SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

   PastimesSolar Power


Previous 10 Next 10 
From: Eric6/17/2025 2:33:45 PM
   of 9929
 
Grid-scale

Neoen commissions 540 MWh stage of Western Downs battery, EPC selected for Western Australian site

Engie Neoen has completed the first stage of its eventual 540 MW/1,080 GWh Western Downs Green Power Hub, which will also feature 400 MW of solar generation capacity. On the opposite side of the country, developer Atmos Renewables has selected a construction company for its 100 MW/400 MWh Merredin battery.



By
David Carroll

Jun 17, 2025

Image: Atmos Renewables



Australia was the subject of two more utility-scale battery announcements today with French developer Engie Neoen activating the 270 MW/540 MWh first stage of its Western Downs battery, in southeast Queensland, and Atmos Renewables selecting GenusPlus Group to build its 100 MW/400 MWh Merredin site in central Western Australia (WA).

Neoen Australia said, in a LinkedIn post, the National Electricity Market grid and Queensland’s electricity network are now benefiting from the Western Downs battery located near the town of Chinchilla, about 250 km west of Brisbane.

The battery features grid-forming inverters that can provide critical grid services such as synthetic inertia, emulating traditional mechanical inertia and considered essential for managing system strength as coal-fired plants retire.

“We are proud to see our first big battery in Queensland operating in and strengthening the National Electricity Market at a capacity of 270 MW/540 MWh, with grid-forming capabilities,” Neoen said.

“Stage One of Western Downs Battery has completed all construction and commissioning works and is ready to support its multiple virtual battery customers.”

The battery is part of Neoen’s Western Downs Green Power Hub that also includes a 400 MW solar farm, which was commissioned in 2023, and the 270 MW/540 MWh Stage Two battery that is under construction. That stage is expected to start operations in 2026.

Neoen said, once completed, the combined stages of the battery will deliver a total 540 MW/1.08 GWh of capacity that will operate in conjunction with the solar farm, facilitating the transmission of stored energy into the electricity network.

The battery is supported by multiple “virtual battery” offtake agreements with customers including AGL, Engie, and Shell Energy Australia.

Neoen said the virtual battery deals allow users to mirror the services of a grid-scale battery, virtually charging or discharging the battery when they choose, without actually owning or operating the battery. The approach also provides a revenue stream for Neoen which is able to operate the remainder of the battery capacity in other markets, including arbitrage (charging when grid electricity prices are low and discharging when they are high) and frequency control, and even grid services.

The milestone for the Western Downs battery project comes after Neoen announced that its 350 MW Culcairn Solar Farm in New South Wales has entered the commissioning phase while the 238.5 MW/477 MWh Blyth battery energy storage system in South Australia recently completed the commissioning process.

The projects form part of Neoen’s expanding Australian portfolio that now stands at more than 4 GW in operation or under construction.

Its battery energy storage projects include the 150 MW/193.5 MWh Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia, and the 300 MW/450 MWh Victoria Big Battery. It is also building the 341 MW/1,363 MWh second stage of the Collie battery energy storage system in Western Australia. The second stage follows on from the 219 MW/877 MWh first phase that commenced operations late last year.

Merredin

GenusPlus Group announced it has been awarded an AUD 65 million ($42 million) contract by Sydney-headquartered developer Atmos Renewables for the design and construction of the 100 MW, four-hour battery Merredin battery energy storage project in WA.

The Merredin battery energy storage project is being developed by Atmos and United Kingdom-headquartered partner Nomad Energy on a 4 ha site near the town of Merredin, about 260 km east of state capital Perth.

The battery will connect to the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) at Western Power’s nearby Merredin Terminal Station. The site is adjacent to the 100 MW Merredin Solar Farm that was developed by Nomad and is now owned by Singapore-based Sun Energy.

Genus has been awarded the contract for the balance-of-plant engineering and procurement for the battery energy storage system and associated substation. The contract covers detailed design, procurement, installation, and civil works.

Genus Managing Director David Riches said the contract builds on the company’s growing momentum in the renewable energy transition space and expands its capability and presence in the battery energy storage market.

“The Merredin BESS adds to our strong track record in delivering complex, large-scale energy infrastructure that underpins Australia’s clean energy future,” he said. “The award of this contract highlights the strength of our customer relationships and our reputation for reliable delivery.”

