The European Commission has approved Slovakia’s EUR 1 billion state aid scheme to support clean technology manufacturing, including key components and related critical raw materials. The scheme covers strategic projects in batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, electrolyzers and carbon capture, usage and storage, in line with the EU’s NZIA objectives. Approved under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework, the aid will be provided through grants and income tax relief to support investment by SMEs and large enterprises until Dec. 31, 2030.

Iran’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization has submitted a proposal to deploy 15GW of small-scale solar plants across residential, commercial and agricultural sectors. SATBA said both domestic manufacturing and equipment imports will be needed to support rapid installations, while additional financing support for home solar systems has also been proposed. The program will focus on rooftop, home, commercial and agricultural PV systems, with standardized packages including solar panels, hybrid inverters and batteries. SMM believes Iran is shifting part of its renewable strategy from large-scale plants toward distributed and small-scale solar-plus-storage systems, with equipment supply, financing mechanisms and installation training becoming key factors for implementation.

Ingka Investments, the investment arm of the largest IKEA retailer Ingka Group, has acquired its first two operational solar parks in Spain, expanding its renewable energy footprint across the Iberian market. The acquisition includes the La Oliva Solar Farm in Toledo and a second project in Murcia, which are expected to generate 51 GWh and 55 GWh annually, respectively. Combined, the two facilities will pump 106 GWh of clean electricity into the grid each year. This move builds on Ingka Group's broader strategy to green its value chain, following a 440 MW solar capacity purchase in Germany and Spain in 2022. It also complements Ingka Investments' recent project in Portugal, where the company hybridized an existing wind farm with solar panels. Together, these new Spanish assets and the upgraded Portuguese site are projected to drive the group's total Iberian renewable energy output to 323 GWh per year. To date, Ingka Group has invested or committed a staggering €4.3 billion globally into renewable energy initiatives.

On June 5, 2026, Helios Horizon achieved the world’s first crewed fixed-wing flight powered by solid-state batteries. The test validated solid-state technology in real aviation conditions, showing a 60% energy density improvement (410 Wh/kg) and 15‑minute fast charging. While cost and certification remain challenges, the milestone recalibrates industry expectations and offers a clearer path forward for electric aviation.

[SMM Steel] Swedish steelmaker SSAB announced it supplied low-emission steel for a Vattenfall solar park project in Germany, reflecting growing demand for decarbonized steel in renewable energy infrastructure. More than 9,000 SSAB Zero steel profiles with combined weight of 209 tonnes will be used in solar panel support structures. The company said the steel was produced using low-emission steelmaking technologies aimed at significantly reducing carbon emissions versus conventional blast furnace production.

Steep price reversal: Silver plunged nearly 11% and gold turned volatile after India hiked import duties to 15%, reversing initial post-hike gains. Policy-driven impact: The government raised duties to curb imports, protect forex reserves, and support the rupee amid the West Asia crisis. Market outlook: Higher tariffs may hurt demand, slow industrial imports, and prompt smuggling, while global inflation and dollar strength keep pressure on bullion. Immediate market reaction to duty hike The import duty increase from 6% to 15% on gold and silver triggered a dramatic reversal in silver prices, with MCX silver plunging nearly 11% or ₹32,624 per kilogram in just two sessions. Gold prices also turned volatile, with spot gold trading around 4% below its recent peak as inflation data and a stronger US dollar sapped momentum. The initial rally from higher landed costs was quickly erased as traders booked profits and demand weakened at elevated prices. Economic and policy rationale behind the hike The Finance Ministry's move to restore the earlier higher duty structure aims to curb non-essential imports, safeguard foreign exchange reserves, and support macroeconomic stability amid the West Asia crisis. Officials highlighted the need to prioritise forex for essential imports like crude oil and fertilisers, noting the rupee’s record low this year. The hike follows Prime Minister Modi’s call for citizens to avoid non-essential gold purchases, reversing 2024’s duty cuts intended to curb smuggling and aid the jewellery sector. Live Mint + 4 "The increase in customs duty on imports of gold, and precious metals announced by the government is aimed at safeguarding macroeconomic stability and conserving foreign exchange reserves. The measures have been taken also to moderate non-essential imports during a period of heightened global uncertainty arising from the ongoing West Asia crisis." Fortune India Why volatility matters for India’s bullion market India, the world’s largest silver importer and second-largest gold consumer, faces potential demand destruction as higher tariffs lift local prices. Silver’s significant industrial demand—from solar panels to EVs—means it is trading more like an industrial commodity, making it sensitive to growth concerns from elevated oil prices. Analysts warn that reduced official imports could revive smuggling and dampen both jewellery and industrial demand, especially if geopolitical tensions keep inflation risks high. The Economic Times + 4 Short- and long-term outlook In the short term, bullion prices may remain range-bound as profit booking offsets structural support from central bank purchases and ETF inflows. Over the longer term, silver retains strong global demand drivers from AI infrastructure, green energy, and electronics, though a weaker economic outlook could limit gains. Policymakers face the challenge of balancing macroeconomic stability with potential social and market disruptions from sharp tax interventions. The Economic Times + 4 Source： https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/insight/gold-and-silver-prices-tumble-after-steep-import-duty-hike