Key Solar, Wind, and Renewable Developments from Week 33 – August 2025
Covering global renewable developments between August 11–17, 2025
Solar Tech & Innovation Updates
- Financial Times reported that global solar investment continues to accelerate, with significant capital flowing into both established and emerging markets. Analysts note investor confidence in utility-scale solar and hybrid solar-plus-storage projects, which are increasingly vital for grid stability and profitability.
- According to PV Magazine, researchers found that soldering flux residues accelerate degradation in TOPCon solar cells. The discovery stresses material quality as the industry pushes TOPCon as the next-generation standard for high-efficiency solar modules.
- PV Magazine also reported that an indoor perovskite solar cell, using a triple-passivation strategy, achieved 37.6% efficiency. This breakthrough highlights rapid progress in perovskites, especially for indoor and low-light power generation where silicon cells typically underperform.
- AP News highlighted the rise of plug-in “balcony solar” systems in urban areas. These compact arrays let tenants and homeowners produce renewable power without rooftop installations, offering a more accessible entry point to solar adoption in dense cities.
- Yahoo News reported that farmers are increasingly deploying solar systems to reduce costs and power irrigation. This trend shows how agriculture and renewable energy are converging, creating more sustainable farming practices worldwide.
- Based on regional energy updates, California commissioned a landmark solar-plus-storage project. The facility strengthens reliability and peak demand coverage, underscoring the U.S. trend toward integrating batteries with large-scale solar.
- Industry reports confirmed that the SolarStratos experimental aircraft reached 8,224 meters, setting a benchmark in solar aviation. The test flight demonstrates how solar power can drive aerospace innovation and lightweight energy applications.
- According to national targets, Ireland remains on course to install 8 GW of solar by 2030. The country benefits from faster permitting, strong investor appetite, and grid planning—reinforcing its contribution to EU renewable goals.
Wind Energy Updates & News
- Tamil Nadu Achieves Renewable Energy Milestone. According to the Times of India, on August 16, 2025, Tamil Nadu met over half of its electricity demand through wind and solar power. Wind energy contributed 123.85 million units, setting a new daily evacuation record, while solar added 43.1 million units.
- Vestas Secures 950 MW Wind Orders in U.S. Based on Vestas' announcement, the company received orders totaling 950 megawatts for undisclosed wind energy projects in the United States. The orders signify continued investment in the U.S. wind energy sector.
- Wind Energy Stocks Surge Amid Tax Credit Uncertainty. According to Barron's, renewable energy stocks, including those of major wind energy companies like Vestas Wind Systems, have surged following the U.S. Treasury Department’s release of new tax credit rules. While the regulations are more restrictive, they were less severe than anticipated, providing a transition period for companies to qualify for credits.
- Offshore Wind Capacity Hits 83 GW Globally. According to reNews, the global offshore wind industry added 8 gigawatts of new capacity in 2024, bringing total installed capacity to 83 GW. This growth highlights the expanding role of offshore wind in the global renewable energy landscape.
- SECI Cancels Offshore Wind Energy Tenders. According to the Economic Times, the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has canceled two significant offshore wind energy tenders due to a lack of interest from developers. The canceled projects include a 500 MW initiative under the viability gap funding scheme and a 4,000 MW seabed lease rights allocation.
- Wind Industry Installs Record Capacity in 2024. According to reNews, the wind industry installed a record 117 gigawatts of new capacity globally in 2024, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Despite policy instability, this growth underscores the sector's resilience and potential for future expansion.
- Wind Energy Faces Grid Integration Challenges in the UK. According to the Times, the UK's aging national grid is struggling to accommodate increasing wind energy generation, leading to significant curtailment costs. During Storm Floris, turbines were shut off to prevent grid overloads, highlighting the need for substantial infrastructure upgrades to support renewable energy integration.
Other Renewable Highlights
- Victoria's Renewable Transmission Plan Faces Criticism. According to The Australian, Victoria's government has unveiled a revised $7.9 billion plan to transition the state's electricity grid from coal to renewable energy by 2035. Critics argue the plan may be economically risky and potentially misleading.
- Zerodha Co-founder Invests in Goldi Solar. Based on The Economic Times, Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath invested ₹137.5 crore in Surat-based Goldi Solar, supporting expansion plans and global market positioning.
- Ampli Energy Launches Renewable Trading Platform in South Africa. According to Wikipedia, Ampli Energy launched a renewable energy trading platform using wheeling to deliver green energy with month-to-month contracts and cashback incentives.
- UN Report Highlights Progress in Renewable Energy Transition. According to the World Meteorological Organization, a UN report highlights significant renewable energy progress since the Paris Agreement in 2015 and underscores growing global economic viability.
- World Bank Supports Türkiye's Renewable Energy Goals. Based on a World Bank press release, financing was approved for Türkiye’s Transforming Power Transmission System Project, enabling increased renewable energy integration and supporting climate resilience.
Policy & Market Shifts
- Regional outlooks showed competitive solar procurement advancing in West and Central Africa. Developers highlight financing hurdles, but falling costs and government tenders make solar more viable across the region.
- According to South Korean trade updates, policymakers press for tariff relief on polysilicon imports to stabilize domestic solar supply chains.
- Chinese industry reports indicated polysilicon prices nudged upward while wafer prices remained stable, signaling balanced supply-demand dynamics in China’s upstream solar manufacturing sector.
Summary
In Week 33 of August 2025, the renewable energy sector saw notable solar advancements, including TOPCon flux degradation research, triple-passivated perovskite efficiency, consumer-level balcony plug-in systems, and expanded utility-scale deployments in California and Ireland. Farmers adopting solar solutions further demonstrate practical energy transition applications.
Wind energy showed strong growth as Tamil Nadu and the UK addressed grid integration challenges, while Vestas secured new U.S. projects and global offshore capacities reached new heights. Other renewables progressed with Victoria’s transmission reforms, Türkiye’s renewable integration projects, and innovative trading platforms in South Africa, highlighting ongoing technological, policy, and market developments worldwide.
Main References and Sources
Pv Magazine | Financial Times | AP News | Yahoo News | Reuters | Regional Energy Updates | Times of India | Vestas | Barron's | reNews | Economic Times | The Times | The Australian | World Meteorological Organization | World Bank
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