The Merredin battery is one of four renewable energy projects recently declared winners of the first tender in WA under the federal government’s Capacity Investment Scheme. The scheme provides long-term revenue agreements that decrease financial risk for investors.

Atmos said the Merredin battery will enhance grid reliability, particularly at times of peak demand, as the state government seeks to ramp up energy storage capacity to support its planned transition from coal-fired power to renewables.

“The four-hour battery will provide valuable support to the grid network and contribute to enhancing security of supply in the Western Electricity Market,” said the developer.

Works on the Merredin battery project are expected to commence shortly with Atmos aiming to achieve financial close in the coming weeks. Construction of the project is expected to be completed in early 2027.

From pv magazine Australia.

ess-news.com

Share RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last Read


From: Eric6/17/2025 2:35:29 PM
   of 9929
 
Projects & Applications

Construction begins on 1 GWh Arizona colocated battery storage site

New York-based DESRI’s Catclaw project, in Buckeye, Arizona, is expected to generate enough electricity to power around 40,000 homes per year.



By
Ryan Kennedy

Jun 17, 2025

A DESRI solar project in Utah. | Image: DESRI



Renewables developer DESRI has announced the Catclaw Solar and Storage project it acquired from Californian peer Avantus last year has received financial notice to begin construction.

Catclaw Solar and Storage is a 205 MW solar, 250 MW/1 GWh battery energy storage project located in Buckeye, Ariz., servicing the Phoenix metropolitan area. It is expected to commence commercial operations in 2026.

DESRI currently owns 131 MW of operating renewable energy assets and 160 MW of solar assets under construction in Arizona. The Catclaw project represents its first project with the state’s largest utility, Arizona Public Service (APS).

“Given skyrocketing demand for new energy and capacity resources across the state, our team is happy to pair reliable and cost-effective resources with this need,” said Bob Schoenherr, chief strategy officer, DESRI.

The project has secured a 20-year power purchase agreement with APS and is expected to generate enough electricity to power approximately 40,000 homes each year.

“Catclaw will help power Arizona’s growing energy needs with clean, reliable electricity – especially during times of peak demand,” said Cliff Graham, chief executive officer of Avantus.

RES will serve as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, with EPC Services Company as the high-voltage EPC service provider. Tesla will provide battery storage equipment for the project. Invenergy Services will provide ongoing operations and maintenance services once the facility is operational.

Financing for the construction of the project was provided by BNP Paribas and Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale as coordinating lead arrangers; Korea Development Bank, Bank of China, and Westpac Banking Corporation as joint lead arrangers; Comerica Bank as mandated lead arranger; Flagstar Bank as senior managing agent; and Crédit Industriel et Commercial as participant. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas acted as the administrative agent.

DESRI develops, acquires, owns and operates long-term contracted renewable energy projects across the United States. Its portfolio of contracted, operating, and in-construction renewable energy projects currently includes 70 solar and wind projects representing more than 9 GW of capacity.

From pv magazine USA.

ess-news.com

Share RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last Read


From: Eric6/17/2025 2:46:32 PM
   of 9929
 
U.S. residential solar on the brink of collapse

Residential solar is on a downturn, and things may get worse. In a shock for the industry, the latest draft of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” excludes residential solar lease providers from the Investment Tax Credit.

June 17, 2025 Ryan Kennedy


Image: Kindel Media

Share



A teetering U.S. residential solar industry may now be on the brink of collapse. Faced by macroeconomic challenges and shifting sands of state and federal policies, an industry once defined by double-digit growth in installations is experiencing steep declines – and the latest draft of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes things far worse.

The latest draft of the bill is bad all-around for clean energy, but it is particularly damaging to residential solar, cutting federal tax credits far sooner than expected.

Residential solar installations declined 31% in 2024. Over the last year, industry titans like SunPower, Sunnova, and Mosaic Solar have filed for bankruptcy.

The industry historically has leaned on the value proposition of lowering customer electricity bills and providing predictable costs for the long-term. However, that value has been increasingly difficult to provide.

Gone are the days of low interest rates enabling attractive terms for loans or leased systems. In many major markets, like California, bill credit rates for sending excess electricity to the grid have been slashed by 75% or more.

Tariffs have posed challenges to the industry as well. Aluminum, used in both solar panel frames and racking systems, are hit with 25% tariffs. Solar cell and module import tariffs from major global suppliers have come in higher-than-expected this year, too.

