#Solar Vehicle Market Research

[rjzimmerman]

Yesterday felt like an earthquake shook the foundations of our climate and environmental laws, followed by a hurricane that scattered the bits all over the place and a wildfire that burned those bits that weren't scattered. I didn't watch any part of yesterday's debauchery, either on TV or streaming or the alerts that pop up on my iPhone or iPad, or read anything (neither national, local or environmental or climate specialized media). I figured most of the crap he did yesterday will be the subject of strategic lawsuits, and much will be tossed out as contrary to legislation or regulation or unconstitutional. In other words, I'll pay attention to the reconstruction, not the destruction. But.......it was still a horse shit day.

This compilation from the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law (of the Columbia Law School/Columbia Climate School) is outstanding. Click/tap on the caption of this post and you'll be able to figure out what happened and sort things out as you want. Just click/tap on the caption and go for it. But if you don't want to do that, here's the compilation, abbreviated. Italicized/red fonts are my addition, either explanatory or editorial.

PUTTING AMERICA FIRST IN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS

Withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement

Withdraw from any other agreements made under UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Revoke any financial commitments under UNFCCC

Revoke U.S. International Climate Finance Plan

DECLARING A NATIONAL ENERGY EMERGENCY

Declares national energy emergency, primarily based on high energy prices

Use any lawful emergency authorities “to facilitate the identification, leasing, siting, production, transportation, refining, and generation of domestic energy resources.”

Use Defense Production Act and federal eminent domain authorities

Issue emergency fuel waivers to allow year-round sale of E15 gasoline (E15 is ethanol/gasoline mix)

“Expedite the completion of all authorized and appropriated infrastructure, energy, environmental and natural resources projects”

Use emergency authorities and nationwide permits to grant approvals under Clean Water Act Sec. 404, Rivers and Harbors Act Sec. 10, and Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act Sec. 103 for energy projects

Use emergency consultation processes under Endangered Species Act, and frequent convening of Endangered Species Act Committee, for energy projects

Use construction authority of Army Corps of Engineers

The term “energy” is defined to mean “crude oil, natural gas, lease condensates, natural gas liquids, refined petroleum products, uranium, coal, biofuels, geothermal heat, the kinetic movement of flowing water, and critical minerals” [not wind or solar] (excluding wind and solar is childish and just plain stupid)

UNLEASHING AMERICAN ENERGY

“eliminate the ‘electric vehicle (EV) mandate’ and promote true consumer choice … by terminating … state emissions waivers that function to limit sales of gasoline-powered automobiles; and by considering the elimination of unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favor EVs” (the elon musk pacifier....i.e., Tesla)

“safeguard the American people’s freedom to choose from a variety of goods and appliances, including but not limited to lightbulbs, dishwashers, washing machines, gas stoves, water heaters, toilets, and shower heads”

Require all agency heads to review all existing regulations “that impose an undue burden on the identification, development, or use of domestic energy resources – with particular attention to oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, critical mineral, and nuclear energy resources”

Attorney General “shall consider whether pending litigation against illegal, dangerous, or harmful policies should be resolved through stays or other relief”

Revocation of many executive orders

Terminate the American Climate Corps

Council on Environmental Quality must propose rescinding its NEPA regulations (NEPA regulations are the core of our environmental laws)

CEQ to convene working group to expedite permitting approvals

“all agencies must prioritize efficiency and certainty over any other objectives, including those of activist groups that do not align with the policy goals”

“facilitate the permitting and construction of interstate energy transportation and other critical energy infrastructure, including … pipelines”

In NEPA and other permitting reviews, “agencies shall adhere to only the relevant legislated requirements for environmental considerations and any considerations beyond those requirements are eliminated”

Disband Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases; all of its guidance, recommendations, etc. are withdrawn

Consider eliminating the “social cost of carbon” calculation

EPA in collaboration with other agencies shall submit recommendations to OMB “on the legality and continuing applicability” of the greenhouse gas endangerment finding of 2009 (this is the core concept from the US Supreme Court case that provides the legal basis for greenhouse gas controls)

Immediately pause disbursement of funds appropriated through Inflation Reduction Act or Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; review processes for issuing grants, loans, contracts, or any other financial disbursement of appropriated funds

Secretary of Energy to restart reviews of applications for approvals of LNG export projects

Maritime Administration to review approvals for proposed deepwater ports for LNG export

“identify all agency actions that impose undue burdens on the domestic mining and processing of non-fuel minerals and undertake steps to revise or rescind such actions”

