AGP Executive Report

Nepal Flood Aftermath: Rescuers pulled two people alive on the 11th day after the Bhotekoshi flash floods, including a Chinese national trapped inside the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower tunnel, while the death toll climbed to about 1,344 and nearly 5,000 remain missing; search teams are still working in multiple hydropower sites as identification relies heavily on DNA testing. Hydropower Risk & Resilience: The disaster swept away or damaged 11 hydropower plants and a solar facility, renewing scrutiny of Nepal’s hydropower-first strategy and the need for safer access, monitoring, and disaster planning. Solar Power in Practice: Comoros inaugurated three UAE-financed solar plants (about 20 MW) with battery storage to strengthen energy security and expand reliable electricity. Grid & Finance Pressure: Türkiye says it needs at least $80B by 2035 for electricity infrastructure and calls for cheaper long-term climate finance to make clean, resilient projects bankable. EV & Storage Innovation: India’s NIT Rourkela team patented a hybrid EV battery approach using a supercapacitor to cut battery stress from sudden power swings. Policy & Costs: South Africa’s Thaba Chweu municipality faces a legal challenge over a proposed R582 monthly solar levy for households fully off-grid.

Nepal Flood Recovery: Rescuers pulled a Chinese national alive from 225 meters inside the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower tunnel, 10 days after the Aug. 26 glacier-triggered disaster; it’s the third worker saved from Trishuli tunnels, with about 900 workers still missing across 12 hydropower projects. Grid & Resilience: Nepal’s floods are also hitting power infrastructure hard—damage assessments cite affected hydropower projects, roads, and even a solar plant, while authorities push continued tunnel searches and restoration. Energy Affordability: In Sudan, war-driven blackouts are pushing households toward rooftop solar, but costs keep many shut out. Policy & Power Markets: Pakistan moved to clear 11,695 pending net-metering cases and start direct consumer contact as it transitions toward net billing. AI Power Demand: India’s TCS HyperVault plans a Rs 70,000 crore, 1GW AI data centre campus in Hyderabad, with claims of green energy and water-neutral design. Energy Transition Tech: A study suggests dog waste can produce biogas, with methane delivering most of the recovered energy.

Disaster Response: Nepal’s Aug. 26 flash floods and mudslides are still yielding rare rescues after 10 days, including a Chinese hydropower worker pulled from a 225-meter tunnel at Upper Trishuli-1 and a 60-year-old woman freed from a buried home in Nuwakot; the death toll is reported around 1,344 with about 5,000 missing as search teams push into damaged hydropower sites. Public Health: Authorities are scrambling over contaminated drinking water and disease risk, with vaccination plans discussed for vulnerable groups in hard-hit Bidur. Climate & Infrastructure Risk: Coverage highlights how a warming, unstable Himalaya is colliding with hydropower-first development, raising questions about safety, tunnel access, and disaster preparedness. Renewables in Action: Spain’s Madrid-Barajas airport inaugurated Europe’s largest commercial airport solar park, targeting power for more than 100,000 homes, while the Philippines’ MTerra Solar Phase 1 begins selling electricity with large-scale battery storage. Grid & Markets: India’s IEX logged a record August electricity trade volume, up 20.2% year on year, as demand climbs. Standards & Quality: Oman’s standards index rose 33.8% in Q2, with growing focus on energy efficiency and renewables.

Grid Buildout for Renewables: POWERGRID won an ISTS contract to integrate 7,500 MW of solar from Gujarat’s Lakadia REZ Phase II, adding a new 765/400 kV substation, 765 kV lines, and a synchronous condenser to support grid stability. Hydropower Disaster Response: Nepal’s flash-flood death toll climbed to 1,295 as rescuers recovered more bodies, while two workers were pulled alive from the Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel after nine days—renewing hope for others still missing. Corporate Clean Power Momentum: JSW Energy crossed 15 GW operational capacity, with renewables now over 60% of its portfolio, adding major solar, wind, hybrid, and hydro capacity in FY27. Rooftop Solar Relief in India: Assam reported sharp bill cuts under PM Surya Ghar, with many households seeing zero electricity bills after installing rooftop solar. Offshore Wind Policy Watch: Germany’s cabinet approved an Offshore Wind Act reform, with the sector pressing for auction support indexation to improve long-term financing. Clean Energy + Resilience Theme: The Himalayas’ growing glacial-lake risk is back in focus, with Sikkim identifying 40 high-hazard lakes amid lessons from Nepal’s floods.

