[SMM PV News] Rotterdam Advances 96 MW Floating Solar Project

New figures from Austria's energy regulator, 'E-Control', reveal the country installed 1,634 MW of new 'PV' capacity in 2025, a 22% decline from 2024, bringing its cumulative capacity to 9.9 GW. 'PV Austria' warned that annual additions must consistently hit 2 GW to reach the nation's 100% renewable electricity goal by 2030. Industry experts blame the slowdown on the government's early abolition of the 'VAT' exemption for small rooftop systems, 'stop-and-go' funding policies, and grid expansion delays. To revive the market, installers are urgently calling for streamlined storage regulations, proportionate fire safety rules, and dynamic grid fees to support a combined solar-plus-storage approach.

Hongyuan Green Energy has signed a restructuring investment agreement to acquire control of Wuxi Suntech Solar Power. Utilizing a 'new entity plus asset transfer' structure, Hongyuan will invest CNY 630 million for a 63% stake in the newly formed 'New Suntech', effectively isolating the original entity's massive historical debts. The acquisition grants Hongyuan access to Suntech's established global brand, international sales channels, and 7.5 GW of combined cell and module manufacturing capacity, which it plans to upgrade to n-type 'TOPCon' technology.

A surge in utility-scale solar deployment has driven the UK's total photovoltaic capacity to a provisional 22 GW by the end of February 2026. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero ('DESNZ'), the country added 2.5 GW of capacity over the past 12 months. This rapid growth is largely fueled by the commissioning of large-scale plants (25 MW or greater) supported by the government's fifth and sixth Cfd allocation rounds. Meanwhile, small-scale rooftop installations also set new records, reaching 6.3 GW of total capacity. The industry expects this momentum to continue as the seventh 'CfD' round expands the utility-scale pipeline, while upcoming household efficiency grants and rooftop mandates for England and Wales promise further growth in the residential sector.