https://www.scmp.com/rss/509878/feed Latest news and analysis about non-fossil fuel energy, including electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, solar, wind and wave energy. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Scientists in China have identified a new type of rare earths formation in the frigid northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin – a discovery that could challenge assumptions about how rare earths occur across the country. Unlike the clay-heavy deposits of southern China – which require chemical leaching to release the elements – the northern formations consist of loose sand and gravel formed by natural freeze-thaw cycles. This difference could make extraction more efficient, less costly... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3353922/china-rare-earth-breakthrough-icy-northeast-could-cement-countrys-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3353922/china-rare-earth-breakthrough-icy-northeast-could-cement-countrys-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Taxi driver Ravi Ranjan, who lives with his wife and child in New Delhi, said shipping disruptions caused by the Iran war had forced him to pay higher prices for cooking fuel at a time when India’s prime minister was also urging residents to reduce driving and travel. It was all hitting his bottom line, Ranjan said, as he was paying three times as much for liquid petroleum gas after facing delays on delivery of the cooking fuel. “I used to get a cylinder of LPG for 1,000 rupees (US$10), now I... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3353785/iran-war-fallout-triggers-massive-biofuel-shift-across-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3353785/iran-war-fallout-triggers-massive-biofuel-shift-across-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 00:59:10 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji South and Southeast Asian nations may emerge as unexpected clean energy beneficiaries after the Green Party of England and Wales made record-breaking gains in recent UK local council elections, according to analysts. The Greens expanded their footprint in the May 7 council elections, capitalising on widespread voter disillusionment with Britain’s two major parties, Labour and Conservative. It was the party’s best-ever performance in a local election. While Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3353672/greening-uk-politics-could-mean-big-business-asian-renewable-exporters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3353672/greening-uk-politics-could-mean-big-business-asian-renewable-exporters?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 06:45:17 +0000 Brian Y. S. Wong Brian Y. S. Wong With the war in the Middle East entering its third month, questions have surfaced over its geopolitical ramifications in the region and beyond. An entity that has drawn particular scrutiny is Brics. The 10-member grouping is defined less by a clear set of common values and more by contingently overlapping interests. It does not and cannot speak with one voice on the conflict. Two Brics members, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), are at loggerheads: Tehran has launched missile and drone... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3352951/brics-doesnt-need-unified-voice-iran-war-have-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3352951/brics-doesnt-need-unified-voice-iran-war-have-future?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 21:30:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s economy first took off as a trading hub, and then as a global financial centre. Given its advantageous location, it’s only natural that it should be a logistics and transport powerhouse. It’s not for nothing that some of our most famous tycoons of the last century made their names in shipping. Since major ports along coastal China have taken some of the shine off the city, it is even more important that we stay competitive and maintain our strategic maritime edge. That includes... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352866/hong-kongs-maritime-edge-real-its-not-cause-complacency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352866/hong-kongs-maritime-edge-real-its-not-cause-complacency?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 22:45:10 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang Beijing is moving to make green electricity usage a key metric in the operation of new data centre projects, as part of a major push to align the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence with national carbon goals, according to an action plan released Friday. The policy document, jointly released by four bodies – the National Energy Administration, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and National Data Administration – encouraged operators... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352983/beijing-pushes-ai-data-centres-adopt-green-energy-under-action-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3352983/beijing-pushes-ai-data-centres-adopt-green-energy-under-action-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 08:06:24 +0000 Dominik Mierzejewski Dominik Mierzejewski As Beijing increasingly sees the country as a chessboard, the central government is no longer simply asking every province to grow faster; it wants them to grow differently. Reporting on the end of the 14th five-year plan and preparation for the 15th five-year plan frames provinces and cities as specialised implementation units, reflecting a territorial division of labour. The central government wants provinces to find their rightful place in national development and act in accordance with their... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352501/why-beijing-wants-provinces-find-their-own-productive-forces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352501/why-beijing-wants-provinces-find-their-own-productive-forces?