Global Renewable Energy News – September 2026
Renewable energy continued to advance across global power systems during September 2026, with major developments in solar power, wind energy, and energy storage. Large projects progressed through financing, construction, commissioning, and commercial operation, while expanding renewable energy capacity continued to reshape electricity generation and grid infrastructure worldwide.
September also highlighted the increasingly connected development of renewable generation, energy storage, manufacturing, and electricity networks. New solar and wind projects are being supported by larger storage systems, expanding equipment supply chains, and evolving market and policy frameworks designed to integrate increasing amounts of variable renewable electricity into modern power systems.
This monthly update brings together selected highlights from ECAICO's September developments across solar energy, wind energy, and energy storage. Rather than repeating every development covered in the individual updates, it focuses on significant projects and deployment, markets and industry, and technology and innovation that illustrate the broader direction of the global renewable energy sector.
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| Global renewable energy developments in solar, wind, energy storage, and intelligent power-system technologies – September 2026. |
Renewable Energy Projects and Global Deployment
September 2026 brought major renewable energy deployment milestones across several regions, ranging from gigawatt-scale solar and wind projects to large battery energy storage programmes. The selected developments demonstrate how renewable power expansion increasingly combines new generation capacity with the storage infrastructure required to support more flexible and resilient electricity systems.
1. China Fully Commissions 2 GW Yangjiang Fanshi Offshore Wind Project
China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) fully commissioned the 2 GW Yangjiang Fanshi offshore wind project in Guangdong. The development consists of two 1 GW wind farms with a total of 131 turbines, including 33 offshore wind turbines rated at 18 MW.
The 18 MW turbines feature a 292 m rotor diameter, while the project incorporates a 500 kV intermediate reactive power compensation station to support long-distance offshore transmission. Yangjiang Fanshi is expected to deliver more than 6.6 TWh of renewable electricity annually.
2. Saudi Arabia Advances 1.5 GW / 6 GWh Utility-Scale Battery Storage Programme
Gotion High-Tech was selected to supply battery energy storage systems for three major projects in Saudi Arabia with a combined capacity of 1.5 GW / 6 GWh. The Al-Muwaih, Kahafah, and Haden projects will each provide 500 MW of power and 2 GWh of storage capacity.
The three four-hour battery storage systems form part of Saudi Arabia's first large-scale utility battery programme. Their development will provide additional grid flexibility as the country expands renewable generation and requires greater capability to balance variations between electricity supply and demand.
3. EU's Largest Solar Project Reaches Financial Close
Rezolv Energy secured financing of up to €561 million for the planned 1.3 GW Dama solar project in Arad County, Romania. The financing allows the project, described by its developer as the European Union's largest onshore renewable energy project, to progress toward construction.
Once fully operational, the 1.3 GW solar project is expected to generate approximately 1.8 TWh of electricity annually, equivalent to the electricity consumption of more than 280,000 households. Commercial operation is currently expected during the second half of 2028.
4. Egypt Signs PPA for 1 GW Ras Shokeir Wind Project
Infinity Power and Hassan Allam Utilities Energy signed a power purchase agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company for the planned 1 GW Ras Shokeir wind project in Egypt's Red Sea Governorate. The project will occupy approximately 143 km² within the Gulf of Suez wind corridor.
Once operational, Ras Shokeir is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to supply the equivalent of more than 1.2 million Egyptian homes. The project represents another major expansion of wind generation along one of Egypt's strongest wind-resource corridors.
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| Major renewable energy project and deployment milestones worldwide – September 2026. |
Renewable Energy Markets, Investment and Policy
Renewable energy growth increasingly depends on more than the construction of new generating capacity. During September 2026, government policy, procurement programmes, manufacturing investment, and electricity-market reform continued to influence how quickly renewable technologies can be deployed and integrated into power systems around the world.
1. Thailand Plans Up to 10 GW of Rooftop Solar
Thailand unveiled its draft Power Development Plan 2026, targeting a 50% share of clean energy within 10 years while creating the conditions for significant expansion of distributed renewable generation. The plan includes procurement of up to 10 GW of rooftop solar, supported by smart-grid development and energy storage.
The government also plans to expand direct power purchase agreements and increase household participation in the electricity market. With approximately 3.3 GW of rooftop solar capacity installed by the end of 2024, the proposed programme would represent a substantial expansion of Thailand's distributed renewable energy market.
2. New York Awards 950 MW in First Bulk Energy Storage Procurement
New York State awarded contracts to eight utility-scale energy storage projects totaling 950 MW through its first Bulk Energy Storage solicitation. The selected projects are distributed across New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Western New York, and other parts of the state.
The projects provide between four and eight hours of storage duration and were selected from 46 eligible proposals representing approximately 6 GW of capacity. The procurement demonstrates the growing role of large-scale storage in electricity markets as renewable generation expands and power systems require greater operational flexibility.
3. Germany Advances Reform of Offshore Wind Development Framework
The German government approved a draft amendment to the country's Offshore Wind Energy Act in September, proposing changes intended to improve investment certainty, cost efficiency, and industrial resilience as Germany continues expanding offshore wind capacity.
The proposed framework introduces a two-stage auction model, allows offshore grid connections to be oversized by up to 20%, and would extend the standard operating period from 25 to 35 years. The draft maintains Germany's offshore wind expansion targets while seeking a more consistent development pathway averaging around 3 GW annually. The proposals must still pass through the legislative process before becoming law.