UNLEASHING ALASKA’S EXTRAORDINARY RESOURCE POTENTIAL

Expedite permitting and leasing of energy and natural resource projects in Alaska

Prioritize development of Alaska’s LNG potential

End restrictions on development of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and certain other areas in Alaska

Numerous other actions to facilitate energy development in Alaska

TEMPORARY WITHDRAWAL OF ALL AREAS ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF FROM OFFSHORE WIND LEASING AND REVIEW OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S LEASING AND PERMITTING PRACTICES FOR WIND PROJECTS

Stop leasing of federal waters for offshore wind

Issue no new or renewed approvals, rights of way, loans for onshore or offshore wind projects

“consider the environmental impact of onshore and offshore wind projects upon wildlife, including, but limited to, birds and marine mammals”

PUTTING PEOPLE OVER FISH: STOPPING RADICAL ENVIRONMENTALISM TO PROVIDE WATER TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Restart work “to route more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to other parts of the state for use by the people there who desperately need a reliable water supply”

“The recent deadly and historically destructive wildfires in Southern California underscore why the State of California needs a reliable water supply and sound vegetation management practices in order to provide water desperately needed there”

DELIVERING EMERGENCY PRICE RELIEF FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES AND DEFEATING THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS

Among many other actions, “eliminate counterproductive requirements that raise the costs of home appliances”

“Eliminate harmful, coercive ‘climate’ policies that increase the costs of food and fuel”

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

New SpaceTime out Monday

SpaceTime 20240826 Series 27 Episode 103

Starliner crew to return on Dragon

NASA has decided to return the stranded Starliner crew to Earth aboard rival SpaceX’ Dragon capsule because of ongoing concerns about the reliability of their Boeing spacecraft. 

Tracking down the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs

A new study claims the asteroid which triggered the extinction of 75 percent of all life on Earth including all the non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago originated beyond the orbit of Jupiter during the early development of the solar system.

JUICE completes the first joint Lunar-Earth gravity assist flyby

The European Space Agency’s JUICE -- Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer – spacecraft has successfully completed the first ever joint Lunar-Earth gravity assist fly by flinging itself just as planned towards Venus.

Three more Australian satellites sent into orbit

The latest trio flew up aboard SpaceX’s transporter 11 mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.  Transporter 11 is carrying 116 payloads, including CubeSats, microsats, and an orbital transfer vehicle carrying eight payloads.

The Science Report

Babies born to fathers of an older age more likely to have health complications at birth.

The bacteria that can produce rigid, heat stable plastics.

Tiny volcanic glass shards found in Tasmania came from a super-eruption in New Zealand.

Skeptics guide to body language

SpaceTime covers the latest news in astronomy & space sciences.

The show is available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Apple Podcasts (itunes), Stitcher, Google Podcast, Pocketcasts, SoundCloud, Bitez.com, YouTube, your favourite podcast download provider, and from www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com

SpaceTime is also broadcast through the National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio and on both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

SpaceTime daily news blog: http://spacetimewithstuartgary.tumblr.com/

SpaceTime facebook: www.facebook.com/spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime Instagram @spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime twitter feed @stuartgary

SpaceTime YouTube: @SpaceTimewithStuartGary

SpaceTime -- A brief history

SpaceTime is Australia’s most popular and respected astronomy and space science news program – averaging over two million downloads every year. We’re also number five in the United States.  The show reports on the latest stories and discoveries making news in astronomy, space flight, and science.  SpaceTime features weekly interviews with leading Australian scientists about their research.  The show began life in 1995 as ‘StarStuff’ on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) NewsRadio network.  Award winning investigative reporter Stuart Gary created the program during more than fifteen years as NewsRadio’s evening anchor and Science Editor.  Gary’s always loved science. He studied astronomy at university and was invited to undertake a PHD in astrophysics, but instead focused on his career in journalism and radio broadcasting. Gary’s radio career stretches back some 34 years including 26 at the ABC. He worked as an announcer and music DJ in commercial radio, before becoming a journalist and eventually joining ABC News and Current Affairs. He was part of the team that set up ABC NewsRadio and became one of its first on air presenters. When asked to put his science background to use, Gary developed StarStuff which he wrote, produced and hosted, consistently achieving 9 per cent of the national Australian radio audience based on the ABC’s Nielsen ratings survey figures for the five major Australian metro markets: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth.  The StarStuff podcast was published on line by ABC Science -- achieving over 1.3 million downloads annually.  However, after some 20 years, the show finally wrapped up in December 2015 following ABC funding cuts, and a redirection of available finances to increase sports and horse racing coverage.  Rather than continue with the ABC, Gary resigned so that he could keep the show going independently.  StarStuff was rebranded as “SpaceTime”, with the first episode being broadcast in February 2016.  Over the years, SpaceTime has grown, more than doubling its former ABC audience numbers and expanding to include new segments such as the Science Report -- which provides a wrap of general science news, weekly skeptical science features, special reports looking at the latest computer and technology news, and Skywatch – which provides a monthly guide to the night skies. The show is published three times weekly (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and available from the United States National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio, and through both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

