[The ALMM inventory of Indian photovoltaic cells has been expanded to 18.5 gigawatts] The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy recently updated the list of approved manufacturers of photovoltaic cells, increasing the domestic annual production capacity to 18.48 gigawatts. This is the third expansion after the first batch of 13.067 gigawatts in August 2025 and the addition of 4.8 gigawatts in September, marking a new breakthrough in India's domestic photovoltaic manufacturing strategy. The newly added Websol Energy System factory in West Bengal has a production capacity of 602 megawatts and produces double-sided PERC cells with a conversion efficiency of 23.16%. The new list will take effect in July 2026 and stipulate that local silicon wafers must be used from June 2028 onwards. Despite industry concerns about rising costs, manufacturers are accelerating production expansion to meet policy requirements. This series of policies, while gaining industry recognition, has also raised concerns in the market about rising costs and project progress. Developers are concerned that the new regulations may lead to increased project costs and delays, while manufacturers are intensifying their efforts to expand production capacity in order to meet market demand within the policy window. It is worth noting that the department has provided explanations for special application scenarios in July 2025: if the energy storage project itself is exempted from ALMM, the solar energy project charging it also does not need to comply with relevant requirements; If the energy storage project is not exempted, the supporting photovoltaic project must also meet the list standards. This regulation provides clear guidance for the compliant development of integrated solar energy storage projects. Editor/Yang Beihua

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• 2025.12.12 09:41
• [Signed a contract for a 1.1GW project and put into operation a 273MW power station]
• On December 11, 2025, Norwegian renewable energy company Scatec announced the completion of equity contracts for its large-scale "Obelisk" solar energy storage project in Egypt, while the Grootfontein solar power plant in South Africa was officially put into operation. Scatec has signed equity agreements with Norwegian state-owned investment fund Norfund and French power company EDF to jointly promote the Obelisk solar and energy storage project in Egypt. The project has a scale of 1.1GW/200MW, making it Scatec's largest renewable energy project to date. According to the agreement, Norfund will hold a 25% stake in the project holding company, EDF will hold a 20% stake in the operating company, and Scatec will continue to maintain a majority stake. The CEO of the company, Terje Pilskog, stated that the project will combine solar energy and battery storage to provide Egypt with stable and cost competitive electricity. At the beginning of 2025, Scatec has raised over $400 million in funding for the project and plans to introduce more partners to optimize the capital structure. In South Africa, Scatec's 273MW Grootfontein solar photovoltaic power station has officially started operation. This project is developed based on the procurement plan of South African renewable energy independent power producers and holds a 20-year power purchase agreement. Scatec completed project financing in 2023 and owns 51% of its shares, with the remaining shares held by local black economic revitalization partners and community trust funds. Alberto Gambakota, the head of Scatec Africa, pointed out that this project is the company's first power station in the Western Cape province and the first solar project to achieve commercial operation in this round of bidding, demonstrating Scatec's continuous investment and localization commitment in the South African market. Scatec stated that by collaborating with international organizations and local partners, the company aims to improve capital efficiency, create greater value, while maintaining operational control over projects. Previously, Norfund had supported Scatec's 130MW solar project in Colombia. In the South African market, Scatec has accumulated large-scale installed capacity and has won an additional 846MW in the latest round of bidding. This series of trends reflects Scatec's deepening layout and long-term strategy in the field of clean energy in Africa. Editor/Yang Beihua

• 2025.12.12 09:30
• [Investment of 4.13 billion yuan! Jinhu Tire's first European factory has settled in Opole]
• The small town of Opole, not far from the Czech border, is quietly undergoing a transformation in its industrial layout. On December 1st, Jinhu Tire officially announced that it will build its first production base in Europe here, marking an important step for this tire manufacturing enterprise on the path of globalization. This factory located in Opole, Poland, is planned to have a total investment of approximately RMB 4.13 billion. The project will be promoted in stages, with the first phase expected to produce 6 million passenger car tires annually, and the production scale will gradually expand according to market development. The new factory is not only geographically close to the heartland of the European automotive industry, but is also seen as a key entry point for Jinhu to deepen its penetration into the European market. The European market holds significant strategic importance for Jinhu Tire. In the first three quarters of 2025, Jinhu Tire achieved a cumulative operating revenue of RMB 18.1 billion, of which the European market contributed 27%. Of particular note is that the European market has maintained double-digit growth since 2025, demonstrating strong development potential. Europe is home to numerous high-end car manufacturers such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen. Jinhu Tire stated that setting up a factory in Poland is an important measure for the company to continue promoting its globalization strategy and focusing on high-yield markets. By achieving localized production and supply, Jinhu will further enhance its product and service competitiveness, strengthen its high-end brand value, and integrate more closely into the European automotive industry chain. With the implementation of the planning for the Polish factory, Jinhu Tire is entering the fast lane of the high-end manufacturing market in Europe with a more localized attitude, adding new footnotes to the industrial cooperation between China and Europe. Editor/Yang Beihua