Renewables vs Fossil Costs: IRENA says in 2025 more than 90% of newly commissioned utility-scale renewables beat the cheapest new fossil options on cost, with solar PV steady at about $44/MWh and onshore wind at $33/MWh—plus battery storage costs falling fast. Solar Deal Pipeline (India): GRE Renew Enertech won an INR 175 crore EPC LoA for a ~50 MW AC/65 MW DC solar PV project, while Bundelkhand Saur Urja awarded 600 MW solar to Coal India and 2×300 MW to NLC India Renewables at Jalaun Solar Park. Grid Balancing with Storage (India): Kerala plans to fast-track BESS to tackle a ~900 MW shortfall, targeting ~1,500 MW of storage by end-2026 as weak monsoon inflows squeeze hydropower. Wind Expansion (New Zealand): Māhinerangi Wind Farm in Otago got fast-track approval for Stage 2, adding ~44 turbines plus a 60MW battery for up to ~190MW total capacity. Hydropower Stress (Philippines): Magat Dam watershed cloud seeding is underway to lift reservoir levels as declining water has hit both irrigation and hydropower generation. Policy/Permitting Push (UK): Britain will drop mandatory pre-application consultation for major infrastructure, aiming to cut approval timelines by up to 12 months for projects including wind and solar. Energy Security Funding (EU-Azerbaijan): The EU plans up to EUR 200 million in grants to Azerbaijan for transport and energy links in the South Caucasus. Battery Tech Watch (Pakistan): K-Solar and Mingyang signed an MoU to market, supply and finance wind plus BESS, including groundwork for local BESS assembly. Offshore Wind Delays (US): Massachusetts’ offshore wind procurement is effectively paused and running about two years behind schedule, with contract talks still unclear. Wind Legal Setback (Canada): Ontario’s court dismissed a $50M wind farm claim against the province over the Big Thunder Windpark. Battery Recycling (Europe): Chinese inventors won the European Inventor Award for smart lithium-ion battery recycling that recovers key metals with a lower carbon footprint. Energy Infrastructure (India): CERC approved truing-up and new transmission tariffs for Green Energy Corridor assets, aiming to reduce renewable curtailment and improve grid stability.