This week, the overall second-life battery market for lithium battery Grade B products remained stable, while prices for warehouse A and Grade A products rose. On the cost side, lithium carbonate first increased and then declined, with evident fluctuations; nickel sulphate edged down slightly, while cobalt sulphate prices remained stable. On the supply side, battery cell capacity continued to be released, the EV sector carried out orderly stockpiling, demand in the ESS sector remained robust, and order shipments stayed at a high level. On the demand side, following the implementation of the new power battery regulations on April 1, the exclusive concept of second-life application was removed and uniformly brought under comprehensive utilization supervision, with strict control over the circulation of non-compliant products; the market showed structural divergence, with average demand from the EV sector, but strong demand for compliant orders in energy storage and outside China. In terms of product-grade price spreads: quotations for leading Grade A products with warranties approached those of new battery cells, while circulation of recycled materials and Grade B products remained weak and prices held flat, as they struggled to meet compliant procurement standards.

①In 2024, the significant decline in the selling price of Canadian Solar's PV modules was the main drag, but the revenue from its energy storage system (ESS) business achieved rapid growth, becoming a new profit growth point. ②From the perspective of changes in product mix, Canadian Solar is gradually shifting towards the ESS sector, with a notable increase in the proportion of its ESS business.

On the evening of April 28, Canadian Solar released its 2024 Annual Report and 2025 Q1 Report. In Q1 2025, Canadian Solar achieved operating revenue of 8.586 billion yuan, down 10.54% YoY. Net profit attributable to shareholders of the publicly listed firm was 47.2582 million yuan, down 91.83% YoY. This was primarily due to a decline in the company's average selling price during the reporting period, leading to a decrease in operating revenue compared to the same period last year. Additionally, increased costs for tariffs and freight resulted in a lower gross profit margin. However, a decrease in the comprehensive manufacturing cost of products partially offset these impacts. In 2024, Canadian Solar achieved operating revenue of 46.165 billion yuan, down 10.03% YoY. Net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company was 2.247 billion yuan, down 22.60% YoY. The significant decline in the selling price of the company's PV modules was the main drag. However, the revenue from the energy storage system (ESS) business achieved rapid growth, becoming a new profit growth point for the company. In Q4 2024, Canadian Solar achieved operating revenue of 11.987 billion yuan, net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company of 292 million yuan, and net profit excluding non-recurring gains and losses of 342 million yuan. According to the annual report, the net cash flow generated from Canadian Solar's operating activities was 2.43 billion yuan, a decrease of 70.49% compared to the same period last year. This was mainly due to a decrease in the selling price of PV modules, leading to a reduction in cash inflow from sales of the main business. The net cash flow generated from Canadian Solar's investing activities was -9.989 billion yuan, and the net cash flow generated from financing activities was 3.538 billion yuan, down 50.82% YoY. This was primarily due to an increase in cash payments for dividend distributions and share repurchases during the reporting period. In 2024, PV module products and ESS products were the two businesses with the highest revenue contributions for Canadian Solar. Among them, PV module products achieved revenue of 31.483 billion yuan, down 25.62% YoY, with a gross profit margin of 12.75%, a decrease of 2.95 percentage points compared to the previous year, mainly due to the decline in the selling price of PV modules and systems. During the same period, its ESS products achieved revenue of 9.738 billion yuan, up 420.76% YoY, with a gross profit margin of 30.84%, an increase of 13.74 percentage points compared to the previous year. The rapid growth of the ESS business partially offset the impact of the decline in the PV module business. From the perspective of product structure changes, Canadian Solar is gradually shifting towards the ESS sector, with a significant increase in the proportion of the ESS business. In terms