[notwiselybuttoowell]

Emissions of two of the most potent greenhouse gases have substantially increased in China over the last decade, a study has found.

Perfluorocarbons are used in the manufacturing processes for flat-panel TVs and semiconductors, or as by-products from aluminium smelting. They are far more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2, and can persist in the Earth’s atmosphere for thousands of years, unlike CO2 which can persist for up to 200 years.

A research team led by Minde An at Massachusetts Institute of Technology examined the emissions of two specific perfluorocarbons, tetrafluoromethane and hexafluoroethane, both with atmospheric lifetimes of 50,000 and 10,000 years respectively.

By analysing atmospheric observations in nine cities across China from 2011 to 2021, they found that both gases exhibited an increase of 78% in emissions in China and, by 2020, represented 64-66% of global emissions for tetrafluoromethane and hexafluoroethane. However, while levels of fluorocarbon emissions are increasing at an alarming rate, CO2 still accounts for about 76% of total greenhouse gas emissions.

The increase in emissions from China was sufficient to account for the global emission increases over that same period, suggesting that China is the dominant driver in tetrafluoromethane and hexafluoroethane release into the atmosphere globally.

The emissions were found to mainly originate from the less populated industrial zones in the western regions of China, and are thought to be due to the role of perfluorocarbons in the aluminium industry.

China is the world’s largest producer and exporter of aluminium, with the country’s production reaching a record-high output of 41.5m tonnes last year.

With the rapid expansion of China’s aluminium and semiconductor industries, these ongoing high levels of fluorocarbon emissions could pose a particular threat to China’s carbon neutrality goal and global climate mitigation. The country is aiming to achieve “peak carbon” emission by 2030 and become “carbon neutral” by 2060.

The authors suggest that with technological innovation and incorporation of the aluminium industry into the carbon market, or a national carbon trading scheme allowing emitters to buy or sell emission credits, it is possible that these rising levels could be reduced.

While being a significant source of CO2 emissions, aluminium production is also essential in the energy transition from fossil fuels to cleaner renewable energy sources by helping produce many low-carbon technologies such as solar panels, electric vehicles and wind turbines.

Organisations such as the World Economic Forum argue that the aluminium industry must act now to find a balance between ensuring efficient production alongside mitigating the industry’s negative impacts on the climate.

[leohtttbriar]

i really just can't take any bidenomics reflection about how certain initiatives failed to influence voters seriously if the reflection fails to acknowledge the information crisis and the relative stupidity of the average swing voter--and i give less credence to any political analysis that refuses to frame "democratic failure" as even a little bit the result of republican opposition/electoral wins--

but this article's brief "to be fair" section about the accomplishments of the biden administration's major legislative victories was a neat summation and also sort of shows how rolling back parts of the IRA may not be easy or all that motivating for an already fractious and narrow-majority republican house:

Still, the market-making bills that did pass were momentous. To give credit where due: Biden’s green industrial policy was a technocratic tour de force. Learning from Obama’s fiscal timidity, his staffers understood that lightly nudging markets would not suffice to meet the climate crisis. This is because of what economists call a market failure. Developing foundational technologies is often initially prohibitively expensive, because of low immediate consumer demand or lack of economies of scale. Private investment is unlikely to take the risk—and needs a helping shove (and often some security) from the state.  Bidenomics was that shove. The clean energy strategists Lachlan Carey and Jun Ukita Shepard have described the relationship between its three bills in anatomical terms. The CHIPS Act is the “‘brains’ of the operation,” underwriting billions to foundational research in energy biofuels, advanced battery technology, and quantum computing. The Infrastructure Act is the backbone, supporting not only traditional roads, ports, and water infrastructure but also clean hydrogen, low and zero-emission transit buses, and EPA Superfund projects to clean up contaminated sites. The IRA is the financial heart of the machine, subsidizing both the production and consumption of green technology. The lions’ share of federal spending has been directed at foundational research and development and the initial scaling up of markets—the stage, as Carey and Shepard put it, “where private markets are less likely to invest in research, development, demonstration, and early commercialization.” 