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 12:30:05 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Beijing says it firmly opposes the European Commission’s decision to cut EU funding for clean energy projects that use Chinese inverters, denouncing the move as “unfair and discriminatory” and vowing to take action to defend the interests of its firms. “Without any substantive evidence, the European side has for the first time designated China as a so-called ‘high-risk country’ … this constitutes a smearing of China,” the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Thursday. It warned that... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352796/china-vows-action-after-eu-cuts-funding-green-projects-using-chinese-inverters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352796/china-vows-action-after-eu-cuts-funding-green-projects-using-chinese-inverters?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 12:28:05 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Profit trajectories between automotive assemblers and electric vehicle (EV) battery producers in China are set to diverge further due to lacklustre car sales and buoyant demand for energy-storage systems. Leading players, including China’s EV battery king Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL), would continue to attract buying interest in their shares, spurred by improved profitability, according to analysts. They added that flat vehicle prices, coupled with a dip in new car sales, had... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3352561/falling-sales-widen-profit-gap-between-chinas-ev-makers-and-battery-suppliers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3352561/falling-sales-widen-profit-gap-between-chinas-ev-makers-and-battery-suppliers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu The European Union’s push to bar Chinese suppliers from its critical infrastructure under a proposed new Cybersecurity Act would cost the bloc a jaw-dropping €367.8 billion (US$431.4 billion) over the next five years, a new study has warned. The law’s vast price tag comes from the need to rip out and replace huge amounts of Chinese hardware – a task that alone could cost €146.2 billion – with other losses stemming from resource reallocation, service disruptions, employment adjustments and legal... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352610/eu-cyber-plan-barring-chinese-suppliers-will-cost-us430-billion-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352610/eu-cyber-plan-barring-chinese-suppliers-will-cost-us430-billion-report?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 08:59:46 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Across much of India, an energy crunch caused by the Iran war has prompted long queues for cooking gas cylinders. That is not a problem for Gauri Devi. On a stove with blue flames, she flips a chapatti flatbread, burning biogas produced from cow dung – an alternative fuel helping ease pressure on supplies. “It cooks everything,” the 25-year-old said in her courtyard kitchen in Nekpur, a village in Uttar Pradesh, about 90km (55 miles) from New Delhi. “If the pressure goes down, we let it rest for... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3352585/how-cow-dung-beating-indias-cooking-gas-crunch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3352585/how-cow-dung-beating-indias-cooking-gas-crunch?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 07:13:48 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Canadian Solar, one of the industry’s most exposed players to US-China tensions, is expanding the role of its Hong Kong operations as it reshapes its global business to weather a deepening downturn and rising geopolitical pressure, positioning the city as a hub for financing, talent and technology development, according to its board director. The Nasdaq-listed group, founded in 2001 by Chinese entrepreneur Shawn Qu, has been grappling with increasingly stringent compliance requirements from... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352524/canadian-solar-elevates-hong-kong-role-amid-industry-slump-and-geopolitical-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3352524/canadian-solar-elevates-hong-kong-role-amid-industry-slump-and-geopolitical-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Mohamad Zreik Mohamad Zreik For decades, the Strait of Hormuz has been a narrow passage with a big footprint. Whenever it comes under tension, the world is reminded that energy security is less a policy construct than an everyday reality for Asia’s economies, factories and prices. For China, Japan, South Korea, India and Southeast Asia, it has always been more than just a Middle Eastern problem. It is an Asian economic issue. This is why we should not interpret the latest Gulf tensions solely in terms of naval forces,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352077/how-china-gulf-ties-can-turn-energy-vulnerability-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352077/how-china-gulf-ties-can-turn-energy-vulnerability-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Finbarr Bermingham Xiaofei Xu,Finbarr Bermingham The EU has taken its most direct step yet to cut Chinese clean energy hardware out of publicly funded projects, banning Chinese inverters from all EU-funded schemes in a move Brussels described as the first in a series of actions targeting high-risk suppliers. “We decided we will take concrete action right now … that has included developing guidance on restricting the use of EU funds for projects involving inverters from high-risk suppliers,” European Commission spokeswoman Siobhan McGarry said... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352435/brussels-bans-chinese-inverters-eu-funded-power-projects-connected-european-grid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352435/brussels-bans-chinese-inverters-eu-funded-power-projects-connected-european-grid?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 02:57:16 +0000 Zhou Xiaoming Zhou Xiaoming In global discourse, a script has been handed to us: the United States and China are locked in a “tech race”. But this is really a misnomer. True competition requires a level playing field. When one runner trips the other to ensure victory, it’s not a competition; it’s cheating. So, when Washington deploys an arsenal of sanctions, export controls and diplomatic strong-arming to hamstring China’s technological ascent, it is not competing. It is an act of suppression. This reflects a deliberate... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352098/how-us-tech-hegemony-locking-out-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352098/how-us-tech-hegemony-locking-out-global-south?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China’s first large-scale project to supply renewable energy directly to data centres started operating on Saturday. The opening of the plant in the northwestern region of Ningxia, a major centre for wind and solar power, comes as Beijing tries to balance increased demand for electricity and computing power with its decarbonisation goals. The project has a solar capacity of 500 megawatts – with a further 1.5 gigawatts of wind power planned by the end of the year – and is integrated to a cloud... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352270/china-powers-first-green-energy-project-direct-link-data-centre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352270/china-powers-first-green-energy-project-direct-link-data-centre?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 09:29:14 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China is flexing its dominance over the global supply chain – claiming the world’s largest reserves of 14 essential minerals, including rare earths and graphite – while preparing to ramp up exploration through the end of the decade. The Ministry of Natural Resources disclosed the information at a monthly media briefing on Wednesday, vowing that China would continue accelerating its search for minerals during the 15th five-year plan period spanning 2026 to 2030. The message underscores Beijing’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351864/trumps-visit-china-touts-mineral-dominance-fortifies-resource-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351864/trumps-visit-china-touts-mineral-dominance-fortifies-resource-security?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China’s top market regulator is intensifying its crackdown on debt-laden “zombie companies” – rolling out a pilot programme in seven economic hubs to facilitate the forced exit of unprofitable firms often propped up by government subsidies or bank loans. The move signals a broadening of Beijing’s campaign against local protectionism and the low-quality vicious competition that officials say results in neijuan, or “involution”. With a change to China’s Company Law, the State Administration for... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351794/china-targets-zombies-regulatory-headshots-kill-subsidised-laggards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351794/china-targets-zombies-regulatory-headshots-kill-subsidised-laggards?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:30:08 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao China Resources Power (CRP), one of the largest mainland power producers listed in Hong Kong, has received approval to spin off its renewable energy arm for a separate listing in Shenzhen, marking a key step in a years-long plan to tap capital markets amid strong demand for new energy. The Shenzhen Stock Exchange’s listing committee approved the proposed A-share offering of China Resources New Energy Holdings on April 28, according to a filing by CRP. The deal, however, still required... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351785/china-resources-power-wins-shenzhen-nod-renewable-energy-units-listing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351785/china-resources-power-wins-shenzhen-nod-renewable-energy-units-listing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:15:10 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Battery makers and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers have seized on the Beijing Auto Show to showcase technologies promising shorter charging times in a race triggered by BYD and Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL). Fast-charging technology has dominated the floor at the 10-day event which runs until May 3. Second-tier Chinese battery suppliers including CALB Group, EVE Energy and Sunwoda unveiled products capable of boosting power to 70 per cent, from a starting point of 10 per cent,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3351662/need-speed-chinas-ev-battery-makers-race-cut-charging-times-under-10-minutes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3351662/need-speed-chinas-ev-battery-makers-race-cut-charging-times-under-10-minutes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Shares of Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) tumbled in Hong Kong on Tuesday following the announcement of a plan to raise HK$39.2 billion (US$5 billion) from a share placement to fund expansion of its renewables business amid a global oil crunch. The world’s largest manufacturer of batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage slumped 6.9 per cent to close at HK$629, the steepest decline since October 10, 2025. The company’s yuan-denominated shares held up relatively well, slipping... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351629/catl-plans-raise-us5-billion-private-placement-fund-renewables-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351629/catl-plans-raise-us5-billion-private-placement-fund-renewables-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:42:18 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu Last month, Hong Kong completed its first green methanol bunkering operation, a significant step in its efforts to support the decarbonisation of global shipping. As the maritime industry accelerates its transition towards cleaner fuels, this milestone signals Hong Kong’s intent to remain relevant. The global blue economy, defined as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and environmental health, is gaining urgency. No longer confined to environmental discussions, it is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350737/hong-kong-recalibrates-blue-economy-offers-anchor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350737/hong-kong-recalibrates-blue-economy-offers-anchor?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) has taken a leap forward in commercialising sodium-ion batteries, signing a large supply contract with an energy-storage system (ESS) provider amid high demand for power infrastructure after the global oil shock. The world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) and ESS battery maker announced on Monday that it would deliver 60 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of sodium-ion batteries to Beijing HyperStrong Technology over three years in a landmark deal for the new battery... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351601/chinas-catl-touts-landmark-order-deepseek-moment-sodium-ion-batteries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351601/chinas-catl-touts-landmark-order-deepseek-moment-sodium-ion-batteries?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:16:17 +0000 Chao Kong Chao Kong Chinese scientists have achieved a breakthrough in “all-iron flow battery” technology that could sharply reduce the cost of storing renewable energy while significantly extending battery lifespan. Lithium costs over 80 times more than iron as a raw industrial material at present. An iron battery may offer a potential solution to one of the biggest bottlenecks in the global energy transition, according to the researchers. A team from the Institute of Metal Research under the Chinese Academy of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351111/china-unveils-ultra-cheap-all-iron-battery-renewable-energy-storage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351111/china-unveils-ultra-cheap-all-iron-battery-renewable-energy-storage?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 03:59:44 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao China’s solar giant Sungrow Power Supply has filed a fresh application to list in Hong Kong, reviving plans initiated last year, as a wave of mainland companies seeks offshore funding to support overseas expansion. The Shenzhen-listed solar inverter and energy storage system maker submitted its latest application proof to the Hong Kong stock exchange after an earlier filing in October lapsed, according to exchange disclosures late on Friday. Sungrow, one of the world’s largest suppliers of... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351515/chinas-solar-giant-sungrow-revives-hong-kong-ipo-plan-amid-rising-demand-clean-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351515/chinas-solar-giant-sungrow-revives-hong-kong-ipo-plan-amid-rising-demand-clean-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 03:55:24 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan is planning to build what could become the world’s largest floating wind farm – a gigawatt-scale project off the Izu Islands to power the island chain and Tokyo. But the plan, championed by Governor Yuriko Koike, is facing questions over whether it can be delivered by 2035. There are also doubts about the power generation forecast and whether Japan could tackle the technical demands of such a megaproject. Koike first announced the wind farm project at a climate change conference in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351366/japan-aims-build-worlds-largest-wind-farm-can-it-power-2035?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351366/japan-aims-build-worlds-largest-wind-farm-can-it-power-2035?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:17 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Chinese scientists have developed a way to generate electricity and achieve higher energy efficiency than conventional burning methods, while producing zero carbon dioxide emissions, by placing coal inside a “battery”. “Coal-fired power” conjures images of heavy pollution, steep carbon footprints and modest efficiency. But a novel, direct coal power technology challenges that stereotype by eliminating combustion entirely and sidestepping the carbon dioxide emissions that have long defined coal... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351241/china-unveils-worlds-first-coal-fuel-cell-can-produce-electricity-zero-emission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3351241/china-unveils-worlds-first-coal-fuel-cell-can-produce-electricity-zero-emission?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Wesley Morgan,Ben Newell Wesley Morgan,Ben Newell US President Donald Trump is a long-time climate denier and oil industry ally, who sums up his own energy policy as “drill, baby, drill”. Yet he is doing more than almost anyone to speed up the global shift from fossil fuels to clean energy and electric vehicles. After the US and Israel struck Iran in late February, Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz and triggered the largest disruption of oil supply in history. Ironically for Trump and his oil industry donors, this crisis may be an irreversible... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3351337/trumps-oil-crisis-accelerating-end-fossil-fuel-era?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3351337/trumps-oil-crisis-accelerating-end-fossil-fuel-era?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 07:00:09 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Amid geopolitical tensions, China’s Tianqi Lithium has decided to skip Africa and will stick to domestic salt lakes to secure the supply of a battery mineral, according to its president Frank Ha Chun-shing. The move comes as the oil shock stemming from Middle Eastern conflicts is driving up global demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and battery energy storage systems (BESSs). Lithium, which can be extracted from hard rock and salt flat brines, can be processed into lithium carbonate, a raw... https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3351363/chinas-tianqi-lithium-favour-domestic-salt-lakes-over-africa-amid-resource-nationalism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/3351363/chinas-tianqi-lithium-favour-domestic-salt-lakes-over-africa-amid-resource-nationalism?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 23:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster in the Soviet Union, the world’s most infamous nuclear accident. For decades, the shadow of Chernobyl – and later the Fukushima meltdown in Japan following an earthquake and a tsunami – cast doubt on the safety of nuclear energy. Yet amid current geopolitical turmoil and energy insecurity, nuclear power is once again at the centre of global debate. The immediate trigger is the crisis in the Middle East. The blockade of oil and gas... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351285/learn-chernobyl-world-turns-nuclear-energy-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351285/learn-chernobyl-world-turns-nuclear-energy-again?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 23:15:13 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu The wind industry smells opportunity in Europe. At an expo in Madrid this week, the convention floor was abuzz as hundreds of European, American, Japanese and Korean exhibitors vied to pitch their products, knowing the continent urgently needs to shore up its energy security amid the US-Israel war on Iran. But there was one glaring absence: not a single company operating a booth was Chinese, with China’s participants only networking from the sidelines. At a time when many in Europe seek a rapid... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351318/its-tightrope-why-europe-faces-china-dilemma-over-its-wind-power-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351318/its-tightrope-why-europe-faces-china-dilemma-over-its-wind-power-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:30:08 +0000 SCMP Plus SCMP Plus This document was translated from Chinese into English using Alibaba’s Qwen3.6-Plus, then checked and tweaked for accuracy by a South China Morning Post journalist. It is for reference only, and is not the official English version of the original Chinese document. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3351317/explaining-chinas-new-carbon-emissions-reduction-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3351317/explaining-chinas-new-carbon-emissions-reduction-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:34:34 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China has released new guidelines to reduce carbon emissions across strategic sectors – including energy-intensive data centres – as Beijing pushes to secure its 2030 climate targets amid volatile energy prices triggered by the US-Israeli war in Iran. The 18-point document, issued by the ruling Communist Party’s powerful Central Committee and the State Council, China’s cabinet, called on heavy industries – including steel, non-ferrous metals and chemicals – to boost energy efficiency and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351131/china-targets-greener-ai-data-centres-heavy-industry-push-meet-2030-climate-goals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351131/china-targets-greener-ai-data-centres-heavy-industry-push-meet-2030-climate-goals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji The Iran war has done in two months what years of climate policy could not: make green hydrogen look economically viable. Soaring oil and gas prices since February’s outbreak of hostilities have narrowed the cost gap between the zero-emission fuel and its fossil rivals, paving the way for wider uptake across Asia. The eight-week US-Israeli war on Iran, Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) complex have sent Asian fuel... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351139/iran-war-makes-green-hydrogen-viable-asia-fossil-fuel-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351139/iran-war-makes-green-hydrogen-viable-asia-fossil-fuel-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:33:00 +0000 Jevans Nyabiage Jevans Nyabiage China is backing Namibia’s bid to move beyond raw material exports by supporting the domestic processing of critical minerals and uranium. In a joint communique issued on Friday following talks in Beijing between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterpart, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, China pledged to help transform Namibia’s natural resources into higher-value products through domestic processing and downstream cooperation. Namibia has exported unprocessed minerals for decades. It is now seeking... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350979/why-china-backs-namibias-nuclear-fuel-rod-production?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3350979/why-china-backs-namibias-nuclear-fuel-rod-production?