[SMM PV News] GREW Solar Secures ALMM Approval for 3 GW G12R TOPCon Capacity

The US Department of Justice has withdrawn its defense of the executive order that paused tariffs on solar imports from Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam), leaving the solar industry exposed to an estimated $50 billion to $70 billion in retroactive duties. If the industry fails to overturn the lower court's ruling, which declared the administration lacked the authority to waive these penalties, developers could face crippling tariffs of up to 200% on the 88 GW of capacity imported during the moratorium, marking a decisive policy pivot toward protecting domestic manufacturing.

Canada deployed 57 MW of utility-scale solar in 2025, with projects in Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon bringing the nation's cumulative capacity to approximately 5.4 GW. While official numbers are pending, the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) indicates that "behind-the-meter" (BTM) installations likely dominated the market, with Alberta alone accounting for roughly 100 MW. Despite interconnection bottlenecks, the sector is accelerating: 750 MW of utility-scale projects are currently under construction, and CanREA forecasts cumulative solar capacity will surge to 21 GW by 2035. This growth is supported by provincial procurements like Hydro-Quebec’s 300 MW tender and a strong focus on Indigenous participation.

The UK government has awarded contracts for a record 4.9 GW of solar capacity in its latest Allocation Round 7 (AR7) at a clearing price of £65/MWh ($88/MWh). This surpasses the previous record of 3.3 GW set in AR6. The capacity is split between 1.87 GW coming online by 2028 and 3 GW by 2029. The lower strike price, which down from £72/MWh in the previous round—is attributed to the extension of Contract for Difference (CfD) terms from 15 to 20 years, which reduced the cost of capital for developers. West Burton Solar emerged as a major winner, securing 479 MW across three sites. This auction is a significant step toward the government's target of doubling solar capacity from 21.5 GW in 2025 to 45 GW by 2030.