ECAICO Renewable Energy Newsroom – October 2025
In this October 2025 edition of the ECAICO Renewable Energy Newsroom, we explore the latest breakthroughs reshaping the global clean energy transition. From record solar installations and offshore wind developments to major policy shifts, significant hydrogen investments, and grid-scale energy storage growth, this month reflects a decisive acceleration toward sustainable power systems worldwide.
Driven by engineering innovation and resilient markets, the renewable energy sector in October delivered clear signals of maturity— AI-driven grid management, hybrid solar–wind projects, and carbon-neutral fuels are now central to global energy planning. This newsroom edition brings concise insights for engineers, investors, and researchers tracking how technology, policy, and investment trends converge across the renewable energy landscape in 2025.
 |
| Renewable Energy Newsroom – October 2025: key global updates across solar, wind, hydrogen, and smart-grid technologies. |
Related Articles
- ECAICO Renewable Newsroom – September 2025
- Top Renewable Energy Reports 2025
- Renewable Energy Trends & Market Outlook 2024
Solar Tech & Innovation — October 2025
1. Indonesia launches 92 MW floating solar plant
Indonesia began constructing a 92 MW floating solar farm on West Java’s Saguling Reservoir, producing 130 GWh annually and cutting 104,000 tons of CO₂—its largest renewable project to date.
2. Adani Green Energy issues ₹1,050 crore solar contract
Adani Green awarded Bondada Engineering a ₹1,050 crore EPC contract for a 650 MW solar project at Khavda Park, Gujarat—advancing India’s mega-renewable development phase.
3. New EPC guidelines boost India’s solar standards
SolarPower Europe and NSEFI released EPC Guidelines 2.0 for India, aligning design, safety, and storage integration practices with international benchmarks to accelerate reliable utility-scale PV growth.
4. Global markets push solar leadership
The Financial Times reported solar growth across China, India, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa as policy reforms and cost declines drive record additions despite U.S regulatory uncertainty.
5. Renewables outpace global electricity demand
The World Economic Forum highlighted solar’s 31% surge in H1 2025, noting renewables met all new global power demand—underscoring solar’s dominance in generation growth.
6. Masdar wins 2 GW Saudi solar tender
Masdar secured 1,400 MW (Najran) and 600 MW (Ad Darb) solar projects under Saudi Arabia’s NREP Round 6, reinforcing the kingdom’s solar pivot and Vision 2030 targets.
7. Apple expands clean-energy portfolio in Europe
Apple announced 650 MW of new solar + wind capacity across Europe—including a 110 MW solar farm in Greece—to fully match the electricity used by its European operations.
8. India adds record 25 GW renewables in H1 FY26
India achieved a record 25 GW of new renewables in the first half of FY26, driven mainly by solar installations, consolidating its status as a global solar growth hub.
Wind Energy Updates — October 2025
1. Chinese turbine maker to invest up to $2 billion in Scottish factory
Ming Yang Smart Energy announced up to £1.5 billion (~$2 billion) investment for a new offshore-wind turbine blade and nacelle facility at Ardersier Port, Scotland, aiming for 1,500 jobs and floating-wind output by late 2028.
2. UK wind farm shutdown costs billpayers £1 billion this year
UK grid operator paid a record £1 billion in compensation to wind-farm owners this year due to curtailments from grid constraints; on 1 Oct alone, £1.3 million compensation was paid after wind turbines were turned off.
3. Ørsted to cut 25% of workforce amid wind-sector stress
Ørsted announced plans to cut about 2,000 jobs (≈25% of workforce) by end of 2027 as the offshore-wind sector faces rising costs, supply-chain pressures, and regulatory headwinds, prompting a strategic refocus.
4. Vestas Wind Systems shelves planned Polish blade factory
Vestas paused its planned offshore blade factory in Szczecin, Poland, due to weaker-than-expected European offshore-wind demand; the facility was expected to employ 1,000+ workers and serve the Baltic region.
5. EU supports robotic offshore-wind maintenance in the Baltic region
An EU-funded project (ELWIND/RoboticRepair) promotes new offshore wind farms and robotic blade-repair automation in Latvia and Estonia, reducing downtime, boosting turbine uptime, and supporting Baltic supply-chain jobs.
The UK Energy Secretary unveiled £900 million for fixed-bottom and £180 million for floating-wind projects. Industry groups warned the funding covers only a fraction of eligible projects, risking slower pipeline growth.
7. India to launch Tamil Nadu offshore-wind tender by February 2026
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy plans the first offshore-wind tender for Tamil Nadu’s coast by February 2026, following final resource studies, marking a key milestone for India’s wind ambitions.
8. Baltic Power installs substations for Poland’s first major offshore-wind farm
Poland’s Baltic Power, a joint venture between ORLEN and Northland, confirmed installation of both offshore substations for its 1.2 GW Baltic Sea project, advancing Poland’s offshore-wind capacity and local supply chain.
Other Renewables — October 2025
1. Geothermal energy gains traction using abandoned oil & gas wells
Geothermal investments surged in 2025, leveraging decommissioned oil and gas wells to create closed-loop systems for sustainable heat extraction. Over US$1.7 billion has been committed across North America this year.
2. Indonesia plans six geothermal plants with US$2.2 billion investment
Indonesia will construct six geothermal plants in West Java, Flores, Jambi, West Sumatra, and Central Sulawesi, totaling 440 MW of new capacity through a $2.2 billion public–private partnership program.