Nepal Flood Aftermath: Rescuers in Nepal kept searching after the Aug. 26 glacier-triggered floods, pulling two men alive from the Trishuli-3A hydropower tunnel and recovering bodies at other sites; search teams also pushed deeper at Trishuli-3B and continued sludge-clearing at Chilime as the death toll climbed and thousands remained missing. Grid Flexibility in India: SECI invited bids for 50 MW/100 MWh standalone battery storage for on-demand use, and separately floated 700 MW of ISTS-connected solar for SEZ/EOU buyers making green hydrogen and/or ammonia. Solar Supply Chain: Inox Solar Americas signed a 767 MW US module supply deal, while GREW Solar secured a INR 430 crore repeat order for high-efficiency TOPCon modules. Energy Diplomacy: China’s vice premier called for deeper China-Russia energy cooperation, including clean energy and AI-energy links. Data Centers vs Power: A growing backlash in Leeds targets Microsoft’s data center over water and electricity use, while South African civil groups urge a pause on new sites pending resource transparency. Shipping Emissions: IMO net-zero talks largely held ground, keeping carbon pricing at the center of the marine fuel plan.

Hydropower Disaster Response (Nepal): Rescuers pulled two hydropower workers alive from the Trishuli 3A tunnel on Friday, nine days after Aug. 26 flash floods tied to a glacier collapse buried parts of the Upper Trishuli hydropower corridor. The men—Sanjay Shah (mechanical foreman, 30) and Kabir Maharjan (mechanical supervisor, 45)—were found after teams reported hearing voices inside, and both were taken for medical checks in Kathmandu. Human Toll & Uncertainty: Nepal’s death toll has climbed past 1,250, with thousands still missing, including hundreds believed trapped across multiple hydropower projects where access is blocked by debris and damaged infrastructure. Energy Transition in Practice (Sri Lanka): GoodWe and SLSEA hosted a Solar + Storage Forum 2026 in Colombo, highlighting storage as a key enabler for Sri Lanka’s growing solar rollout. Grid & Renewables Buildout (India): Ceigall India is shifting its order mix toward renewables and transmission & distribution, including a proposed ₹5,300 crore transmission project under a BOT model. Climate Action Push (Pacific): Pacific Islands Forum leaders issued a Belau declaration urging faster fossil-fuel cuts and more climate finance to keep 1.5°C within reach.

Grid & reliability: Metro Cebu faced a long Visayas power “Red Alert” (1 p.m.–10 p.m.) as demand outpaced supply by 388 MW, while haze from Indonesia-linked forest fires pushed air quality to “acutely unhealthy,” forcing hundreds of students online. Policy & grid tech: India’s Central Electricity Authority proposed new rules for renewables from July 2027—more grid-forming inverters and mandatory co-located storage for ground solar and onshore wind. Storage momentum: Energy Vault secured full land control for Australia’s 125 MW/1 GWh Stoney Creek BESS, targeting construction in 2027 and operations in 2028. Renewables finance: Anesco won Lombard financing for three UK projects spanning solar and a 50 MW/100 MWh BESS. Community power models: Switzerland’s local electricity co-ops (LEGs) have surged since launch, with about 1,800 formed in six months. Data centers scrutiny: Scotland saw a major protest outside Holyrood demanding a pause on its datacentre boom over environmental and resource concerns. Climate risk: UNEP says the world is set to cross 1.5°C soon, but an “overshoot, peak, and decline” pathway could still help bring temperatures back down. Solar & markets: SEBI issued observations for Cosmic PV Power’s proposed INR 640 crore IPO to expand manufacturing.

