Benin

TOPCon 4.0 vs HJT: the financial trade-off in the solar sector in 2026

As the photovoltaic industry enters a phase of deep restructuring, the duel between TOPCon 4.0 and heterojunction technologies is redefining manufacturers’ margins. In 2026, reducing production costs becomes the primary strategic lever for global market leaders.

JA Solar and Trinasolar Lead a Global Solar Market in Crisis

JA Solar and Trinasolar top Wood Mackenzie’s latest semiannual ranking despite a sector-wide net loss of $2.2 billion. Industrial leaders are strengthening their grip on global photovoltaic module supply through rigorous financial discipline.

Egypt launches $220mn solar complex in the Suez Canal zone

The ATUM Solar industrial complex, located in Ain Sokhna, will include three factories—two of 2 GW capacity—backed by a $220mn investment from an international consortium.
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Venezuelan oil: Caracas maintains exports despite US naval blockade

The Venezuelan national oil company has confirmed the continuity of its crude exports, as the United States enforces a maritime blockade targeting sanctioned vessels operating around the country.

Future Fund Oman engage $1.2bn pour accélérer 141 projets énergétiques et industriels

Le fonds souverain omanais a validé 141 projets en 2025 pour un engagement total de $1.2bn, visant à renforcer l’indépendance énergétique et l’industrialisation nationale à travers un programme d’investissement de $5.2bn.

Beijing opens major energy projects to private capital to revive investment

Chinese authorities authorise increased private sector participation in strategic energy projects, including nuclear, hydropower and transmission networks, in an effort to revitalise slowing domestic investment.
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Newcleo considers shifting €16bn nuclear projects from the UK to the United States

Faced with shorter approval timelines, several European nuclear firms, including Newcleo, Orano and Urenco, are considering relocating key industrial investments to the United States.

Envision and Statera partner on 680MW storage project in the United Kingdom

China's Envision Energy will supply a 680MW battery storage system to UK-based Statera Energy as part of the Carrington project, one of the largest in the country to reach financial close.

Jinhong Gas invests in Spain with a strategic cryogenic unit

Chinese group Jinhong Gas finalises a new industrial investment in Spain, marking its first European establishment and strengthening its global strategy in the industrial gas sector.
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CBAK Energy posts 36.5% revenue increase in Q3 driven by Hitrans

Driven by the recovery in the raw materials market, CBAK Energy posted a sharp rise in revenue in the third quarter, while its battery business enters a complex industrial transition.

Sinopec accelerates on SAF and carbon credits to secure European markets by 2025

The Chinese giant targets 120 kt of SAF trading in 2025 and expands into European carbon markets, banking on ReFuelEU and CORSIA mandates to capture growing regulated demand.

Global renewable capacity to reach 793 GW in 2025 despite limited political ambitions

Global solar and wind additions will hit a new record in 2025, but the lack of ambitious national targets creates uncertainty around achieving a tripling by 2030.
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Indonesia records 836 Mt coal output in 2024 despite falling revenues

Indonesia’s coal overproduction has cut state revenues and company profits, while methane emissions from mines far exceed official figures.

OMS Energy turns to AI and robotics to capture global pipeline inspection market

OMS Energy is accelerating investments in artificial intelligence and robotics to position itself in the growing pipeline inspection and maintenance sector, a strategic segment with higher margins than traditional equipment manufacturing.

South Korea under industrial pressure over emissions targets deemed unrealistic

South Korean refiners warn of excessive emissions targets as government considers cuts of up to 60% from 2018 levels.
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Orano recovers its representative in Niger amid growing nuclear tensions

French nuclear group Orano has confirmed the release of its representative in Niger, detained since May, as tensions remain high with the country’s junta over control of uranium assets.

China could reach its CO2 emissions peak around 2028, experts say

An international group of researchers now forecasts a Chinese emissions peak by 2028, despite recent signs of decline, increasing uncertainty over the country’s energy transition pace.

Pylontech opens subsidiary in Australia to support energy storage investments

Chinese manufacturer Pylontech strengthens its international investment strategy by launching a local entity in Australia to accelerate the deployment of its energy storage solutions.
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JA Solar to supply 1.2 GW of modules for two photovoltaic projects in Uzbekistan

JA Solar has signed an agreement with Larsen & Toubro to supply photovoltaic modules for the Samarkand 1 and 2 solar power plants, developed by ACWA Power with a total installed capacity of 1.2 GW.

