- In April 2025, the Government of Zambia, in partnership with the World Bank, COMESA, and the Africa Minigrid Development Association (AMDA), launched an ambitious initiative to accelerate off-grid solar electrification. The goal is to deploy at least 200 solar mini-grids by 2030, ensuring clean, affordable, and reliable electricity reaches every rural district. This effort addresses the challenges of extending the national grid to remote areas and supports Zambia’s broader climate resilience and poverty reduction goals. A high-level conference in Lusaka brought together stakeholders to explore financing and technical solutions for scaling up mini-grid deployment
- In March 2025, India intensified its push for clean energy through the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, aiming to install rooftop solar systems in one crore households by 2027. The scheme offers up to 300 units of free electricity per month, with subsidies covering 60% of the cost for 2 kW systems and 40% for 2–3 kW systems. Alongside this, India is promoting domestic manufacturing of solar components via the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, and integrating AI and IoT into solar infrastructure to enhance efficiency and enable smart off-grid solutions. These efforts reflect a holistic strategy for energy self-reliance and digital innovation
- In January 2025, JA Solar signed a 1.25 GW module procurement agreement with China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC) during the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi. Under the deal, JA Solar will be the exclusive supplier of high-efficiency n-type PV modules for the Abydos Phase II 1GW + 600MWh PV-Storage Project in Egypt. This project, developed by AMEA Power and constructed by CEEC, is set to become Africa’s largest solar-plus-storage installation, spanning 20 square kilometers. It is expected to generate 3,000 GWh annually, powering over 500,000 homes and offsetting more than 1 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year
- In January 2025, strategic collaborations across Asia underscored the region’s growing commitment to solar innovation. SunPower Corporation partnered with Vietnamese firms to support Vietnam’s ambitious solar expansion under Power Development Plan VIII, targeting 16 GW by 2025. In South Korea, Hanwha Q CELLS joined forces with LG Electronics to develop smart off-grid solar packages for industrial, defense, and telecom sectors, integrating solar modules, energy storage, and energy management systems. Meanwhile, in Singapore, Suntech Power collaborated with a logistics company to deploy solar-powered cold storage units, showcasing solar’s versatility in commercial applications
- In November 2023, LONGi Solar achieved a major technological milestone by setting a world record efficiency of 33.9% for its crystalline silicon–perovskite tandem solar cell, as certified by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). This breakthrough surpasses the theoretical Shockley-Queisser limit for single-junction cells and marks a significant advancement in next-generation solar technology. While not exclusive to off-grid systems, such high-efficiency cells can dramatically reduce the panel area and cost required for off-grid and distributed energy applications, making solar more accessible and scalable in remote regions
