Polysilicon: Polysilicon production rose slightly MoM in April thanks to new production lines.

State-owned Electricity Generation Bangladesh has issued a tender for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the 220MW Sonagazi solar project in Feni district, southeastern Bangladesh. The project was approved last December after receiving backing from the Islamic Development Bank. The selected developer will have 18 months to complete construction, with bids due by Sept. 15 and a bid security requirement of BDT 310 million or USD 2.5 million. IRENA data show Bangladesh’s solar capacity reached 1.146GW by the end of last year, up 300MW from the previous year.

Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy awarded 725MW of new solar park capacity on the second day of the country’s Clean Energy Procurement Auction. The electricity generated will supply the equivalent consumption of more than 800,000 Colombian households through long-term supply contracts. On the first day, the ministry awarded 270MW of solar tied to 100MW of battery storage at a closing price of COP 315.87/kWh. Awards across both days represent about 3% of Colombia’s regulated demand, with 15-year contracts and supply obligations scheduled to start in 2030. Details on the price, contracted daily energy, locations and companies for the second-day 725MW allocation have not yet been released.

TCL Solar, a unit of TCL Technology, has been selected to supply PV modules for the Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap solar and battery projects in Central Queensland, Australia. Developed by Edify Energy, the adjacent projects will together include 600MW of solar generation, equal to 720MWp of modules, and 600MW/2,400MWh of DC-coupled battery storage. TCL said the projects will become the world’s largest solar project to use back-contact module technology, with module efficiencies of up to 24.2%, backed by a 30-year performance warranty and 15-year product warranty. Module installation is expected to begin early next year, with delivery and operations targeted for 2028. Once operational, the projects are expected to generate nearly 1.6TWh annually and support a long-term power supply agreement with Rio Tinto.