The residential solar industry is no stranger to highs and lows, often referred to as the “solar coaster” by those who have weathered the storm of hot-and-cold policies that create markets and then take them away at a breakneck pace. But the latest draft of the federal reconciliation bill may represent a crash.

In 2022, the Biden Administration passed the Inflation Reduction Act, extending a tax credit that covers 30% of installed system costs through the mid-2030s. The latest One Big Beautiful Bill Act draft forwarded by the Senate Finance Committee ends this tax credit far ahead of schedule.

First, the bill takes a notably anti-consumer and anti-ownership stance, cutting the 25D residential solar tax credit within 180 days of enactment, which is payable directly to homeowners that purchase solar via a loan or upfront cash purchase.

Second, the bill sunsets the 48E investment tax credit for all eligible technologies to 60% of its value by the end of 2026, 20% of its value by the end of 2027 and all projects beginning construction by 2028 are ineligible for the credit.

In a surprise to the industry, the bill singles out residential solar leases, making the ineligible altogether for the 48E investment tax credit.

This posed a shock to the investment community. Share prices of the largest residential solar provider Sunrun are down over 40% in the trading day following the latest draft of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The bill is next headed to the Senate for a vote, with a simple majority needed to pass. Then, the bill must be reconciled with the House, with both chambers agreeing on an identical version for it to become voted into law.

Looking ahead, if the bill passes as-written, there will surely be a further retraction for U.S. residential solar. The industry will need to find new ways to lower costs to thrive in a harsher regulatory environment.

One pathway is pursuing lower soft costs, or costs not tied to hardware. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) said over 65% of the cost to install residential solar is related to soft costs like paying sales teams, securing permits, grid connection costs, and more.

The United States may find a path forward by pursuing market conditions like Australia, where over 40% of homes in some regions have rooftop solar. Soft costs are far lower in the nation, and average residential solar installation cost was $0.89 per W, more than $2.00 per W cheaper than both Canada and the United States.

pv-magazine-usa.com

Share RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last Read


From: Eric6/17/2025 3:15:42 PM
   of 9929
 
RFP alert: Massachusetts takes steps toward 40 GWh of energy storage

The Commonwealth issued a draft request for proposals of 1.5 GW of batteries with storage durations of 4 to 10 hours, primarily funded through the state’s Clean Peak Standard. The procurement is part of a broader effort to procure 5 GW of energy storage by 2030.

June 17, 2025 John Fitzgerald Weaver


Lightshift Energy storage system in Groton, Massachusetts.

Image: Lightshift Energy

Share



Massachusetts is initiating efforts toward its 2024 goal of procuring 5 GW of energy storage by 2030. A draft request for proposals (RFP) for 1.5 GW of 4- to 10-hour energy storage resources has been released. This initial RFP follows the state’s 2024 legislation mandating the procurement of 5 GW of storage capacity by 2030.

The exact release date for the Long-Term Contracts for Energy Storage Projects remains “TBD,” though a tentative schedule in the draft suggests a public release of the RFP on July 31, 2025.



The RFP includes scheduled periods for questions and feedback through the fall, with proposal submissions due by Sept. 10. Project selections will be announced approximately three months later, on Dec. 9, 2025.

The procurement will include National Grid, Eversource Energy, and Unitil, the three investor-owned utilities responsible for the majority of Massachusetts’ electrical infrastructure. These utilities will procure 45.1%, 53.89%, and 0.97%, respectively, of the total 1.5 GW capacity.

Projects must range in size from 40 MW to 1,000 MW. Bidders will pay a fee of $500 per MW, potentially generating $750,000 if the RFP is fully subscribed. The program is expected to attract significant interest, possibly leading to oversubscription. Upon executing long-term storage contracts, developers must provide a security deposit of $40,000 per MW, totaling up to $60 million.

With estimated costs around $200/kWh, total project value could range from $2.8 billion to $7 billion, depending on the chosen storage capacities.

A state-commissioned third-party analysis estimates annual revenue at just over $220/kW, primarily derived from the Clean Peak Standard (CPS) program. CPS incentivizes energy storage during “Seasonal Peak Periods,” identified by the state as times of peak demand and emissions. Massachusetts established the Clean Peak Program in 2018, following Vermont’s regional lead with its Tesla battery installations.



Revenue under CPS is paid via Clean Peak Energy Certificates (CPEC), each representing one megawatt-hour of certified clean electricity delivered during the Seasonal Peak Period.

