【SMM News Flash】China–Laos 500 kV Link Passes 1 Billion kWh in Cumulative Transfers

The clearest feature of this week was that holiday-related demand weakness and renewable generation jointly depressed off-peak prices, while peak-hour supply-demand deviations continued to produce sharp price spikes.

On October 8, HEXA Energy Services and Oyabe City in Japan’s Toyama Prefecture held a joint briefing on a grid-scale battery project in Ishinada. The facility will have 50 MW of AC export capacity and is scheduled to begin commercial operation in May 2028. Shirokuma Power will provide balance-of-plant EPC services. The project secured an award in Japan’s first Long-Term Decarbonization Power Source Auction. A pre-construction ceremony took place on September 6. The battery will charge during renewable electricity surpluses and discharge during shortages.

On October 8, the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero granted development consent for Green Hill Solar Farm. The project comprises up to 500 MW of generation, ground-mounted solar arrays, energy storage, grid connections and associated construction and operational infrastructure. The developer submitted its application on May 23, 2025, and it was accepted on June 19. Following a six-month examination involving residents, local authorities and other interested parties, the examining authority submitted its recommendations on July 8, 2026.