Vietnamese steelmaker Hoa Phat Group has officially launched the second phase of a massive rooftop solar project at its Dung Quat steelmaking complex to enhance energy self-sufficiency and lower carbon emissions. This 22.5 MWp installation spans rolling mills, the hot-rolled coil production unit, and warehouses, generating roughly 32.8 million kWh annually. Set for full completion across five phases by the second quarter of 2027, the $22.7 million initiative will reach a total capacity of 79.2 MWp, cutting carbon emissions by more than 78,000 metric tons per year and improving the mill's export competitiveness in carbon-regulated markets like the EU.

This week, prices in the second-life battery market were generally stable, while the market's structural divergence remained evident. Cost side, trends in various raw materials diverged, with overall costs rising slightly. Lithium carbonate prices increased, pushing up battery cell recycling and processing costs; nickel sulphate and cobalt sulphate prices remained stable, easing one-sided cost pressure, and costs edged up mildly over the week. Supply side, supply of popular energy storage battery cell models was tight, with limited spot availability; conventional models were sufficiently available, and no broad-based shortage emerged in the market. Demand side, the gap between energy storage and the EV market remained wide. Demand in the EV sector stayed sluggish, with low purchasing enthusiasm and insufficient support for prices; energy storage demand remained the mainstay of the market, with stable rigid demand. However, prices were currently at high levels, downstream purchasing became more rational, willingness to purchase at high prices declined, and further price increases were currently facing resistance.

According to Eunews, the EU ferrosilicon market—crucial for stainless steel production—is facing a severe crisis driven by soaring energy costs rather than Chinese competition. Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič clarified that recent safeguard investigations revealed no increase in Chinese imports, debunking claims of unfair trade practices. Instead, the primary threat to EU producers is unsustainable energy expenses. This situation, initially assessed in January, is now expected to worsen significantly. The recent outbreak of war in Iran and the escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf are triggering massive energy price spikes, putting immense additional pressure on European ferrosilicon operations and the broader stainless steel supply chain.

【SMM Steel】MorGen Energy, a Trafigura unit, gave final approval for its 20MW green hydrogen project in Milford Haven, Wales. Construction starts 2026 at a former refinery. It will produce 2,000 t/y of low-carbon H₂ for industry and ports, backed by UK government support. The plant will cut CO₂ by >15,000 t/y and create skilled jobs, signaling confidence in scalable green tech.

The UK government has supported over 780 solar projects since July 2024, ranging from school rooftops to utility-scale power plants. Recent data reveals 8.1 GW secured backing through the 'contracts-for-difference' ('CfD') scheme across the sixth and seventh allocation rounds. An additional 2.7 GW gained approval via the 'National Significant Infrastructure Project' ('NSIP') stream, including the massive 600 MW Cottam Solar Project. Furthermore, 'Great British Energy' and the Community Energy Fund have backed hundreds of distributed installations, while the state-owned National Wealth Fund is injecting hundreds of millions of pounds into gigawatt-scale 'BESS' deployments to support the growing renewable grid.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has officially declared a one-year state of national energy emergency as the administration warns of an "imminent danger" to the country’s fuel and power supplies. On Tuesday (March 24th), Energy Secretary Sharon Garin revealed that the Philippines has approximately 45 days of fuel supply remaining based on current consumption, with specific reserves of diesel and gasoline estimated to last until mid-May. Under this declaration, a specialized contingency committee will oversee the orderly distribution of fuel and basic goods while cracking down on hoarding and price manipulation. To cushion the blow of soaring prices, the government has begun distributing 5,000-peso ($83) subsidies to transport workers and providing free bus rides in key cities.

The U.S. government has shifted from policy announcements to actively deploying capital, channeling funds through multiple programs to strengthen domestic and allied critical mineral and metal supply chains and related manufacturing. In practice, this financing is delivered through several key agencies: the Department of Energy (especially the Loan Programs Office), the Department of Defense (including Defense Production Act Title III and the Office of Strategic Capital), the Department of Commerce (such as the CHIPS Program Office), USDA Rural Development for select industrial support, and the International Development Finance Corporation for strategic overseas investments, alongside the Export-Import Bank, which plays a major role in funding projects from mining to manufacturing.

France's energy regulator, 'CRE', has published reduced Feed-in Tariff ('FIT') and surplus compensation rates for PV systems up to 100 kW, effective April 1 to July 1, 2026. Tariffs fell to €0.805/kWh for 9-36 kW systems and €0.70/kWh for 36-100 kW systems, while the surplus rate dropped to €0.473/kWh. With compensation for systems under 9 kW already eliminated, the 'CRE' is simultaneously offering investment grants to encourage a market shift toward maximizing self-consumption, integrating storage, and electrifying on-site demand rather than selling surplus power.

South Korea's 'MOIS' has launched a national drive to establish community-owned solar cooperatives, targeting 2,500 'Sunlight Income Villages' by 2030. Under the program, communities will install 300 kW to 1 MW plants on idle land to share revenues among residents. The government is offering long-term, low-interest loans covering up to 85% of costs from a KRW 450 billion renewable energy fund in 2026. To overcome grid bottlenecks, the initiative grants projects priority grid access and 'ESS' installation support, while mandating the use of domestically produced modules and inverters.

Following the approval of 'Operational Plan 7.4', Spain's grid operator 'Red Eléctrica' has officially launched real-time, setpoint-based voltage control services, allowing renewable energy installations to provide dynamic grid support. Live since March 17, the system enables generation units to adjust reactive power in response to operator signals. Over 50 installations are now actively participating, with 74 facilities (totaling roughly 6.7 GW) already qualified, including 32 PV plants. To incentivize participation and reduce technical curtailment, the framework offers maximum dispatch priority and compensates at approximately €1/MVArh. Looking ahead, the operator plans to roll out zonal reactive power capacity markets by the fourth quarter of 2026.