Some of the project evaluation considerations include:
  • Bid value under the CPEC program
  • Evaluation of resilience and reliability value adders
  • Proximity to major electrical loads
  • Proximity to intermittent renewable energy sources
  • Separation from other energy storage systems
  • Safety measures and stakeholder engagement
  • Credibility of proposed commercial operation dates, based on:
    • Initiation and completion plans for permitting
    • Resource and environmental assessments
    • Detailed financing information and plans
    • Installation and interconnection strategies
    • Progress in acquiring necessary real property rights
    • Material progress toward the acquisition of all real property rights
  • Viable installation and electrical interconnection plans
Proposals must adhere to organizational standards outlined in the RFP package (below), which also contains contract templates guiding the procurement process.



The energy storage procurement aligns with Massachusetts’ 2024 legislation, An Act Promoting a Clean Energy Grid, Advancing Equity and Protecting Ratepayers, which directs the state to procure energy storage totaling 5 GW by July 31, 2030.

The procurement targets 3.5 GW of mid-duration storage (four to ten hours), totaling 14,000 to 35,000 MWh. An additional 750 MW will be long-duration storage (10 to 24 hours), and another 750 MW will require capacities exceeding twenty-four hours.

Overall, the initiative complements the 5 GW peak output with at least 39,500 MWh of storage capacity. Notably, New England’s peak load has significantly dropped, from nearly 25 GW five years ago to just below 4 GW, driven largely by growing solar installations.

The current law expands upon the 2018 goal of deploying 1,000 MWh of storage by Dec. 2025. As of Feb. 15, 2025, Massachusetts utilities reported “644 MWh of installed energy storage with an additional 12,932 MWh of storage in the pipeline.

pv-magazine-usa.com

Share RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last Read


From: Eric6/17/2025 3:25:22 PM
   of 9929
 
Solar industry groups react to Senate Finance Committee draft bill

The announced investments of nearly $46 billion are at stake, along with jobs, the continued buildout of gigawatts of new solar and lower energy costs, all the while ceding the AI race to China, said industry leaders.

June 17, 2025 Anne Fischer


Image: Newpowa, Unsplash

Share


Following release of the Senate Finance Committee’s draft text of the One Big Beautiful Bill, leaders of industry groups Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) agree the the bill, as written, will halt the progress of an industry that has sparked a new American industrial revolution.

The bill will “pull the plug on homegrown solar energy and decimate the American manufacturing renaissance,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of SEIA.

SEIA estimates that announced investments in U.S. solar manufacturing now total $45.8 billion since the IRA was enacted in 2022.

“Despite modest improvements on several provisions, this legislation does not go far enough to remove the threat to one of the greatest economic success stories in American history,” Hopper said. “This bill makes it harder to do business in America for U.S. manufacturers and small businesses and will undoubtedly lead us to an energy-strained economy with higher electric bills over the next five years.”

ACORE president and CEO Ray Long calls the draft “a premature rollback of solar and wind tax credits.”

SEIA estimates that 3.8 million job years will be lost by 2035 if the energy credits are cut. Long said that “without changes, this bill will increase energy prices for consumers, threaten thousands of good-paying jobs, and all but guarantees we forfeit the AI race to China.”

Some of the energy provisions are improved in the draft, according to Jeff Cramer, president and CEO of CCSA, but he said that overall it would “weaken America’s energy leadership, deter billions in private investment, and hinder our ability to compete on the world stage. As other nations rapidly scale to meet growing power needs—especially in the global race for AI and advanced manufacturing—this bill risks destabilizing U.S. markets and ceding strategic ground to our adversaries.”

SEIA forecasts that the U.S. could see 500 GW of new solar capacity coming online by 2035, yet the bill as proposed by the Senate Finance Committee, jeopardized projects before they’ve begun, Cramer said.

“The result will be stalled growth, job losses, and higher electricity prices for families and small businesses across the country,” he said.

The window is closing fast, Cramer noted, “but there’s still time to get this right.” The draft must be voted on by the Finance Committee, then to the full Senate for a vote. The House will then have an opportunity to change, accept or reject the bill.

“We’re encouraged by efforts from some Senators to improve the bill, and we remain committed to working with Congress to ensure the final legislation strengthens domestic energy markets and delivers affordable, reliable power to Americans,” said Cramer.