Bidenomics also aims to onshore entire supply chains. For instance, the Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit supports the domestic production of components for wind and solar energy, battery development, and electric vehicles. Take solar panels: the credit offers $3 per kilogram for manufacturing polysilicon, which transforms sunlight into electricity. Companies turning that element into components for solar cells receive $12 per square meter. The next links up the chain receive credits—ranging from $40 to $70 per kilowatt—based on how much electricity their cells and panels produce. Along with a range of other subsidies for aluminum and other core components, these credits are projected to reduce the costs to producers of domestic solar by more than 40 percent, according to Advanced Energy United, a consortium of green energy businesses. They have been effective: the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that wind turbine service technicians and solar photovoltaic installers will be the fastest-growing occupations through 2033. As far as energy and component production goes, the IRA was responsible for some 646 energy projects (either announced or underway) that have produced 334,565 jobs as of August 2024. The Swiss firm Meyer Burger used 45X to complete building facilities in Goodyear, Arizona. The US manufacturer First Solar made a $450 million investment in a new R&D center in Perrysburg, Ohio, which they commissioned in 2024; hiring is underway for an estimated three hundred new positions to be filled this year. Perhaps most impressive, the South Korean corporation Qcells invested more than $2.5 billion on a solar-cell and module production facility in Dalton, Georgia—which anchors a region devastated by the decline of the textile industry. That campus employs two thousand full-time workers who produce 5.1 gigawatts worth of solar panels each year, the most of any site in the country. 

Clean energy manufacturing requires semiconductors, which are the building blocks of solar cells as well as the digital components of wind turbines, electric vehicles, and advanced energy storage. Every electric vehicle contains between two to three thousand chips. As the pandemic shortage made clear, US industries relied overwhelmingly on foreign production. This is where the CHIPS Act came in. The legislation granted $50 billion to the Department of Commerce: $11 billion for semiconductor research and development and $39 billion for chip manufacturing and workforce training. The resulting surge of private investment has been impressive. According to the Financial Times, by April 2024 some thirty-one projects worth at least $1 billion had been founded since the act was passed, compared to just four in 2019. By that point the government had spent just over half of the act’s incentives. Since the election the Biden administration has been working to get the rest of the subsidies to businesses. Leading recipients include Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), Samsung, and Micron. In December the commerce department announced that Texas Instruments could receive as much as $1.61 billion in direct CHIPS funding for projects in Texas and Utah. The department now predicts that by 2030 domestic markets could produce a fifth of the world’s chips; until very recently, the US produced none.

[...] The Trump administration could theoretically shut down many of Biden’s green initiatives. But the electoral benefits to Republicans would be unclear: most of the IRA’s recent projects are based in congressional districts with Republican representatives. It’s more likely that they will redirect subsidies to their districts and preferred businesses—including in the extractive sector—and brag about job growth. They are already at it. In 2023, when Kamala Harris appeared at the Qcells plant in Dalton, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene accused her of “trying to take credit for jobs that President Trump and Governor Kemp created in Georgia back in 2019.”

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

May 14, 2024

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

MAY 15, 2024

Today the White House announced tariffs on certain products imported from China, including steel and aluminum products, semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries and battery components, solar cells, ship-to-shore cranes, syringes and needles, and certain personal protective equipment (or PPE). According to the White House, these higher tariffs are designed “to protect American workers and businesses from China’s unfair trade practices.” Tariffs are essentially taxes on imported goods, and altogether the tariff hikes cover about $18 billion in imported goods.

In 2018, Trump abruptly ended the economic era based on the idea that free trade benefited the global economy by putting tariffs of 25% on a wide range of foreign made goods. This was a cap to a set of ideas that had been sputtering for a while as industries moved to countries with cheaper labor, feeding the popular discontent Trump tapped into. Trump claimed that other countries would pay his tariffs, but tariffs are actually paid by Americans, not foreign countries, and his have cost Americans more than $230 billion. Half of that has come in under the Biden administration. 

Trump’s tariffs also actually cost jobs, but they were very popular politically. A January 2024 National Bureau of Economic Research working paper by David Autor, Anne Beck, David Dorn, and Gordon H. Hanson established that the trade war of 2018–2019 hurt the U.S. heartland but actually helped Trump’s reelection campaign. “Residents of regions more exposed to import tariffs became less likely to identify as Democrats, more likely to vote to reelect Donald Trump in 2020, and more likely to elect Republicans to Congress,” they discovered.

