[SMM PV News] Albania Reaches 650 MW Solar Capacity in 2025

Botswana's President Duma Boko has announced an agreement with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to develop a 500 MW solar and battery storage project. According to reports, Oman's NAQAA Sustainable Energy LLC, a subsidiary of the state-owned renewable energy company O-Green, has been selected to design, finance, construct, and operate the facility. Located in the town of Maun within Botswana's northwestern region, the project has a minimum operational life of 25 years and is set for a groundbreaking ceremony on April 16. With only 181.5 MW of operational solar capacity currently recorded, this development represents a crucial step for Botswana to achieve its target of increasing the renewable energy share in its national mix from 8% today to 50% by 2030.

The Dominican Republic and its Unified Council of Distribution Companies (CUED) have unsealed financial bids for a major public tender aimed at integrating up to 600 MW of new renewable generation. A standout feature of this procurement is the strict mandate that all participating utility-scale solar and wind projects, ranging from 20 MW to 300 MW, must incorporate four-hour battery energy storage systems (BESS) to guarantee firm capacity and grid stability. Officials reviewed 20 proposals from qualified developers. Awarded projects are required to become operational within 24 months of signing long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). These PPAs will be settled in US dollars to attract foreign investment, supporting the nation's broader strategy to hit a 30% re-energy share by 2030.

[SMM Silicon-Based PV Morning Meeting Summary] Silicon metal: At the beginning of the week, futures prices saw wider fluctuations driven by market news. As the news was debunked, futures prices weakened again. Yesterday, SMM east China oxygen-blown #553 silicon was at 8,900-9,100 yuan/mt, and #441 silicon was at 9,100-9,300 yuan/mt. Yesterday, the most-traded SI futures contract closed at 8,320 yuan/mt, down 95 yuan/mt from the previous day but up 70 yuan/mt from Monday. Polysilicon: N-type recharging polysilicon was quoted at 34-36.5 yuan/kg. Polysilicon prices continued to edge down slightly this week, but the decline narrowed. On one hand, prices were already approaching the cost lines of most producers; on the other hand, some market "rumors" circulating earlier, combined with unusual movements in futures, gave polysilicon producers more options.