“Congress has a narrow window to get this right,” said Long. “We urge lawmakers finalize a bill that utilizes all energy technologies, and honors existing pro-growth policies essential for strengthening American competitiveness.”

“There’s still time to fix this so that solar and storage can continue to lower energy costs for families and business and ensure the United States wins the AI race against China,” Hopper said. “We call on the U.S. Senate to amend the Finance Committee proposal and unleash American energy dominance.”

“Let’s be clear about who will pay the price if this bill becomes law,” said Hopper. “Americans’ electric bills will spike, American workers will be laid off, American factories will shutter, American communities will suffer blackouts, and American lawmakers will forfeit the AI race to China.”

pv-magazine-usa.com

Share RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last Read


From: Eric6/17/2025 9:27:54 PM
   of 9929
 
Sunny outlook: Major survey shows most near neighbours like solar farms, and want more


Screenshot

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson

Jun 18, 2025

Renewables, Solar

Living near a large-scale solar project is not a problem for most residents, with a study finding 82 per cent of neighbours would allow more to be built nearby.

The US study, published in an international science journal on Tuesday, also found more than two in every five people surveyed felt positive about the renewable energy projects located near them.

Australian experts say the findings mimic the experience of those living near solar farms in regional areas, although they have called for greater education and transparency to ensure continuing community acceptance.

The research comes as the number of renewable energy projects ramps up in Australia, with 1.2 gigawatts of solar capacity added in 2024 in 14 large-scale projects, according to the Clean Energy Council.

The American study, published in Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy, surveyed 979 residents across 39 states living within five kilometres of a large-scale solar farm.

It found most residents felt positive (43 per cent) or neutral (42 per cent) about the solar project in their neighbourhood, while only 15 per cent felt negatively about it.

Asked whether they would approve of more solar projects being built in their area, 82 per cent expressed support or felt neutral, and 18 per cent said they would be opposed.

The size of solar projects had the greatest impact on residents’ opinions, study author and University of Michigan associate professor Sarah Mills said, but the positive message from locals was clear.

“Just as has been documented for wind energy, we found that the NIMBY – not in my backyard – explanation for opposition to solar was overly simplistic and unhelpful in explaining neighbours’ sentiments,” Dr Mills said.

The study found some residents living near solar farms were poorly informed about them, she said, and recommended developers engage further with local communities.

The findings are similar to those from a Farmers from Climate Action study in 2024 that found 73 per cent of people in renewable energy zones supported wind and solar projects.

Australians were widely supportive of renewable energy as the recent federal election proved, RE-Alliance national director Andrew Bray said, and that approval extended to people in regional areas directly affected by solar projects.

“These are the sort of numbers we see supporting renewable technologies both in abstract and when you go to regional areas where these technologies are being built,” he told AAP.

“Often the headlines you see around these things are not always telling the full stories.”

Greater support and engagement should be provided to those living in renewable energy zones to keep them informed, Mr Bray said, and the federal government should consider establishing local energy hubs to help them access accurate information.

“The engagement has not been uniformly up to scratch,” he said.

Australia developers established 21 renewable energy projects in Australia in 2024 according to the Clean Energy Council, including 14 large-scale solar developments and six wind projects.

Source: AAP

reneweconomy.com.au

Share RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last Read


To: Eric who wrote (9212)6/18/2025 10:53:45 AM
From: Sam
1 Recommendation   of 9929
 
JinkoSolar Unveils White Paper on TOPCon and Tiger Neo 3.0, Signaling Next-Gen Solar Technology Shift
Chinese solar giant partners with TÜV NORD and CTC to launch a white paper detailing advance in TOPCon technology and commercial performance of its latest Tiger Neo 3.0 modules.

June 17, 2025 JinkoSolar

pv-magazine.com

brief excerpt:

Performance Gains and Efficiency Roadmap

JinkoSolar reports that since 2022, its TOPCon mass production cell efficiency has climbed from 25.1% to 26.5%, with 2025 targets of 26.7–27%.

Built on this platform, the Tiger Neo 3.0 module integrates innovations in materials, electrode design and process control, achieving a rated output of 670W—among the highest in its class.

