India’s renewable energy developers are seeking an extension to the interstate transmission system (ISTS) charges waiver, set to expire on June 30, 2025. Mercom reported that the waiver currently enables commercial and industrial users to access renewables at lower costs, thereby supporting India’s 500 GW non-fossil capacity goal for 2030.
Energy Storage Funding Declines Sharply in Q1 2025
Private sector funding for energy storage companies fell sharply to $2.2 billion in Q1 2025—an 81% drop from $11.7 billion in the same quarter last year, according to Mercom. CEO Raj Prabhu attributed the decline to geopolitical and policy uncertainties, stalled subsidy programs, and high import tariffs affecting the battery and EV sectors.
China’s wind, solar energy capacity surpasses thermal power for first time
China’s installed capacity of wind and solar power reached 1,482 gigawatts (GW) by the end of March, surpassing that of thermal power “for the first time in history”, state news agency Xinhua reports. Wind and solar capacity are expected to “maintain the lead over thermal power”, said the National Energy Administration, adds the news agency.
China approves 10 new reactors for fourth straight year
China approved the construction of 10 new nuclear reactors, with a combined investment of more than 200 billion yuan ($27.4 billion), the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. China now has 30 reactors under construction, around 50% of the global total, and is expected to “leapfrog the US to become the world’s largest atomic energy generator by the end of the decade”, reported Bloomberg. The news outlet said that it’s “the fourth year in a row that China has approved at least 10 new reactors”. China now has a total of 102 nuclear power units either “in operation, under construction, or approved for construction”, with an installed capacity reaching 113 gigawatts (GW), according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Meanwhile, China’s hydrogen energy production and consumption exceeded 36m tonnes in 2024, “ranking first in the world”, reported Xinhua, citing a National Energy Administration (NEA) press conference.
US sets tariffs of up to 3,521% on south-east Asia solar panels
The Trump administration will impose tariffs of up to 3,521% on solar panels imported from Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, BBC reported. Some manufacturers like Cambodia-based exporters faced the steepest penalties due to limited cooperation with US investigations.
The duties vary between companies and the countries their products are made in.
Some solar equipment exporters in Cambodia face the highest duties of 3,521% because of what was seen as a lack of cooperation with the Commerce Department investigation. Products made in Malaysia by Chinese manufacturer Jinko Solar faced some of the lowest duties of just over 41%. Another China-based firm, Trina Solar, faces tariffs of 375% for the products it makes in Thailand.
97% of global business leaders want rapid transition to renewables: report
A poll conducted by the London-based consultancy firm Savanta of business executives across 15 countries shows that there’s overwhelming support for the rapid transition to renewable-based electricity, CarbonCopy reported. The poll’s data makes up a larger study titled ‘Powering up: Business perspectives on shifting to renewable electricity’. It shows that a global tipping point is coming in the corporate sector as well, with 97% of business leaders wanting to not use fossil fuels like coal anymore. Also, 78% of the surveyed executives are looking to shift to a completely renewables-based electricity system by 2035 or sooner.
Savanta surveyed a total of 1,477 business leaders from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Türkiye, UK and US.
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