of shipments, in 2024, Canadian Solar sold a total of 31.1 GW of PV modules in the global market. As its second main business, the ESS business achieved shipments of 6.5 GWh, up over 500% YoY. It is expected that by 2025, the shipment scale of its large-scale ESS business will further increase to 11-13 GWh, maintaining a rapid growth trend. By region, in 2024, Canadian Solar's revenue from overseas markets was 35.811 billion yuan, accounting for 77.59% of total revenue, up 1.54% YoY, with a gross profit margin of 19.55%, an increase of 2.14 percentage points compared to the previous year. Its revenue from the domestic market was 9.604 billion yuan, down 36.60% YoY, with a gross profit margin of -1.80%, a decrease of 9.02 percentage points compared to the previous year. The company's revenue from overseas markets has grown steadily, with an improvement in gross profit margin, while revenue from the domestic market has declined significantly, having a substantial impact on its overall revenue structure. During the reporting period, Canadian Solar's R&D investment was 857 million yuan, up 21.67% YoY, accounting for 1.86% of operating revenue, an increase of 0.49 percentage points compared to the previous year. This was mainly due to increased R&D investment in technologies such as N-type batteries. Canadian Solar has achieved breakthroughs in TOPCon battery technology, HJT battery technology, etc., holding a cumulative total of 456 invention patents, 3,017 utility model patents, and 270 design patents, with 84 new invention patents added during the reporting period. Relevant technologies have been applied to high-efficiency PV modules and ESS products. Currently, the global PV industry is in a period of profound adjustment, with sustained but slowing growth in market demand and prominent overcapacity issues across various links of the industry chain. Despite this, as an important component of the new power system, the value of ESS has expanded from traditional peak shaving and valley filling to areas such as power grid frequency regulation and capacity reserve, demonstrating a relatively broad development prospect. According to its annual report, as of the end of the reporting period, the top ten circulating shareholders of Canadian Solar held a combined 39.37% stake. New shareholders include Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited - E Fund CSI 50 ETF (holding 62.5747 million shares) and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited - Huatai-PineBridge CSI 300 ETF (holding 24.201 million shares). Shareholders that exited include Yangzhou Honglian Ruisi Investment Partnership (Limited Partnership) (originally holding 73.1498 million shares) and CICC Capital Operation Co., Ltd. - Xiamen CICC Yingrun Equity Investment Fund Partnership (Limited Partnership) (originally holding 54.5693 million shares). Regarding fundraising and investment projects, Canadian Solar's "10 GW Ingot Pulling Project per Year", "Funing 10 GW Wafer Project", "4 GW High-Efficiency Solar PV Cell Project per Year", and "10 GW High-Efficiency PV Cell Module Project per Year" have all been completed and closed as planned, with a total cumulative investment of raised funds of 6.161 billion yuan, accounting for 92.95% of the planned total investment. Additionally, its "Jiaxing Canadian Solar PV Technology Co., Ltd. Research Institute Construction Project" has also been completed, with a cumulative investment of 150 million yuan, accounting for 100% of the planned total investment. In terms of important matters, Trinasolar has initiated multiple patent lawsuits against Canadian Solar, involving litigation in US federal courts and the 337 investigation process. Currently, the cases have not yet entered the trial stage. Meanwhile, Canadian CSIQ has filed a lawsuit against Clayton Insurance Company regarding warranty insurance claims. The first-stage ruling supported Canadian CSIQ's claims, and the second stage is expected to commence in February 2026. These lawsuits may have a certain impact on the company's short-term operations, but the company has stated that it will actively respond to the lawsuits and take legal measures to safeguard its rights and interests.

Recently, the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance released the monthly power battery data for March 2025. The data shows that in March, China's power battery installations reached 56.6 GWh, up 62.3% MoM and 61.8% YoY. In Q1, the cumulative power battery installations in China amounted to 130.2 GWh, with a cumulative increase of 52.8% YoY.

