax for EVs. Grid Stress Drives Solar Spending: Nigeria’s federal MDAs reportedly spent N220 billion on solar installations in 15 months as the grid falters and tariffs and fuel costs climb, with agriculture the biggest spender. Solar for Water Access: Tonga’s solar-powered desalination project is delivering up to 4,300 litres/day of fresh water to Hunga and Matamaka, cutting reliance on costly boat deliveries. EV Charging Build-Out: Nepal’s EV push needs at least 10,000 charging stations by 2030, up from about 1,000 today, with major gaps in infrastructure and skills. Data Centres Strain Power: Thailand is weighing new generation capacity as data-centre demand threatens reserve margins, while intermittent renewables can’t be counted on for reliability. Cross-Border Power & Integration: ADB is preparing a $10m technical grant to kick-start its Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative, aiming to expand cross-border electricity trade and speed renewable integration. Tech Watch: China’s “Zhuri” space-based solar effort reports kilowatt-level wireless power transfer to multiple moving targets, advancing the “space power bank” concept.

Bangladesh Energy Security: A special parliamentary committee urged Bangladesh to expand strategic fuel reserves to at least three months, diversify import sources, and roll out full automation and digital monitoring across the fuel supply chain, alongside tougher anti-smuggling rules and faster LNG/renewables buildout. Renewables Targets: Bangladesh also reiterated a plan to reach 30% of electricity from renewables by 2040, with policy support for grid solar, rooftop solar, floating solar, and private-sector participation; meanwhile, Malaysia is on track to beat its 2040 renewables target by 2031. Regional Power Diplomacy: India and Nepal moved to operationalise cross-border digital payments, while Afghanistan’s CASA-1000 transmission project continues toward moving 1,300MW of Central Asian hydropower to South Asia. Grid & Storage Reality Check: Estonia saw sharp electricity price swings tied to weaker winds and declining hydropower support, highlighting how storage and dispatchable backup shape renewable economics. Water Stress vs Clean Tech: Chile’s megadrought is colliding with data center growth, with activists warning wetlands are drying as server farms expand. Energy Politics & Tradeoffs: Trump’s wartime powers are funding coal plants and an export terminal, even as EU LNG imports keep falling and some countries pivot toward more gas demand reduction. On-the-ground Solar: Odisha inaugurated a 485 kWp rooftop solar plant at Lok Bhavan, adding to a 635 kW campus total. Hydropower Ecology: China is stepping up fish restoration and river connectivity in the upper Yangtze to protect biodiversity alongside hydropower development.

Energy Security & Oil: India is revisiting the Ashoknagar oil field in West Bengal, aiming to boost domestic crude output and blunt the impact of West Asia supply shocks. Climate Risk & Power: Asia braces for drought and heat stress tied to El Niño, with knock-on effects for agriculture, water, and power grids. Solar in Practice: The Philippines’ PRO-8 in Leyte switched on a 48-kW solar system to cut electricity costs and improve resilience for public safety operations. Grid Storage Politics: In Washington state, Snoqualmie residents protest a proposed large battery facility, pushing a moratorium as communities worry about fire risk and siting impacts. Hydropower Pipeline: Pakistan’s water and hydropower funding debate heats up as officials warn a low PSDP allocation could delay major dams and reservoirs. Policy Push for Renewables: Bangladesh civil society urges a near-zero tax on renewable equipment and a Tk 25,000 crore green revolving fund to speed clean energy deployment. Regional Clean Energy Wins: Zimbabwe’s Centragrid Solar Plant adds 25 MW to the grid, while Abu Dhabi reiterates its push for cleaner power and water systems by 2035. US Gas Watch: US natural gas prices slip as output rises and LNG export maintenance lingers, even as summer demand expectations build.