3. Green hydrogen seen as an industrialisation lever for the Global South
The International Renewable Energy Agency highlighted green hydrogen and derivatives as key enablers for developing nations to establish clean industrial value chains and enhance global energy-trade participation.
4. Synthetic fuels network emerges in Europe, combining hydrogen and biomass
European companies, including Rheinmetall and Sunfire, are collaborating on synthetic fuel production using hydrogen from electrolysis and biomass feedstocks, advancing decarbonised transport and energy-security goals.
5. Portugal’s renewables meet 68% of national power demand
Portugal’s renewable generation covered 68% of power demand during the first 10 months of 2025, with biomass and geothermal accounting for a growing share of the country’s clean energy mix.
6. Industry urges life-cycle focus for geothermal and bioenergy technology
Analysts stress that geothermal and bioenergy projects must address drilling costs, supply-chain reliability, and lifecycle emissions, shifting focus beyond initial CAPEX toward sustainability and long-term operational integrity.
7. Biomass-to-hydrogen research advances via pyrolysis of coffee grounds and date seeds
Researchers demonstrated hydrogen production using biomass blends of coffee waste and date seeds through AI-optimized pyrolysis, improving conversion efficiency and showcasing circular-economy potential for waste-based fuels.
Policy & Market Shifts — October 2025
1. EU to implement price controls for new carbon market
The European Commission announced price-control mechanisms for its upcoming ETS2 (covering heating and transport) from 2027, doubling permit supply if carbon rises above €45 per tonne—aimed at easing cost burdens on member states.
2. Europe shifts electricity trading to 15-minute intervals
On 1 October, the European Power Exchange markets moved from hourly to 15-minute price intervals—improving grid responsiveness and aligning market signals with variable renewable energy output across Europe.
3. EU launches €618 million package to boost African renewables
The European Union unveiled a €618 million “Team Europe” package at the Global Gateway Forum, targeting renewable projects and grid modernisation across Kenya, Uganda, Mauritania, and Nigeria to advance global energy development.
4. ECB flags energy transition as economic risk factor in Europe
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde emphasised that Europe must balance energy affordability, sustainability, and security—warning that missteps in the clean-energy transition pose major macroeconomic risks.
5. U.S. Department of Energy cancels $7.56 billion in clean-energy funding
The U.S. Department of Energy announced cancellation of $7.56 billion in grants for 223 clean-energy projects, citing insufficient returns, raising doubts about policy certainty and investor appetite.
6. India records 25 GW renewables in H1 FY26, led by solar
India added a record 25 GW of new renewable capacity in the first half of FY26 (April–September 2025), mainly through solar installations (~21.7 GW), while wind added around 3.1 GW.
7. Renewables surpass coal globally, reshaping market expectations
According to the Ember Group and other data, global wind and solar generation overtook coal in H1 2025—marking a structural market shift and pressuring fossil-fuel policy frameworks.
Energy Storage & Smart Grids — October 2025
1. Global grid-scale BESS deployments up 36% in first nine months
Nearly 49.4 GW (136.5 GWh) of grid-scale battery energy storage systems were commissioned in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 36% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
2. Operational issues hit returns in one in five battery-storage projects
A new industry report found that nearly 19% of battery energy storage projects experience reduced returns due to technical faults and unplanned downtime, highlighting the need for improved reliability and maintenance frameworks.
3. Spain allocates €840 million for storage projects and passes the grid-resilience decree
Spain selected 143 energy-storage projects totaling nearly 9 GWh to receive funding under an EU-backed program and enacted new grid-resilience regulations to strengthen system stability and support renewable integration.
4. Smart-grid investment surges with AI and infrastructure upgrades
Global investment in smart-grid infrastructure rose sharply in 2025, with artificial intelligence, EV-charger integration, and cybersecurity emerging as top priorities for utilities aiming to support renewable expansion and grid reliability.
5. Nala Renewables expands battery-storage portfolio in Finland
Nala Renewables agreed to acquire a ready-to-build battery energy storage portfolio from Fu-Gen AG in Finland, expanding its pipeline to over 300 MW and signaling growing European investment in grid-scale storage.
6. GCC faces grid challenges amid surging AI and data-center demand
Experts warn that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) grids must adapt to soaring power demand from AI and data centers, requiring long-duration storage, advanced control systems, and new investment in grid resilience.
7. International Smart Grid Action Network holds 30th Executive Committee in Dublin
The 30th Executive Committee of the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN), hosted by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, convened in October 2025 to discuss global cooperation on renewable integration and grid modernization.
Summary
October 2025 confirmed the momentum of the global renewable energy transition. Solar, wind, hydrogen, and storage projects advanced worldwide, while geothermal and bioenergy innovation diversified the mix. With supportive energy policies and smarter grid infrastructure, clean technologies are shifting from pilot to mainstream—driving efficiency, resilience, and sustainability across the renewable energy landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Article
Q1: What topics does the October 2025 Renewable Newsroom cover?
A1: This edition highlights major renewable energy developments across solar, wind, hydrogen, geothermal, and smart grids. It summarizes new projects, policies, and market signals shaping the global energy transition.
Q2: Why is this edition important for energy professionals?
A2: The October 2025 report provides engineers, investors, and researchers with data-driven insights into how clean-energy technologies are expanding worldwide — including trends in AI integration, grid modernization, and hydrogen deployment.
Q3: How does ECAICO contribute to renewable-energy awareness?
A3:ECAICO simplifies complex renewable-energy data into technical yet practical summaries. Through monthly newsroom reports, it helps professionals stay informed about innovations driving a carbon-neutral future.