Recently, the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance released the March 2025 monthly data on power batteries. The data shows that in March, China's power battery installations reached 56.6 GWh, up 62.3% MoM and 61.8% YoY. In Q1, the cumulative power battery installations in China amounted to 130.2 GWh, with a cumulative YoY increase of 52.8%. The competition among second and third-tier power battery enterprises remains intense. From an enterprise perspective, in March, a total of 41 power battery enterprises in China's NEV market achieved installation support, an increase of 2 YoY. The power battery installations of the TOP3, TOP5, and TOP10 enterprises were 40.5 GWh, 45.6 GWh, and 52.5 GWh, accounting for 71.7%, 80.6%, and 92.9% of the total installations, respectively. In Q1, a total of 46 power battery enterprises in China's NEV market achieved installation support, an increase of 4 YoY. The power battery installations of the TOP3, TOP5, and TOP10 enterprises were 95.4 GWh, 107.4 GWh, and 121.7 GWh, accounting for 73.3%, 82.5%, and 93.5% of the total installations, respectively. From the domestic power battery TOP15 ranking, compared with February, in March, the first-tier companies CATL and BYD maintained their stable positions, while the competition among second and third-tier enterprises remained intense. In March, CALB returned to the 3rd position from the 5th; Gotion High-tech and EVE ranked 4th and 5th, respectively; SVOLT Energy Technology remained at 6th; Sunwoda and REPT Battero swapped positions, ranking 7th and 9th, respectively; LG Energy Solution returned to the TOP10 camp, ranking 8th; Zenergy, which listed on the Hong Kong stock market on April 14, rose to 10th; Jidian New Energy ranked 11th; Inpower Battery, which entered the TOP10 for the first time in February, dropped to 12th; DFD remained at 13th; Yaoning New Energy returned to the TOP15 camp, ranking 14th, and Yuanhang Jinli ranked 15th. From a market share perspective, compared with February, in March, Sunwoda, LG Energy Solution, BYD, Zenergy, Yaoning New Energy, CALB, and REPT Battero all achieved positive growth, with Sunwoda showing the highest growth rate. Compared with Q1 2024, in Q1 this year, the rankings of the TOP3 companies CATL, BYD, and CALB remained unchanged; Gotion High-tech and EVE swapped positions, ranking 4th and 5th, respectively; SVOLT Energy Technology and Sunwoda remained at 6th and 7th, respectively; REPT Battero and LG Energy Solution swapped positions, ranking 8th and 9th, respectively; Jidian New Energy and Zenergy swapped positions, ranking 10th and 11th, respectively; Inpower Battery, CORNEX New Energy, and Yaoning New Energy newly entered the TOP15 camp, ranking 12th, 14th, and 15th, respectively; DFD remained at 13th. From a market share perspective, in Q1 this year, BYD showed the highest growth rate, while CATL, CALB, Sunwoda, LG Energy Solution, and EVE experienced varying degrees of decline. LFP battery installations exceeded 100 GWh. It is worth mentioning that the material type structure of China's power batteries is changing, with the proportion of LFP batteries accelerating, reaching nearly 75% in 2024. In Q1 2025, China's LFP installations exceeded 100 GWh, with its proportion in power batteries continuing to rise, reaching 80.8% overall, with February and March reaching 81.5% and 82.3%, respectively. In March, China's LFP battery installations reached 46.6 GWh, accounting for 82.3% of the total installations, up 63.9% MoM and 97.0% YoY; ternary battery installations reached 10.0 GWh, accounting for 17.7% of the total installations, up 55.2% MoM but down 11.6% YoY. In Q1, China's cumulative LFP battery installations reached 105.2 GWh, accounting for 80.8% of the total installations, with a cumulative YoY increase of 93.6%; cumulative ternary battery installations reached 25.0 GWh, accounting for 19.2% of the total installations, with a cumulative YoY decrease of 19.0%. In addition, the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance released the estimated demand data for key materials for power and other batteries, showing that in March, China's ternary material demand for power and other batteries was 42,000 mt, and LFP material demand was 223,000 mt; in