Solar in public services: Philippines’ PRO-8 police office in Palo, Leyte switched on a 48-kW rooftop solar PV system as the first phase of a multi-stage solar power energization plan aimed at cutting electricity costs and emissions. Grid-scale storage procurement: India’s APTEL quashed Maharashtra’s MERC approval for a 2,000 MW/4,000 MWh BESS tender, saying a post-bid Ministry of Power condition materially changed tender terms and undermined competitive bidding. Hydrogen corridor push: Dutch gas infrastructure operator Gasunie backed Oman’s hydrogen trade corridor to Northwest Europe, including work to build Oman’s hydrogen transport network and share CCUS know-how. Renewables for affordability: Liberia commissioned its first grid-connected 20 MWp solar plant, cutting power costs from 28 cents to 3 cents per unit. Energy security under pressure: A new Colorado River warning says Lake Mead and Lake Powell could reach “system crash” conditions unless water use drops fast. Fuel-price squeeze: US boaters are adjusting summer plans as gasoline and diesel costs stay elevated amid geopolitical shocks. AgriPV momentum: Odisha is scaling climate-resilient agrivoltaics, launching reports and planning tools to pair farm income with solar generation.

Fuel Costs & Summer Boating: U.S. boaters are weighing higher gasoline and diesel prices amid Iran-war pressure, with ethanol-free fuel often costing far more than regular. Hydropower Contracting: Hindustan Construction Company won a Rs 127 crore Bhutan hydropower contract for Wangchhu diversion works, a sign of continued large-hydro momentum in Bhutan. Clean-Energy Consumer Push: Pakistan launched its first consumer-focused One-Stop-Shop for solar and other renewables, aiming to simplify financing and trusted provider choices. Coal Accountability: Telangana’s BRS leader KTR demanded a probe into alleged disappearance of ~40 lakh tonnes of coal worth Rs 1,600 crore from Singareni. Data Centers vs Water: Fayetteville, Arkansas drafted tighter data-center rules to manage water use and prioritize residents, citing state limits on outright bans. Storage Tech Spotlight: Cyprus-based testing is set for underwater compressed-air storage that claims big electricity bill savings. Colorado River Planning: With no seven-state deal, federal managers will use a 10-year framework with updates every two years. Solar Procurement: India’s Engineering Projects India floated an EPC tender for up to 250 MW grid-connected solar in Rajasthan.

Wind power buildout: GE Vernova launched a 3.8 MW onshore turbine in India and won a 100 MW order from Powerica for a Gujarat project, with ALMM certification and Pune manufacturing expansion in the mix. Hydropower momentum: Nepal clarified Budhigandaki hydropower will be developed as a multi-purpose project (power plus irrigation, drinking water, fisheries and ecotourism) with workstreams moving in parallel toward a 2034 target; Bhutan’s Wangchhu hydro project also advanced with HCC winning a ₹127 crore diversion works package. Grid + deals: Burlington Electric Department signed new hydro PPAs covering Maine and Connecticut output, including REC-linked contracts tied to the Skelton and Wyre Wynd facilities. Solar + industry: Scotland’s Monklands hospital replacement project won planning consent for an 11-acre ground-mounted solar farm aimed at net-zero construction and operations. Policy + taxes: The Philippines’ BIR updated tax treatment for power-sector fees, excluding Lifeline Subsidy and Green Energy Auction Allowance from VAT and withholding to avoid double taxation. Energy politics: Trump announced $700M in federal support to revive coal plants and expand export capacity, pushing back against renewables. Data centers + power: Microsoft signed a preliminary land deal in Finland’s Vaasa region for a potential data center, while China showcased an underwater AI data center powered largely by offshore wind.

Wind Power Grid Delays: India’s CERC granted JSW Renew a 30-day extension to inject infirm power from 10 wind turbines (27 MW) in Tamil Nadu after a critical imported sub-controller failure stalled PPC testing. Climate Risk for Farmers: Britam paid Sh97.3m in insurance claims in 2025, supporting 402,681 farmers and pastoralists across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as drought and erratic weather bite. Hydropower Policy Shake-Up: Nepal’s budget reforms aim to restructure the electricity authority and open PPA and trading to private players, but hydropower firms warn the “take or pay” and PPA rules lack clarity. El Niño Watch: The WMO warns El Niño is likely to form soon, with Asia facing hotter, drier conditions that could stress agriculture, power grids and water supplies. Rooftop Solar Momentum: J&K’s PDD placed 2nd nationally in PM Surya Ghar implementation, reflecting rapid progress on rooftop installations. Data Centers Meet Power Reality: A new push for offshore, wind-cooled underwater AI data centers highlights how quickly power demand is reshaping energy planning. US Coal Push: Trump announced nearly $700m to restart and build coal power assets, drawing fresh debate as renewables expand.