EDF, SPIC and SAPCO consortium secures financing for 1,400 MW solar projects in Saudi Arabia

Two photovoltaic plants with a combined capacity of 1,400 MW will be operational in 2027, strengthening EDF Group's international presence and Asian actors in Saudi Arabia's energy market.

Washington eases penalties on LNG exports tied to US ship rules

The US government has withdrawn its proposal to suspend liquefied natural gas export licences for failure to comply with maritime requirements, while maintaining a phased implementation schedule.

Gotion High-Tech unveils 20 MWh mega battery to support Riyadh

Gotion High-Tech presented in Saudi Arabia a modular 20 MWh storage solution aimed at strengthening the country's energy capacity under its Vision 2030 strategy.

GCL equips 146,000 modules for 76 MW agrivoltaic solar plant in Germany

The Tützpatz solar project, developed by Vattenfall and powered by GCL System Integration, combines energy production and agricultural use across 93 hectares without public funding.
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Battery prices in Asia-Pacific drop to record lows through 2029

Utility-scale battery storage system costs continue to fall across Asia-Pacific, but the pace of reductions is expected to slow significantly by 2029, according to Wood Mackenzie projections.

StarCharge signs 500MWh contract with ENERGY INVESTMENT LLC in Eastern Europe

StarCharge has secured a 500MWh energy storage order through a strategic agreement with ENERGY INVESTMENT LLC, strengthening its position in rapidly evolving Eastern European markets.

JA Solar begins mass production of its 650W DeepBlue 5.0 solar modules

Chinese manufacturer JA Solar has started initial deliveries of its 650W n-type DeepBlue 5.0 module from its automated production site in Yangzhou.
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Low attendance of world leaders at COP30 despite climate and logistical urgency

The COP30 conference hosted in the Amazon by Brazil faces low participation from global leaders, amid geopolitical tensions and major logistical challenges.

Sungrow and ENGIE activate 400 MWh of Europe’s largest storage project

The Vilvoorde site in Belgium now hosts 400 MWh of operational capacity on a total 800 MWh project, marking a key milestone for electricity storage on the continent.

China’s crude oil imports rise 3.9% in September

China imported an average of 11.5 million barrels of crude oil per day in September, supported by higher refining rates among both state-run and independent operators.
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Unipec redirects supertanker to Ningbo after US sanctions

The New Vista vessel, loaded with Abu Dhabi crude, avoided Rizhao port after the United States sanctioned the oil terminal partly operated by a Sinopec subsidiary.

India invests $77 billion in large-scale hydroelectric plan amid China tensions

New Delhi plans to allocate INR6.4tn ($77bn) to develop transmission infrastructure for 76 GW of electricity from the Brahmaputra Basin by 2047, amid growing cross-border pressures.

Australia loses Asian markets for seaborne thermal coal

Falling Chinese imports and Asia’s regional pivot increase pressure on Australian thermal coal exporters.
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Washington targets Iranian oil with new sanctions on phantom fleet

The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on more than 50 entities linked to Iranian oil exports, targeting Chinese refineries and vessels registered in Asia and Africa.

Goldwind launches green methanol production in Inner Mongolia with CNY2.3bn investment

The first phase of a green methanol project in Inner Mongolia has successfully completed biomass gasifier technical tests, marking a key milestone in Goldwind's industrial deployment.

Ming Yang plans £1.5bn wind turbine factory in Scotland

Chinese manufacturer Ming Yang plans to build the UK’s largest wind turbine facility in Ardersier, with an initial £750mn investment and up to 1,500 jobs created by 2028.
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Maersk and CATL enter global strategic partnership for energy logistics

Maersk and CATL have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding to strengthen global logistics cooperation and develop large-scale electrification solutions across the supply chain.

Chinese refineries cut Iranian crude purchases by 46% in September

Import quotas exhaustion and falling demand push Chinese independent refineries to sharply reduce Iranian crude volumes, affecting supply levels and putting downward pressure on prices.

Used oil imports multiply twentyfold under pressure from biofuels

Global demand for biofuels is driving a sharp increase in used oil imports to Europe and the United States, straining global feedstock supply chains, according to the International Energy Agency.
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Singapore distillate stocks rise above 10 million barrels

Singapore’s gasoil and kerosene inventories reached a three-month high after a sharp weekly drop in net exports, supported by a marked increase in imports from Northeast Asia.

Ineos cuts 60 jobs in the UK and calls for antidumping duties

Amid rising energy costs and a surge in cheap imports, Ineos announces a 20% workforce reduction at its Hull acetyls site and urges urgent action against foreign competition.