4. SMA Opens More Than 60 GW Inverter Factory in Germany
SMA inaugurated a new highly automated inverter factory in Niestetal, near Kassel, with annual production capacity exceeding 60 GW. The facility represents an investment of approximately €80 million and will manufacture power-conversion equipment for utility-scale solar, battery storage, hybrid energy systems, and other high-power applications.
The factory produces central and string inverters as well as SMA's modular Sunny Central Flex platform, which integrates power conversion and medium-voltage equipment. The investment highlights the importance of power electronics and manufacturing capacity alongside renewable generation and energy storage as electricity infrastructure continues to expand.
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| Major renewable energy market, investment, manufacturing, and policy developments worldwide – September 2026. |
Renewable Energy Technology and Innovation
Technology development during September 2026 extended across several parts of the renewable energy system, from higher-efficiency photovoltaic cells and larger wind turbine platforms to alternative battery chemistries and long-duration storage. These developments show how innovation is addressing not only renewable electricity generation, but also the flexibility and storage required to integrate increasing amounts of variable power into electricity networks.
1. Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Solar Cell Reaches 34.0% Efficiency
Researchers from Soochow University and LONGi developed a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell with 34.0% efficiency using a zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) interfacial strategy. The approach improves the interface between the transparent conductive oxide and self-assembled monolayer, helping suppress recombination and leakage while maintaining efficient charge extraction.
The tandem device achieved an independently certified open-circuit voltage of 2.014 V and retained approximately 84% of its initial efficiency after 2,000 hours. The development demonstrates continuing progress toward higher-efficiency tandem photovoltaic technologies.
2. Vestas Introduces V182-7.2 MW Wind Turbine
Vestas introduced the V182-7.2 MW onshore wind turbine, expanding its EnVentus platform with a larger 182 m rotor and a swept area of approximately 26,016 m². The turbine is designed to increase energy capture at low- and medium-wind sites while retaining the same 7.2 MW rated power as the company's V172-7.2 MW platform.
According to Vestas, the larger rotor can provide approximately 4–6% higher annual energy production than the V172-7.2 MW, depending on site conditions. The first order for the new turbine was announced for a wind project in Sweden.
3. HiTHIUM Unveils 4 MWh Sodium-Ion Battery Energy Storage System
HiTHIUM unveiled a 4 MWh sodium-ion battery energy storage system based on its 785 Ah sodium-ion cell. The system is designed for applications ranging from approximately two to eight hours of storage duration, extending sodium-ion technology toward utility-scale stationary energy storage.
The manufacturer reports a cycle life of up to 20,000 cycles at 70% state of health and a system design life of approximately 30 years. Commercial production is planned for 2027, making the development an important step toward diversifying large-scale battery storage beyond conventional lithium-ion chemistry.
4. UK Marram Project Advances 300 MW / 55 GWh Compressed-Air Energy Storage
EnergyPathways advanced development of the proposed 300 MW / 55 GWh Marram compressed-air energy storage project in the United Kingdom, with Jacobs appointed to support planning and consenting activities. The project is designed to store electricity using compressed air rather than electrochemical batteries.
With 55 GWh of planned energy capacity, Marram could provide more than 100 hours of energy storage at its rated power output. The project illustrates the growing interest in very-long-duration storage technologies capable of shifting renewable electricity across periods much longer than conventional battery energy storage systems.
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| Renewable energy technology highlights in solar, wind, sodium-ion batteries, and long-duration energy storage – September 2026. |
Related Articles
Solar Energy Update – September 2026
Wind Energy Update – September 2026
Energy Storage Update – September 2026
Summary
September 2026 demonstrated the continued expansion of renewable energy across global electricity systems, with major solar, wind, and energy storage developments progressing through financing, construction, procurement, and commissioning. Large projects in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa highlighted the increasing scale and geographic reach of renewable power deployment.
At the same time, markets, manufacturing, and policy continued to evolve alongside new generation capacity. Rooftop solar programmes, large-scale energy storage procurement, offshore wind reforms, and investment in power-electronics manufacturing show how renewable energy growth increasingly depends on coordinated development across generation, storage, electricity networks, and industrial supply chains.
Technology developments during the month also pointed toward the next stage of the energy transition, including higher-efficiency tandem solar cells, larger wind turbines, sodium-ion batteries, and long-duration energy storage. Together, these developments illustrate a renewable energy sector moving beyond individual technologies toward increasingly integrated, flexible, and technologically diverse power systems.
FAQs
Q1: What were the major renewable energy developments in September 2026?
A1: September 2026 included major developments across solar power, wind energy, and energy storage. Highlights included the commissioning and advancement of gigawatt-scale renewable projects, new storage procurement programmes, manufacturing investments, policy developments, and emerging renewable energy technologies.
Q2: Which renewable energy projects were highlighted in September 2026?
A2: Major projects highlighted in this update include China's 2 GW Yangjiang Fanshi offshore wind project, Saudi Arabia's 1.5 GW / 6 GWh battery storage programme, Romania's planned 1.3 GW Dama solar project, and Egypt's planned 1 GW Ras Shokeir wind project.
Q3: Why is energy storage important for renewable energy systems?
A3: Energy storage helps electricity networks manage differences between renewable generation and electricity demand. It can provide energy shifting, grid flexibility, frequency support, and other services that become increasingly important as variable solar and wind generation expands.
Q4: What renewable energy technologies advanced during September 2026?
A4: Technology developments highlighted during the month included a 34.0% efficient perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell, the Vestas V182-7.2 MW wind turbine, a 4 MWh sodium-ion battery energy storage system, and the proposed 300 MW / 55 GWh Marram compressed-air energy storage project in the United Kingdom.