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:37:16 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao – https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3350953/chinas-slowing-oil-imports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3350953/chinas-slowing-oil-imports?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:17:47 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Beijing is putting its power strategy under the microscope as China navigates the impact of a shipping crisis in the Strait of Hormuz that risks becoming a long-term economic liability. Calling energy security a pillar of national stability, Premier Li Qiang on Monday convened a high-level study session of the State Council, China’s Cabinet, according to Xinhua. The meeting, focused on coordinating energy security and the sector’s transformation, was the latest in a series of policy discussions... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350896/china-confronts-middle-east-supply-shock-state-council-mulls-energy-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350896/china-confronts-middle-east-supply-shock-state-council-mulls-energy-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As the US-Israel war on Iran raises global concerns about energy security, a new report has found that the clean power sector is rapidly gaining ground and emerging as a solution for nations looking to reduce their reliance on oil and gas imports. The world passed a significant turning point in 2025 as clean power generation rose faster than global demand for electricity, preventing an increase in fossil fuel generation, according to the study by London-based energy think tank Ember released on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350759/turning-point-clean-energy-met-100-worlds-new-power-needs-2025-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350759/turning-point-clean-energy-met-100-worlds-new-power-needs-2025-report?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:01:07 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Construction of a US$1 billion Chinese-invested hydropower station has begun in Cambodia to facilitate the Southeast Asian country’s use of renewable energy as the fallout from the Iran war constricts developing countries’ access to traditional fuel supplies. Work on the Upper Tatay pumped-storage hydropower project in the hilly southwestern province of Koh Kong started on April 10, Xinhua reported, describing it as a future “green power bank” for Cambodia’s national grid. It said the project... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350480/china-begins-building-us1-billion-hydropower-station-cambodia-amid-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350480/china-begins-building-us1-billion-hydropower-station-cambodia-amid-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Aidan Jones,Biman Mukherji Aidan Jones,Biman Mukherji The age of cheap oil is over and Thailand’s rooftops are reflecting that fact. Across homes, garages and warehouses in the sun-drenched kingdom, the blue-black sheen of solar panels is spreading, as the Iran war has done what years of climate summits could not: turn solar power into a necessity. Demand for solar panels has swamped companies like Wayso, whose managing director is colouring in Thailand’s rooftops as fast as he can find technicians to do it. “We can’t hire quickly enough,” Suwat... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3350479/shock-therapy-war-forces-oil-addicted-asia-finally-go-green?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3350479/shock-therapy-war-forces-oil-addicted-asia-finally-go-green?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:11 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng Industry estimates suggest that heavy-duty cargo traffic in China is on track to become nearly 100 per cent electric, a transition that could halve the country’s road transport oil consumption. Speaking at a forum on intelligent electric vehicle development in Beijing on April 11, Liang Linhe, chairman of Sany Truck – a subsidiary of the Changsha-headquartered multinational Sany Group – said China’s heavy truck sector could eventually be almost entirely electrified, although he did not put a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350463/chinese-trucks-could-go-100-electric-halving-road-transport-oil-use-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3350463/chinese-trucks-could-go-100-electric-halving-road-transport-oil-use-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao – https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3350411/chinas-energy-mismatch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3350411/chinas-energy-mismatch?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:47:44 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Ganfeng Lithium, the world’s largest producer of lithium metal, has issued a strong profit forecast for the first quarter of this year as soaring demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage system (ESS) batteries lifted earnings. The company, based in China’s central Jiangxi province, said in an exchange filing on Thursday that increasing orders had driven up prices of lithium – a key material for EV and ESS batteries – helping it post an estimated profit of 1.6 billion yuan (US$234... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350364/chinas-lithium-giant-ganfeng-sees-profit-jump-demand-evs-and-ess-batteries-soars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350364/chinas-lithium-giant-ganfeng-sees-profit-jump-demand-evs-and-ess-batteries-soars?