Superior Bifaciality and Field-Tested Advantages

According to the white paper, Tiger Neo 3.0 offers three key advantages:

  • High bifacial factor: averaging over 85%, significantly above mainstream BC modules (~70%), making it suitable for high-albedo surfaces such as deserts and rooftops.
  • Low degradation: first-year power loss below 1%, outperforming industry norms.
  • Improved low-light performance: under IEC 61215-2:2021, modules deliver a 2.26–2.49% gain in morning and evening generation.
Real-world data from Japan, Italy, and China demonstrate the module’s robust performance in hot, humid, and high-irradiance conditions. Notably, in Kagoshima, Japan, TOPCon modules produced 7.1% more power per watt than n-type BC modules, showcasing bifacial efficiency in reflective environments.

Economic Benefits and System Compatibility

Beyond performance, the Tiger Neo 3.0 offers cost advantages. The paper states that Jinko has reduced system-level capital and O&M expenses through material savings and design optimization. In high-temperature Saudi environments, BOS cost per watt fell by RMB 0.048, and LCOE dropped 4.73% for a 100MW plant.

more at the link

Share RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last Read


From: Eric6/18/2025 12:58:56 PM
   of 9929
 
Republican Bill Could Destroy 2 Million Green Jobs – New Report Warns



The Electric Viking

305K subscribers

youtube.com

Share RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last Read


From: Eric6/18/2025 1:45:38 PM
   of 9929
 
Germany deploys 1.1 GW of PV in May

Germany installed 1.1 GW of new solar in May, bringing total installations for the first five months of 2025 to 5.97 GW, slightly below the 6.16 GW added over the same period in 2024.

June 18, 2025 Sandra Enkhardt

Image: Christian Paul Stobbe, Unsplash

Share


From pv magazine Germany

Germany’s Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) reported 1.1128 GW of newly installed net PV capacity in May 2025. The figure compares with 1,223 MW in May 2024 and 945 MW in April 2025.

Cumulative installations for the January-May 2025 period reached 5.97 GW, slightly below the 6.16 GW added in the same period a year earlier, said Bundesnetzagentur. This year’s new capacity includes 2,497.1 MW of ground-mounted systems, 213.2 MW of balcony solar devices, and 74.1 MW in the “other solar systems” category.

By the end of May, Germany’s operational PV fleet had reached approximately 106.3 GW. Figures from Marktstammdatenregister, the German federal registry for energy market data, show that demand for rooftop PV systems remained weak through the fifth month of the year.

Bundesnetzagentur recorded 476.7 MW of new rooftop capacity in May, just 1.3 MW more than March, the lowest month so far this year. Installers commissioned around 30,000 new rooftop systems in May.

pv-magazine.com

Share RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last Read


From: Eric6/18/2025 1:49:03 PM
   of 9929
 
UK rooftop solar installations surge, new battery storage record set

Latest MCS data for small-scale renewables reveal a strong month for solar installations up to 50 kW, double-digit growth for battery energy storage installations and a milestone reached despite a muted month for heat pump installations.

June 18, 2025 Matthew Lynas


May 2025 was a strong month for small-scale solar installations in the United Kingdom.

Image: Chris Robert, Unsplash

Share



There were 21,125 small-scale solar installations in the United Kingdom in May 2025, according to accreditation body MCS, which also recorded a record month for battery energy storage additions.

Data for PV installations up to 50 kW show May’s installation figures were 30% higher than the same month the previous year. MCS recorded 101,861 solar installations for the year to May 31, 2025, up 37% on the 74,459 recorded in the first five months of 2024. While MCS certification is not a legal requirement for small-scale solar installations, consumers can only access UK government incentives such as the Smart Export Guarantee, making it a good indicator of demand.

MCS certified battery energy storage installations also spiked in May 2025, with almost 3,400 certified installations, an 112% increase on May 2024 and the best month on record. First launched in 2021, the MCS battery installation standard applies to systems with maximum power output up to 50 kW.

Heat pump additions were more muted, but the cumulative total did break the 300,000 barrier in May 2025. MCS recorded 5,150 certified installations for the month, compared to 5,084 in May 2024. Despite flat growth for May, 25,676 heat pump installations were recorded for the first five months of 2025, putting year-to-date growth at 13% as of May 31. This remains well below the pace required to hit the UK government’s target of installing 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028. More relaxed planning rules for heat pumps came into force in England on May 31, 2025, in a bid to support deployment.

Ian Rippin, CEO at MCS, said in a press release. “It’s great to see us reaching crucial milestones in 2025 in the small-scale renewables sector, a positive sign that consumer confidence in home-grown energy is continuing to grow.”

pv-magazine.com

Share RecommendKeepReplyMark as Last Read
Previous 10 Next 10