China has begun taxing lithium-ion batteries at 2% from Sept. 1, 2026, ending a decade-long exemption; the rate will rise to 4% in September 2027, while emerging technologies such as sodium-ion and solid-state batteries remain temporarily exempt. The tax applies to cells, packs and battery clusters—not complete BESS—and is expected to modestly raise domestic storage costs, while directly exported batteries remain exempt.

The global solar PV O&M market reached 348 GW in 2025, with the 15 largest providers controlling 57% of managed capacity as consolidation accelerated. NovaSource remained the global leader, while rapid portfolio growth reshaped provider rankings and regional markets.

Argentina superstar Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday, ending 21 years of national-team duty that were capped by winning the World Cup in 2022, securing his place in the pantheon of the game's greatest ever players.

Super El Niño drove a sharp north–south irradiance divide across South America in winter 2026, with sunnier conditions in the north and persistent cloud reducing solar irradiance across much of the south. Two rare August snowstorms in Chile’s Atacama Desert also caused likely snow-related losses for solar PV assets, alongside severe rainfall, flooding, and mudslides.

Chinese inverter manufacturers reported mixed first-half 2026 results, as energy storage emerged as a key growth driver, offsetting weaker demand across some traditional inverter segments.

Technological advances are outpacing existing laws, complicating regulation

China Huadian has achieved the first grid connection of its 100 MW/1,000 MWh compressed CO₂ energy storage plant in Xinjiang, marking a major milestone in long-duration energy storage. The facility offers 10 hours of storage and is expected to generate 200 GWh annually, supporting renewable energy integration and reducing carbon emissions.

COP31 aims to increase electricity’s share of global final energy demand from 20% to 35% by 2035, accelerating the transition to clean, affordable energy through electrification. Australia is leading with rapid growth in solar, wind, batteries and EVs, demonstrating how renewable energy can lower electricity costs, reduce fossil fuel dependence and support decarbonisation.

PowerChina has completed grid connection of a 1 GW hybrid solar project in Qinghai province, China. The facility combines 900 MW of solar PV capacity with a 100 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant featuring eight hours of molten-salt thermal storage and a 20 MW electric heater to store surplus PV electricity.