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:40:24 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Amid heightening global anxieties over energy security fuelled by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, China’s top energy regulator has pledged to accelerate the development of its hydrogen industry, hailing the fuel as a “strategic lever” to fortify national energy resilience. The National Energy Administration (NEA) called for “bold innovation” in the sector during a recent meeting reviewing the progress of hydrogen pilots and outlining future tasks, according to an official readout... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350313/china-fast-tracks-hydrogen-strategy-scale-phase-high-stakes-energy-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350313/china-fast-tracks-hydrogen-strategy-scale-phase-high-stakes-energy-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:00:21 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL), the world’s largest producer of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, rallied to lift its market capitalisation above 2 trillion yuan (US$293.4 billion) after creating a subsidiary to manage its mining assets, signalling a deeper push into the energy storage business. Its Shenzhen-listed shares rose 5.3 per cent to 453.98 yuan on Thursday, At 2.07 trillion yuan, the company ranks as the mainland’s fifth-largest listed firm, Shanghai DZH data shows. Its... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350269/catl-market-cap-tops-us293-billion-shares-surge-mining-arm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350269/catl-market-cap-tops-us293-billion-shares-surge-mining-arm?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:11:18 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Shares of Chinese energy storage system (ESS) maker Sigenergy Technology jumped 103 per cent on their Hong Kong trading debut, as concerns surrounding energy security due to the conflict in the Middle East boost demand for renewable-energy solutions. The Shanghai-based company’s shares opened at HK$581, versus its offer price of HK$324.20. It climbed further and closed at HK$659.50. The firm raised HK$4.4 billion (US$560 million) from its initial public offering. On the grey market on Wednesday... https://www.scmp.com/business/investor-relations/ipo-quote-profile/article/3350260/sigenergy-jumps-83-hong-kong-debut-rising-energy-storage-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/investor-relations/ipo-quote-profile/article/3350260/sigenergy-jumps-83-hong-kong-debut-rising-energy-storage-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:23:05 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji A breakthrough in India’s nuclear power research has been hailed as a defining moment for the country’s energy programme and a step towards self-reliance. Earlier this month, Indian scientists revealed they had achieved criticality, a state of self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, at the Kalpakkam prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) in Tamil Nadu state. The programme promises to harness India’s abundant thorium reserves, which constitute around 25 per cent of global deposits, advancing its... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350138/indias-nuclear-breakthrough-lights-path-energy-independence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350138/indias-nuclear-breakthrough-lights-path-energy-independence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese energy storage firm Sigenergy has ignited a market frenzy with its initial public offering (IPO) plan in Hong Kong, drawing an oversubscription of over 1,000 times, while its listed peer Guoxia Technology enjoyed a rally, as the duo capitalise on the artificial intelligence boom. Shanghai-based Sigenergy, which aims to raise HK$4.4 billion (US$561.6 million) in its IPO, is expected to be 1,414 times oversubscribed, as retail investors borrowed HK$358.6 billion from 17 brokerages,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3350082/how-chinese-energy-storage-firms-sigenergy-guoxia-excited-investors-leveraging-ai-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3350082/how-chinese-energy-storage-firms-sigenergy-guoxia-excited-investors-leveraging-ai-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:21:33 +0000 Joseph Sipalan Joseph Sipalan Malaysia is doubling down on renewables to secure its energy future, its deputy prime minister has said, as the government scrambles to mitigate the fallout from an escalating energy crisis triggered by the Iran war. Tehran all but shut access to the Strait of Hormuz last month in retaliation for the US and Israel’s attacks, disrupting a key energy chokepoint through which about 25 per cent of global seaborne oil trade and nearly a fifth of global liquefied natural gas exports pass – much of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350025/malaysia-races-go-green-iran-war-squeezes-oil-supply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350025/malaysia-races-go-green-iran-war-squeezes-oil-supply?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:13:21 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi The chairmen of China’s battery and solar giants have called for more top-down regulations to rein in cutthroat competition, warning that unchecked overcapacity is squeezing profits and threatening the industry’s stability. Despite tailwinds including the Middle East conflict that could increase demand for renewable products, overcapacity remains a major challenge for industry players. Zhang Tianren, chairman of Tianneng Holding Group – ranked second behind Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd... https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3349627/chinas-battery-solar-bosses-urge-top-down-rules-overcapacity-clouds-industry-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3349627/chinas-battery-solar-bosses-urge-top-down-rules-overcapacity-clouds-industry-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 06:00:15 +0000