Utility-scale solar is the largest segment of the global solar market – and it's projected to grow even further, reaching a 60% share of total solar capacity this year, according to the newly published Global Market Outlook for Solar Power.
Record-low equipment prices and continuous technological improvements across all system components are making utility-scale solar increasingly attractive across many regions. However, mature markets are beginning to face new challenges. Infrastructure expansion is lagging, leading to increased curtailment and declining solar capture prices. In response, developers are turning to hybrid solutions that integrate PV with batteries and other renewable sources to enhance flexibility and profitability.
This half-day online conference, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 09:30 - 13:30 CET, will bring together experts from across the industry – developers, IPPs, manufacturers, and consultants – to explore the latest trends and strategies shaping the future of utility-scale solar.
Join us for a concise, insight-packed overview of where utility-scale solar is heading and how industry leaders are adapting to stay ahead.
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Jinko ESS, the energy storage arm of JinkoSolar, has received Witnessed Manufacturer's Testing for Certification (WMTC) laboratory accreditation from the CSA Group. The company claims to have become one of the few energy storage players globally to achieve this qualification. With this certification, Jinko ESS is authorized to conduct full UL 1973 certification testing in its own laboratory, streamlining the certification process and accelerating time-to-market for its products.
The company stated that its laboratory is equipped with a state-of-the-art 5 MW energy storage system testing platform, a 50 m³ temperature-humidity environmental chamber, and advanced RLC anti-islanding load systems. These assets support a comprehensive testing and validation platform covering cells, modules, battery clusters, and full energy storage systems. The lab meets multiple international safety standards, including UL 1973 and IEC 62619.
On the products side, Jinko ESS recently launched its new-generation SunTera G3 6.25 MWh ESS, with global deliveries scheduled to begin in Q4 2025 (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
POWERCHINA has announced the full commissioning of the Zabuye Integrated Energy Project in Zhongba County, Shigatse City, Tibet, which it built under an EPC contract. Located at 4,500 meters above sea level, this is said to be the highest-altitude solar thermal power plant in the world.
The off-grid clean energy system integrates 40 MW parabolic trough ‘concentrating solar-thermal power’ (CSP) as the primary power source, a 35 MW PV plant, a 20 MW/40 MWh battery energy storage, thermal storage, load supply (electricity + steam), and a control and distribution system.
POWERCHINA states this project as the world’s first high-altitude, grid-edge clean energy islanded system with CSP as the main power source, providing a 24/7 stable, secure, and reliable integrated energy supply.
Earlier this month, the Guohua Rudong integrated photovoltaic, hydrogen production, and energy storage project – designed and built by POWERCHINA – was grid-connected (see China Solar PV News Snippets).
Chinese HJT manufacturer QW Solar is grappling with a worsening financial crisis, with a slew of lawsuits, asset freezes, and looming delisting risks.
According to its 2024 annual report, QW Solar posted revenues of RMB 222 million ($30.71 million) for the year – a staggering 80.92% decline year-on-year (YoY) – and a net loss attributable to shareholders of RMB 119 million (~$16.46 million). The company also reported RMB 69.02 million ($9.55 million) in credit and asset impairment losses, significantly dragging down overall profitability. The auditor is said to have raised doubts about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Further compounding the issue, QW Solar received an adverse opinion on its internal controls, triggering delisting risks for its stock.
Due to a liquidity crunch and subsequent debt defaults, a total of 47 bank accounts belonging to QW Solar and its subsidiaries have been frozen, involving approximately RMB 6.1 million (~$843,430). Additionally, courts have seized multiple assets under the company’s subsidiaries, including real estate, production equipment, and vehicles. Also among these are assets tied to its 2 GW HJT module production line.
In a recent announcement, the company disclosed that by April 2025, it had added RMB 11.73 million ($1.62 million) in new litigation and arbitration cases, accounting for 42.16% of its most recent net assets. Lawsuits totaling RMB 9.66 million ($1.34 million) list the company as a defendant, involving disputes over sales contracts and financial leasing. To alleviate financial pressure, QW Solar plans to sell 100% equity in its subsidiary Anhui QW for RMB 270 million ($37.34 million).
Perovskite solar manufacturer Huoshi Semiconductor (Beijing) Co., Ltd. is setting up a 100 MW perovskite module production line in Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia. According to project filings submitted at the end of 2024, the project involves a total investment of RMB 100.89 million ($13.95 million) and will occupy a plant area of 18,000 square meters. The facility is designed primarily for the production of perovskite solar cells, with an annual output capacity of 100 MW. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2025 and be completed by December 2025. The project has already passed local environmental impact assessment procedures.
Hymson has reported continued progress in its photovoltaic equipment segment, particularly with its TOPCon+ technology. The company claims to be the first in the industry to realize mass production of back thinning technology with orders totaling several dozen GW. It expects to reach 100 GW in new TOPCon+ orders for the year, with overall photovoltaic order volumes projected to double compared to 2024, depending on market dynamics.
The company's back thinning technology is valued at approximately RMB 8 million to RMB 10 million per GW and is said to deliver an efficiency boost of 0.15% to 0.20%, along with a 5% increase in bifaciality rate. For BC cell equipment, Hymson says its edge lies in its independently developed laser light source and optical path system, which offer precision and customization beyond standard products. The company says its solutions have already been verified by major industry players, positioning it as a leading partner when downstream customers scale production. However, market fluctuations continue to influence the pace of adoption.
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