Solar policy & tax: The Philippines’ BIR is preparing a circular to remove VAT on the electricity “system loss charge,” after an ERC ruling reclassifies it as a pass-through cost—aiming for a mid-September rollout. Renewables enforcement: In the Philippines, the DOE says it has recovered only P80 million so far from a P24-billion penalty against Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings for missing contracted capacity, with criminal and civil cases underway to recover remaining amounts. Geothermal for critical services: First Gen will supply Surigao Doctors’ Hospital in Mindanao with 24/7 geothermal power via its Mt. Apo facility under the government’s green energy option program. Wind buildout: In India, Inox Wind won a INR 755 crore turnkey order for a 100 MW wind project for Indian Oil, including 10 years of O&M. Solar expansion in the US: OCI Energy broke ground on a 260 MW Texas solar farm, SunRoper, targeting commercial operations in 2027 as AI-driven demand boosts power needs. Grid & storage momentum: LG Energy Solution started production at a new Michigan battery campus, supplying both grid-scale storage and EV cells. Climate risk & hydropower stress: Nepal’s Himalayan floods continue to disrupt hydropower tunnel rescues, with mud blocking access and thousands still missing, underscoring how climate-linked hazards can overwhelm energy infrastructure. Local clean-energy economics: Coventry (UK) rolls out food-waste caddies feeding anaerobic digestion to generate renewable energy and fertilizer. Renewables vs politics: California AG and the state energy commission sued to challenge a Trump-era offshore wind buyout that would redirect investment toward fossil projects.

Solar & Storage Deals: Mahindra Susten commissioned a 42 MWp group captive solar plant for Swaraj Tractors in Punjab, while SAEL secured 1 GWp of TOPCon module supply orders including 585.8 MWp for NTPC REL’s Chitrakoot project; InSolare also won a 35 MW EPC solar job in Punjab. Grid & Market Rules: India’s CERC moved future wind-solar sellers into general deviation settlement rules and set separate provisions for standalone storage, aiming to tighten scheduling as renewables rise. Policy & Consumer Impact: Bangladesh launched rooftop solar with battery incentives, paying 10.50 taka/kWh for surplus exports to ease shortages; in the US, Wisconsin’s We Energies faces backlash over a planned 14% residential rate hike tied to new solar, wind and backup gas. Energy Transition Reality Check: China’s solar capacity overtook coal as the biggest installed source, but grid limits still constrain output. Hydropower Disruption: Nepal’s Bhotekoshi floods cut electricity exports as damaged plants stop generating, underscoring climate risk to run-of-river systems. Regional Spotlight: UAE renewable capacity jumped 63-fold to 8.2 GW over a decade, with clean power at 32.4% of electricity in 2025.

UN Climate Warning: A new UNEP report says keeping warming under 1.5°C is no longer possible, with a best-case peak around 1.8°C, pushing governments toward “overshoot, peak and decline” and faster cuts plus limited carbon removal. Nepal Flood Aftermath: Nepal is shifting from rescue to recovery as deaths top 1,000 and thousands remain missing, including workers trapped in hydropower tunnels; the foreign minister argues Nepal deserves climate compensation, not charity. Offshore Wind Legal Fight: California AG Bonta and the CEC issue a notice of intent to sue over a Trump-era offshore wind lease buyout that would redirect $1.22B to fossil-fuel projects. Rooftop Solar Push: Delhi approved a second amendment to its solar policy, offering zero-upfront rooftop solar up to 3 kW for eligible households and speeding net-metering approvals to 25 days. Grid-Scale Solar Progress: Adani Green operationalized a 139 MW solar project at Khavda, lifting its operational renewable capacity to 20,280.8 MW and adding major BESS capacity. Hybrid Solar Procurement: Uttar Pradesh issued a tender for hybrid rooftop solar on government buildings with mandatory battery storage and multi-year warranties. Solar + EV at Airports: Grand Junction Regional Airport opened covered parking with a 668 kW rooftop solar array and EV charging. Data Centers vs Power Costs: Singapore banks back a $5B sustainability-linked loan for a data-centre acquisition tied to renewable energy and “green” portfolio targets. Battery Storage Plan: A proposal in the UK would repurpose a power-station site into a 50 MW long-duration vanadium flow battery project.

