Vietnam overtook Australia in terms of commissioned utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, making it a powerhouse in Asia, Kallanish Energy learns.

According to a note released last week by independent research firm Rystad Energy, the Asian country saw a 400-fold increase in capacity, from less than 10 megawatts (MW), to over 4,000 MW in the last year.

Over half of the new capacity was commissioned in June, to meet the Feed in Tariff (FiT) deadline. The average time for construction and commissioning was 275 days, an “exceptional speed,” according to researchers.

Australia’s capacity, on the other hand, rose from 600 MW, to 2,700 MW over the same period, capacity expected to reach 3,500 MW by the end of the year.

“The commissioned capacity in Vietnam has exceeded our high case,” said David Dixon, senior analyst at Rystad Energy, in a release.

“Few would have predicted Vietnamese utility PV to exceed Australia’s by mid-year,” he added.