[SMM PV News] India Hits Record 44.6 GW Solar Capacity Addition in FY2026

Swedish consultancy AFRY has been appointed Owner’s Engineer for a 36 MWp solar PV and 10 MW/40 MWh BESS project at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Developed under Malaysia's SELCO program, the facility is expected to generate 46 GWh annually and offset 35,000 tonnes of CO2. As one of the nation's early large-scale self-consumption solar plants equipped with storage, the project will enhance energy reliability for the airport hub. AFRY's scope includes design review, project management, and BESS commissioning.

A consortium led by Tokyu Land Corporation will invest approximately JPY 30 billion in six grid-scale battery storage projects in Japan, totaling 174 MW. Scheduled to come online between FY 2027 and FY 2029, the projects will be located across regions including Hokkaido and Fukuoka. Battery systems will be supplied by Itochu, a key partner in the multi-firm initiative. This collaborative investment model involving firms like Tokyo Century and Nomura highlights a growing focus on co-managed infrastructure to support Japan’s decarbonization goals.

The NSW Independent Planning Commission has greenlit two major BESS developments: Ausgrid’s 200 MW/400 MWh Steel River East project in Newcastle and Iberdrola’s 270 MW/1,080 MWh Kingswood project near Tamworth. Both were classified as State Significant Developments and approved despite receiving over 50 public objections each. The Commission concluded that these projects are vital for grid reliability, with the Kingswood facility capable of powering 108,000 homes during peak demand periods.