Solar Deal: India’s BEST signed a 25-year PPA with SECI for 220 MW of solar plus 110 MW/440 MWh storage, lifting expected green share to 43% in Mumbai. Rooftop Push: Delhi approved free solar panels for about 2.3 lakh households (with the government covering maintenance), aiming to finish rollout by March 2027. Grid Flexibility Rule: India’s power ministry lets developers store T-GNA curtailed renewable power in co-located BESS and sell it in the open market. Clean Power Investment: Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners bought Australia’s Gawara Baya hybrid wind (408 MW) and battery (104 MW) project, targeting full operation in 2030. Bioeconomy in Action: Ireland opened a €3m grass biorefinery on a Cork farm to turn fresh grass into feed, bioenergy, and biofertiliser. UAE Targets: The UAE raised its clean energy goal to 35% by 2030-2031, citing cheaper renewables and longer battery storage. Disaster Watch: Nepal flood rescue efforts continue for workers trapped in hydropower tunnels, with deaths topping 1,000 and nearly 4,000 missing. Green Buildings: Malaysia’s KPKT became the first ministry to earn GreenRE Gold under an existing non-residential building rating.

Nepal Flood Response: Nepal’s Bhotekoshi/Trishuli flash floods have killed 903 and left 4,247 missing, with rescue teams drilling, digging and using controlled blasts to reach hundreds of hydropower workers feared trapped in blocked tunnels; Nepal says it’s now leaning on foreign tunnel-rescue and forensic support as communications and access remain badly damaged. Hydropower Risk & Recovery: The disaster has exposed how vulnerable hydropower corridors are in warming Himalayas, with hundreds of workers still unaccounted for across 11 projects and electricity infrastructure hit in Rasuwa. Solar & Grid Momentum (Australia): Australia’s clean energy transition is accelerating as the Clean Energy Regulator reports record solar investment decisions and strong battery uptake, driven by policy and falling storage costs. Rooftop/Community Solar Push: Nigeria sees fresh capital for solar mini-grids to expand access in underserved states, while Nepal’s rural communities increasingly turn to solar and biogas as power reliability remains uneven. Data Centers vs Power: A new wave of public pushback and policy debate continues around data centers’ electricity and water impacts. Energy Policy Debate: Letters and commentary keep arguing over whether renewables, nuclear, or other options best meet energy needs.

Hydropower Disaster Response (Nepal): Nepal’s flood-linked hydropower crisis deepened as rescuers reported no one found in the Rasuwagadhi tunnel while 93 workers remain untraced, and teams pressed on across 11 other flood-hit sites where 897 are still out of contact; a controlled blast targeted the Upper Trishuli-3A blockage to clear concrete, boulders and mud, with ventilation and drilling used to push access deeper. Climate Risk & Resilience: Scientists say the Nepal tragedy fits a wider pattern: warming that thaws ice and permafrost can trigger cascading floods, turning mountain hazards into cross-border power and safety shocks. Energy Storage & Manufacturing (India): India’s BESS build-out is accelerating—8.7 GWh installed by H1 2026 and 53 GWh in execution—raising the key question of whether India can localize manufacturing fast enough to cut import dependence. Solar Policy & Access (California): Two new California bills aim to expand solar for renters and condos via community solar and plug-in “balcony solar,” tackling barriers created by utility pushback. Clean Energy Deals (South Africa): Cape Town signed solar power purchase agreements to buy electricity up to 21% cheaper than Eskom, linking pricing increases to inflation. Project Finance & Tax (Cuba): Cuba’s tax authority approved a one-year sales tax exemption on renewable energy technologies to boost investment.