Q1, China's ternary material demand for power and other batteries was 112,000 mt, and LFP material demand was 621,000 mt. Battery Network noted that South Korean power battery enterprises are also accelerating their layout in the LFP battery sector, with LG Energy Solution planning to start supplying Renault Group by the end of this year, and Samsung SDI and SK On targeting mass production by 2026. Huatai Securities recently released a research report predicting that LFP battery shipments will increase by 43% YoY in 2025, with future growth still exceeding that of batteries. The cost-performance advantage of LFP over ternary remains prominent, and the trend of increasing LFP penetration in the domestic power battery sector is clear. Overseas car models are also gradually introducing LFP, and the high-growth ESS sector predominantly uses LFP batteries, thus LFP material shipments are expected to grow faster than batteries. Despite the strong growth of the LFP market, it is not easy to get a share of the pie. The "China Iron Phosphate and Lithium Iron Phosphate Material Industry Development White Paper (2025)" jointly released by research institutions EVTank, the EVI Economic Research Institute, and the China Battery Industry Research Institute shows that in 2024, China's LFP material shipments reached 2.427 million mt, up 48.2% YoY, while the overall market size reached 97.08 billion yuan, down 30.3% YoY. From an enterprise perspective, the top four enterprises in terms of shipments remained unchanged from 2023, with Hunan Yuneng ranking first with nearly 700,000 mt of shipments, accounting for 28.8% of the total market share, followed by Dynanonic, Wanrun New Energy, and Lopal. The combined market share of these four enterprises decreased by 6.1 percentage points compared to 2023. As the LFP industry enters a cyclical adjustment phase after a period of rapid development, industry competition has intensified, and product selling prices have declined YoY, putting pressure on the overall profitability of top-tier enterprises. According to the 2024 annual reports and performance forecasts released by the above four companies, Hunan Yuneng saw both revenue and net profit decline, while Dynanonic, Wanrun New Energy, and Lopal were all in a loss-making state. In addition, publicly listed firms that have crossed into the LFP battery sector have mostly failed due to insufficient technical accumulation, financial chain pressure, and industry cyclical fluctuations. For example, Jinpu Titanium terminated its investment in a 200,000 mt/year LFP project, Wanli Shares terminated the acquisition of LFP cathode material company Terui Battery, Black Sesame's 3.2 billion yuan LFP ESS project was shelved, and Lily Flower terminated its 40,000 mt/year LFP fundraising project. Conclusion: From recent market conditions, the production schedule of lithium battery enterprises in April is relatively stable. SMM data shows that the production schedule of battery cell manufacturers remained stable, with a 14% MoM increase in March, mainly driven by LFP cells, and the operating rate of top-tier enterprises remained at a high level. Overall, power cell production in April is expected to continue to rise, with market sentiment continuing to recover. On the policy front, the MIIT recently officially released GB38031-2025 "Safety Requirements for Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles" (hereinafter referred to as the new power battery safety regulations). The new power battery safety regulations include 7 single-cell tests and 17 battery pack or system tests, making "no fire, no explosion" a mandatory requirement for power batteries, and is known as the "strictest battery safety regulation in history." The new power battery safety regulations will be implemented in phases: new car models applying for type approval will be subject to the regulations from July 1, 2026, while car models that have already obtained type approval will be subject to the regulations from July 1, 2027. The implementation of the new power battery safety regulations will not only promote the upgrading of battery technology and improve vehicle safety performance but also further drive the restructuring of the entire industry chain of NEVs.