Solar & Storage Buildouts: Electrica SA signed a €36M deal for a ~79 MW solar plant plus energy storage in Bihor County, adding to Europe’s push for firming renewables. Grid Rules Catch Up to EU Standards: Albania approved a new draft electricity law aimed at aligning with EU rules, including storage and new ways for self-consumers to aggregate. Renewables in the Mix: Portugal’s May renewables covered 61% of demand, with hydropower leading (32%) and wind close behind (27%). Policy Shift for Rooftops: Haryana says it will offer rooftop solar to households up to 1 kW without bank guarantees, aiming for “nearly zero” bills. Solar for Public Infrastructure: Northeast Philadelphia Airport is seeking approval for a 1.5 MW on-site solar farm with a 25-year power purchase agreement. Market & Reliability Tensions: North Carolina advanced data-center guardrails while blocking Duke from retiring coal or gas without permission for new nuclear—showing how AI-driven demand is colliding with power-planning politics. Offshore Wind Meets Marine Science: Studies warn that electromagnetic fields from offshore wind cables can affect sharks and rays, potentially changing predator-avoidance behavior. Hydropower Financing: Nepal’s Super Tamor 166 MW hydropower project secured NPR 19B in bank financing under a signed financial management agreement.

Grid & reliability: Norway and Sweden brace for higher summer power prices as low hydro reservoir levels and nuclear outages tighten supply. Storage bottleneck: Holy Cross Energy hit a milestone with 92% renewables usage Jan–Apr and 100% for March, but says feasible batteries and member behavior changes are key to reaching year-round 2030 goals. Data centers meet policy: North Carolina advanced a data center bill that pushes “ratepayer protection” and nudges nuclear expansion, while Vote Solar urges rules to make data centers add clean power, not just demand. Renewables under stress: A study warns quiet stretches of low wind and cloudy skies can knock out wind and solar together for weeks in China. Market design for solar: Nigeria’s regulator launched net billing so eligible solar customers can become “prosumers” and sell surplus to the grid. Project pipeline & jobs: India’s clean energy added ~6.6 lakh jobs in four years, led by rooftop solar, but women are only 11% of the workforce. Regional power integration: The World Bank says West Africa’s power pool is expanding cross-border trade and electricity access, with thousands of km of transmission built.

Solar + storage policy: Malaysia’s LSS6 solar tender is set to open this year, with new projects required to pair with Battery Energy Storage Systems to stabilize grids as renewables scale. Offshore wind legal fight: New York and six other states sued the Trump administration over a nearly $1B deal to end TotalEnergies’ offshore wind leases, arguing it’s “pay-not-to-play” that swaps clean power jobs for fossil fuel spending. Corporate solar deals: Global Switch signed a 10-year UK corporate PPA with Drax for 55GWh/year of solar, while Vietnam’s first grid-connected direct power purchase agreement went live for a 49MW solar plant feeding a Samsung factory with ~70GWh annually. Grid-scale batteries: Europe’s storage buildout is accelerating fast, with EU capacity hitting 40GW/77GWh by end-2025 and forecasts to surge by 2030; Sri Lanka also plans a major BESS rollout across substation sites to support higher solar and wind. Local solar wins: Cebu City broke ground on a P12M rooftop solar project targeting 30% of two government buildings’ electricity use, and Zimbabwe’s Millennium Heights added a 1MW solar-powered car park to cut grid dependence. EV charging push: Washington state approved 754 new public EV chargers, prioritizing underserved areas.

Offshore Wind Legal Fight: Seven Democratic-led states, led by New York AG Letitia James, sued the Trump administration over a March deal paying TotalEnergies about $1 billion to abandon offshore wind leases—arguing it violates federal law and harms jobs, grids, and climate goals. Hydropower Buildout: In India’s J&K, NHPC began major underground works for the 240 MW Uri-I Stage-II project after the first controlled blast, aiming to ease winter power shortages. Wind for Shipping: Hyundai Heavy Industries and BAR Technologies partnered to integrate BAR’s WindWings wind-assisted propulsion into new vessels, targeting scalable deployment. Renewables in Vietnam: Vietnam’s Gia Lai province is pulling in new wind investment, including the Chu Pong project and other 2026 selections, as wind capacity expands. Solar for Energy Access: Navajo Transitional Energy Company added nine home solar installs under its Navajo Sun Power! program, bringing first-time electricity to more households. Grid Stress From AI: A new report warns AI data centers are nearing power limits, with chip output potentially outpacing what grids can supply. Climate Extremes Watch: The WMO says El Niño is forming with high odds of lasting through at least November, and climate change could intensify impacts. Local Solar Adoption: Pakistan’s rooftop solar push in Delhi continues to grow, with 23,000+ installations generating 420 MW for hundreds of thousands of households.