Nepal Floods and Hydropower Rescue: Nepal’s death toll from the Nepal–Tibet flash floods rose to about 804, with nearly 3,300 still missing, including 933 hydropower workers; rescue teams are drilling and digging toward blocked tunnels such as Trishuli 3A as families identify bodies at overwhelmed morgues. Solar Cost Push: Australia’s ARENA will invest $105.6m in 20 solar R&D projects to drive down PV costs and boost next-gen module efficiency, aiming for cheaper, large-scale solar farms. Renewables Dealmaking in Egypt: Egypt and Masdar are accelerating solar, wind and battery-storage projects to lift renewables to a 45% share by 2028, including major wind and solar-plus-storage pipelines. Rooftop Solar Rollout: India’s GK Energy won an INR 454.5 crore empanelment to install 100 MW of rooftop solar across 100,000 households, with design, build and 5-year O&M. Policy Clash in Victoria: Australia’s One Nation says it would delay Loy Yang’s closure and cancel offshore wind in Gippsland, sparking backlash over jobs and power reliability. Hydropower Damage in Nepal: Separate reporting says the Bhotekoshi floods damaged at least 13 hydropower projects and transmission assets, threatening generation and raising reconstruction costs.

Renewables in Corporate Power Deals: First Gen will supply 25+ MW of geothermal power to Alliance Global Group properties across Metro Manila, Iloilo and Laguna, backing AGI’s push for carbon neutrality by 2035. Grid Reliability vs Fossil Backstop: The Philippines’ DOE is drafting a policy to force stalled coal projects (exempt from the 2020 moratorium) to either build or surrender permits, aiming to unlock up to 5 GW amid aging coal outages. Disaster Tech vs On-the-Ground Limits (Nepal): Nepal’s flood response is leaning on drones, GIS, satellite tools and AI, but rescuers still lack specialized gear to reach people trapped under mud in hydropower tunnels. Himalayan Flood Fallout (Energy Infrastructure): Nepal Electricity Authority says Bhotekoshi floods may have caused hundreds of billions of rupees in damage across hydropower and transmission, while death tolls near 800 and thousands remain missing. Tribal Clean Energy Finance: A $1.7M grant will help a tribal wood-and-biomass hub build financeable projects, aiming to mobilize $5M+ in infrastructure investment. Energy Resilience for Defense: A Native-led JV won a $45M U.S. Army microgrid contract for Fort Buchanan, combining renewables, batteries and controls for up to 14 days during outages.

Himalayan Disaster Response: Nepal’s glacier-driven floods on the Nepal–China border have killed at least 734 and left about 3,000 missing, with rescue teams still racing through mud-choked hydropower tunnels—after Nepali forces began pumping air through a small opening at Trishuli 3A. Public Health & Relief: Flood-hit areas are running short on medicines and safe water, raising fears of a secondary health crisis as displaced families wait in camps. Energy Infrastructure Shock: The disaster has damaged hydropower projects and buried a solar site in Nuwakot, while authorities warn rising Bhote Koshi river flows could disrupt ongoing operations. Cross-Border Aid & Coordination: Nepal’s foreign minister says the country is not rejecting help and is seeking specialized tunnel-rescue and forensic support from India and China. Grid & Cost Pressure (Greece): Greece faces another autumn squeeze as wholesale power prices jump and renewables output dips, leaving the system more exposed to gas-fired generation. Renewables Dealmaking (Egypt–Masdar): Egypt and Masdar discussed accelerating solar, wind and battery projects, aiming to raise renewables’ share toward 45% by 2028. Local Green Energy Push (Kenya): SMEs are being urged to adopt rooftop solar and mini-grids to cut costs and stabilize production.