Nari Group Power Grid Branch Manager of Smart Energy Business Department [13:30-13:50] Analysis of the Current Situation and Trends in Industrial and Commercial ESS Wang Liang Ganfeng LiEnergy (Dongguan) Technology Co., Ltd. R&D Director [13:50-14:10] Current Status/Challenges of China's Aluminum Industry and the Path to Energy Transformation Pan Cunxiang Xinjiang Nonferrous Metals Industry Association In recent years, generation-grid-load-storage integration projects have been accelerating in the mining sector, mainly driven by global energy transition and the "dual carbon" goals. By early 2025, multiple provinces in China had advanced related projects, such as the sixth and seventh batches in Henan with a combined new energy capacity exceeding 900MW (including wind, solar, and storage), covering industrial and rural scenarios; Tibet reducing dependence on traditional energy through green electricity self-supply in mining areas; and Inner Mongolia Ordos and other places implementing PV + ESS projects, such as a PV power station generating 970 million kWh annually, with mobile ESS enhancing stability. In the future, policy support (such as new energy planning), technological upgrades (smart microgrids), and cost reduction needs in the mining industry will drive this field towards large-scale and intelligent development, becoming a core support for the green transformation of the mining industry. However, these projects also come with multiple legal challenges, facing risks related to compliance, environment, technical safety, contracts, intellectual property, and policy changes. Therefore, mining companies need to strengthen compliance review mechanisms, improve contract clause design, strictly control technical safety standards, and establish insurance protection systems to achieve sustainable development with manageable risks. SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (shortened as SMM) is set to launch the New Energy PV ESS Forum at CLNB 2025 (10th) New Energy Industry Expo from April 16-18, 2025. Ma Yuqi, Senior Partner and Head of the Mining and Energy M&A Restructuring Department at Beijing Yuren Law Firm, will be an invited guest to discuss the legal risks and prevention measures for generation-grid-load-storage integration projects applied to mining enterprises. Key Guest Speech Topic: Legal Risks and Prevention Measures for Generation-Grid-Load-Storage Integration Projects Applied to Mining Enterprises Ma Yuqi Senior Partner, Beijing Yuren Law Firm Head of the Mining and Energy M&A Restructuring Department Ma Yuqi, member of the Legal Professional Committee of the China Mining Association, member of the Private Equity Fund and Equity Investment Legal Professional Committee of the Beijing Bar Association, and arbitrator of the Cangzhou Arbitration Commission in Hebei province. With over a decade of practice, he has focused on mining and energy M&A restructuring and dispute resolution. He serves as a specialized legal advisor for several mining and energy companies, including Zijin Mining, Dazhong Mining, and Zangqing Fund, providing specialized legal services for significant mining M&A projects, such as Zijin Mining's acquisition of shares in Tibet Julong Copper and Lagaocuo Salt Lake Lithium Mine, and Zangqing Fund's acquisition of shares in Ali Mamico Lithium Mine and Tibet Guoneng Mining. The mining-related civil cases he represented were selected as the 167th guiding case in the 30th batch by the Supreme People's Court. We sincerely invite you to participate in CLNB 2025 (10th) New Energy Industry Expo About Yuren Law Firm Beijing Yuren Law Firm, established in 2006, is a professional law firm specializing in comprehensive legal services for natural resources. It is one of the outstanding law firms in China with distinct professional characteristics and a good reputation. The firm currently has branches in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Yangzhou, Chengde, and Luoyang, and offices or representative offices in Washington, D.C., Toronto, Vancouver, Warsaw, Bucharest, and Phnom Penh. Over the next three years, Yuren Law Firm plans to set up liaison offices in major global mining and energy countries to provide more efficient and precise on-the-ground services to clients. The firm is composed of a group of multi-level, specialized, and international lawyers who are dedicated to the mining sector and proficient in law. The firm focuses on comprehensive legal services for natural resources,细分二十余个专业工作组，涵盖了客户可能遇到的矿产、能源、土地、海洋、林业、草原等自然资源全方位的法律问题，提供细分领域更加系统完善的服务。雨仁律师坚持“专业、执著、前瞻、共赢”的理念，在数以千计的案例中维护了客户的合法权益，锻造了一支专业过硬、高度负责、值得托付和信赖的团队。 