In late March 2026, the Philippine DOE mandated the expedited grid integration of 22 renewable energy projects (1,471 MW) by April 2026 to mitigate fossil fuel price volatility stemming from Middle East conflicts. This emergency deployment is heavily concentrated in solar PV, with 12 projects accounting for a dominant 1,284 MW of the total capacity.

Precious metals are having a moment. Gold and silver surged to record highs in January, benefiting from an alignment of macroeconomic factors, evolving supply-demand dynamics, and renewed industrial demand.

Oxford PV, a European-based solar perovskite enterprise, has granted access to its patent portfolio to First Solar, the American photovoltaic module manufacturer. This agreement permits First Solar to utilise Oxford PV's existing licensed patents and those currently under application. This non-exclusive licence enables First Solar to advance its research and development of solar photovoltaic devices incorporating perovskite semiconductors for deployment in large-scale ground-mounted, commercial and residential markets within the United States. The licence scope covers potential manufacturing and distribution of such products in the US, excluding crystalline silicon semiconductors. Further terms remain undisclosed.

On 10 February, China Energy Conservation Solar Co., Ltd. (Stock Code: 000591) announced that to enhance corporate profitability and expand market share in solar photovoltaic power generation, its wholly-owned subsidiary China Energy Conservation Solar Technology Co., Ltd. acquired 100% equity in Jinhua Fengling New Energy Development Co., Ltd. from Hangzhou Fengling Electric Power Technology Co., Ltd. for RMB 527.4198 million.

①The adjustment window for distributed energy has entered a phase, and industry insiders predict that the adjustment will be completed in as quickly as one quarter. The fundamental logic from development to investment decision-making will undergo a complete transformation. ②The market space for the industrial and commercial sectors has further expanded. Domestic module producers have begun to focus on addressing the remaining challenges in developing rooftop resources and have launched targeted products. ③Competition in large-scale projects is fierce, and centralized products will also accelerate their development towards differentiation.

Kuwait has opened the bidding process for a 500-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, as part of Phase III, Zone 2 of the Al Dibdibah and Al Shagaya Renewable Energy Program.

[SMM Analysis]Spanish renewable energy company Grenergy plans to invest 3.5 billion euros in battery energy storage systems (BESS) and photovoltaic storage projects by 2027, aiming to achieve significant growth in the energy sector.

On 23 May, the European Commission formally released new rules for renewable energy project tenders, requiring member states to include selection criteria other than price, such as sustainability, supply chain resilience, cybersecurity, and corporate social responsibility, in their bids. The new rules belong to the Net-Zero Industry Act (Net-Zero Industry Act, or NZIA) under the secondary legislation, will be fully implemented in 2026 in the EU member states, will further promote the production of solar photovoltaic and other clean technologies within Europe.

Recently, US President Trump signed an executive order revoking the decision by former President Biden's administration to include solar photovoltaic (PV) module and electrolyzer production under the Defense Production Act (DPA). This means that the manufacturing of key clean energy products such as solar PV modules and components, and electrolyzers, will no longer be supported by the Defense Production Act.

The global transition towards cleaner energy sources is no longer a futuristic ideal but a tangible shift reshaping industries and economies worldwide. From the burgeoning adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) to the massive deployment of solar and wind power infrastructure, this energy revolution is placing unprecedented demands on a range of critical materials.