Offshore Wind Legal Fight: New York AG Letitia James and a coalition of states sued the Trump administration over a deal that cancels a major offshore wind lease and pays TotalEnergies about $1B, with the company required to shift investment to oil and gas—states argue it threatens jobs, grids, and climate goals. Solar Rollouts: MetLife Bangladesh installed a 104 kW rooftop solar system targeting up to 10% renewable electricity; in the Philippines, Eastern Visayas police began using a 48 kW solar PV setup to cut costs and push renewables. India Solar Procurement & Finance: Uttar Pradesh set tariffs for 165.5 MW solar under KUSUM feeder-level solarization; NTPC REL invited EPC bids for 300 MW grid solar in Rajasthan; and IREDA reported Q4 revenue up 14% as loan disbursements rose. Grid-Scale Clean Power Growth: California solar generation climbed nearly 20-fold since 2012 while wind rose 63%, with fossil use falling. Climate Risk Warning: The UN and WMO warned El Niño could intensify heat, disrupt hydropower and strain electricity demand for cooling. Regional Energy Integration: Kyrgyzstan signaled interest in joining the Central Asia–Azerbaijan Green Energy Corridor to expand renewable power links.

Solar for public services: Zimbabwe commissioned the New Glovers 10MW solar plant and says power gains cut electricity imports 44% in 2025, while a 350-kilowatt UBH solar project in Bulawayo is now powering ICU and maternity wards. Grid buildout for renewables: Nepal is moving ahead with a 400 kV West Seti transmission line via a PPP to evacuate hydropower, and India’s Andhra Pradesh unveiled an INR 22,000 crore Green Energy Corridor to integrate 18 GW of renewables and modernize transmission. Wind tech and lifecycle concerns: AirPlus Renewables plans to launch its EDGEWIND Tech turbine for decentralized wind generation, while research warns offshore wind could create major waste problems as blades reach end-of-life. Policy and market signals: South Africa says it’s on track for its 2030 emissions target with Just Energy Transition funding, and New Mexico’s PNM is seeking regulators’ approval for 1,600 MW of renewables while also asking to extend natural gas. Deal watch: Drax agreed to buy UK solar-focused Bluefield Solar Income Fund for £561 million, adding a 0.9 GW renewables portfolio. Local siting fights: Michigan residents are pushing back on a battery storage project over noise and pollinator impacts. Hydropower contracts: Burlington Electric signed new Maine hydropower agreements to source renewable power.

Nepal Power Push: Nepal’s FY 2026/27 budget targets an extra 1,040 MW of electricity, with 670 MW from hydropower and 370 MW from solar, plus funding to speed major projects like Rahughat and Upper Modi series. EV Charging Rollout: Philadelphia plans 435 new public EV chargers via a partnership with PositivEnergy, aiming for more accessible, reliable charging across neighborhoods. Grid-Scale Storage Debate: AES is proposing the Jewelflower battery storage project in California’s Coyote Valley to store solar for night use, but opponents warn about farmland and wildlife impacts. Renewables in South Asia: Sunsure Energy commissioned a 105 MWp solar plant in Uttar Pradesh tied to Green Energy Corridor-II, while Adani Hybrid Energy operationalized a 50 MW solar project in Gujarat. Green Corridors Diplomacy: At the Baku Energy Forum, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan discussed expanding renewable cooperation and cross-border electricity corridors. Resilience by Design: Louisiana volunteers are expanding “Community Lighthouse” hubs—solar-plus-battery sites meant to keep power during outages. Data Center Meets Wind: A proposed £2bn Borders data centre in Scotland says it will use constrained local wind power, drawing petitions over environmental disruption.