New Energy PV ESS Forum April 17 [09:00-09:20] Current Situation and Opportunities in the Global ESS Market Amidst Turmoil Ye Mingyuan SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. Senior ESS Consultant [09:20-09:40] Resource Regulation and ESS Development in the New Power System Zhang Fuqiang State Grid Energy Research Institute Chief Engineer, Energy Strategy and Planning Research Institute [09:40-10:00] ESS: From a "Minor Role" to a "Major Player" Expert Committee Member, ESS Industry Chu Pan [10:00-10:20] Practices in Synergistic Carbon Reduction for the New Power System in the Non-ferrous Metallurgy Industry Liao Siyang School of Electrical and Automation Engineering, Wuhan University Associate Professor [10:20-10:40] Zero-Carbon Parks: The Next Main Battlefield for ESS Liu Guohua Northwest Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. of China Power Engineering Consulting Group General Manager, EPC Division, Power Grid Engineering Company [10:40-11:00] Fire Protection Research and Solutions for Lithium Battery Applications Fan Rong Building Fire Research Institute, China Academy of Building Research Engineer, New Energy Safety Research Center [11:00-11:20] High-Efficiency Power Generation, Worry-Free Assurance: Ginlong Empowers Low-Carbon Development for High-Energy-Consuming Enterprises Xu Tong Ginlong Technologies Co., Ltd. Senior Product Manager [11:20-11:40] Leading Green Transition in the Metal Industry with Industrial and Commercial ESS Solutions Yang Shu Jiangsu Weiheng Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. Vice President [11:40-12:10] Supporting High-Energy-Consuming Industries with Integrated Generation-Grid-Load-Storage Solutions Xie Lirong Secretary General [14:10-14:30] Challenges and Solutions for Carbon Reduction in the Aluminum Production and Processing Environment Ma Liangjun Xi'an JD Energy Co., Ltd. Director, Jiangsu Region, Industrial and Commercial Sales Department [14:30-14:50] Power Trading to Help High-Energy-Consuming Enterprises Reduce Costs and Improve Efficiency Wang Yubo Beijing Enernet Technology Co., Ltd. Deputy General Manager [14:50-15:10] From the Perspective of Investors: Considering Operational Reliability, Ampace's Full Life Cycle ESS Solution for Industrial and Commercial Use Ma Jinpeng Xiamen Ampace Technology Co., Ltd. President, China Region, Industrial and Commercial Storage [15:10-15:30] Application Value and Development Trends of Digital and Intelligent ESS Technology in High-Energy-Consuming Enterprise Scenarios Zhu Mingchun Hongzheng Energy (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd. General Manager, China Region [15:30-15:50] High-Safety, High-Reliability 3S Fusion ESS and Its Development Direction He Zhenyu Jiangsu Linyang Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. Deputy General Manager [15:50-16:10] Legal Risks and Prevention Measures for Generation-Grid-Load-Storage Integration Projects Applied to Mining Enterprises Ma Yuqi Senior Partner, Beijing Yuren Law Firm Head of the Mining and Energy M&A Restructuring Department More Exciting Summits 2025/4/16 Opening Ceremony & Forum of Academicians and Top Entrepreneurs Business Package Invest in Poland · New Energy Strategy Forum New Energy Industry Forum SMM Sodium-Ion Battery Application Market - Development Seminar (By Invitation Only) SMM Innovative Anode Materials Seminar (By Invitation Only) International Cobalt Association Industry Salon New Energy Mineral Exploration and Industry Development Forum Gala Dinner & Award Ceremony 2025/4/17 Battery Raw Materials Forum New Energy Battery Materials Forum Hydrogen Energy Industry Development Forum Business Package Lithium Battery Recycling Forum All-Solid-State Battery Advanced Technology Forum Battery Auxiliary Materials Forum New Energy PV ESS Forum International Mining Investment and Development Summit 2025/4/18 Overseas Market Forum Low-Altitude Economy Forum Suzhou Virtual Power Plant Ecosystem Forum (3rd Edition) CLNB 2025 (10th) New Energy Industry Expo provides a high-quality platform for exchange and cooperation in the new energy industry. Ma Yuqi, Senior Partner and Head of the Mining and Energy M&A Restructuring Department at Beijing Yuren Law Firm, will attend this grand event to share his rich industry experience and unique strategic insights. Based on the discussions and exchanges, it is believed that all parties will push the cooperation and development of the entire new energy industry chain to new heights, contributing to the global energy transition. CLNB 2025 New Energy Industry Expo Date: April 16-18, 2025 Venue: Suzhou International Expo Center This Exhibition Focuses on the entire new energy industry chain, showcasing power batteries, ESS, raw materials, materials, equipment, mining, and battery recycling, providing a one-stop exhibition experience.