[SMM PV News] UK Secures Record 4.9 GW Solar in AR7 Auction at £65/MWh

GREW Solar has received approval under India’s Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) for 3 GW of manufacturing capacity at its Dudu, Rajasthan facility. The approval covers its G12R bifacial n-type TOPCon modules, which feature efficiencies up to 23.14% and power output ratings of up to 635 W. Inclusion in the ALMM allows these modules to be deployed in government-mandated and open-access projects. The company claims the high-power G12R series can reduce module count by 6-8% per MW, lowering balance-of-system (BOS) costs like cabling and land. GREW plans to expand its total module capacity to 11 GW by late 2026 and is establishing an 8 GW cell facility in Madhya Pradesh.

The US Department of Justice has withdrawn its defense of the executive order that paused tariffs on solar imports from Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam), leaving the solar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.