Now Trump is saying, that if elected, he will impose a 10% tariff on everything imported into the United States, with a 60% tariff on anything from China and a 100% tariff on any cars made outside the U.S. 

In contrast, the administration’s new tariffs are aimed only at China, and only at industries already growing in the U.S., especially semiconductors. Tariffs will rise to 50% on semiconductors and solar cells, 100% on electric vehicles, and 25% on batteries, a hike that will help the Big Three automakers who agreed to union demands in newly opened battery factories, as well as their United Auto Workers workforce. “I’m determined that the future of electric vehicles be made in America by union workers. Period,” Biden said.

The administration says the tariffs are a response to China’s unfair trade practices, and such tariffs are popular in the manufacturing belt of Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Democratic senators from that region have asked Biden to maintain or increase tariffs on Chinese imports after “[g]enerations of free trade agreements that prioritize multinational corporations have devasted our communities, harmed our economy, and crippled our job market.” 

In other economic news, a new rule capping credit card late fees at $8, about a quarter of what they are now, was supposed to go into effect today, but on Friday a federal judge in Texas blocked the rule. The new cap was set by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the brainchild of Massachusetts Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren, and was part of the Biden administration’s crackdown on “junk fees.” 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Bankers Association sued to stop the rule from taking effect, and U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, appointed by Trump, issued a preliminary injunction against it. His reasoning draws from an argument advanced by the far-right Fifth Circuit, which oversees Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, arguing that the CFPB itself is unconstitutional because of its funding structure. "Consequently, any regulations promulgated under that regime are likely unconstitutional as well," Pittman wrote. 

On Friday, major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, and Alaska Airlines—but not Southwest Airlines—sued the U.S. Department of Transportation over its new rule that requires the airlines disclose their fees, such as for checking bags, upfront to consumers. The department says consumers are overpaying by $543 million a year in unexpected fees. 

The airlines say that the rule will confuse consumers and that its “attempt to regulate private business operations in a thriving marketplace is beyond its authority.”

The other big story of the day is the continuing attempt of the MAGA Republicans to overturn our democratic system. 

This morning, House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), second in line for the presidency and sworn to uphold the Constitution, left his post in Washington, D.C., to appear with former president Trump at his trial for falsifying business records to deceive voters before the 2016 election. The House was due to consider the final passage of the crucially important Federal Aviation Authority Reauthorization Act, but Johnson chose instead to show up to do the work the judge’s gag order means Trump cannot do himself, attacking key witness Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer. Johnson described Cohen as “clearly on a mission for personal revenge” and, citing his “history of perjury,” said that “[n]o one should believe a word he says in there.” 

“I do have a lot of surrogates,” Trump boasted this morning, “and they are speaking very beautifully.” Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), who was also at the trial this morning, later said on Newsmax that they had indeed gone to “overcome this gag order.” 

Johnson went on to call the trial “corrupt” and say “this ridiculous prosecution…is not about justice. It’s all about politics.” He left without taking questions. Meg Kinnard of the Associated Press called out the moment as “a remarkable moment in modern American politics: The House speaker turning his Republican Party against the federal and state legal systems that are foundational to the U.S. government and a cornerstone of democracy.”

Peter Eisler, Ned Parker, and Joseph Tanfani of Reuters explained today how those attacks on our judiciary are sparking widespread calls for violence against judges, with social media posters in echo chambers goading each other into ever more extreme statements. According to her lawyer, Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, wore a bullet-proof vest as she came and went from court, an uncanny echo of the precautions necessary in mob trials.   

In a different attack on our constitutional system, House Republicans are trying to replace the administration’s foreign policy with their own. Over the weekend, they introduced a bill to force President Biden to send offensive weapons to Israel for its invasion of Rafah, overruling the administration’s decision to withhold a shipment of 2,000-pound and 500-pound bombs after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his government would invade Rafah despite strong opposition from the Biden administration. 

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters: “We strongly, strongly oppose attempts to constrain the president’s ability to deploy a U.S. security assistance consistent with U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives.”

The Constitution establishes that the executive branch manages foreign affairs, and until 2015 it was an established practice that politics stopped at the water’s edge, meaning that Congress quarreled with the administration at home but the two presented a united front in foreign affairs. That practice ended in March 2015, when 47 Republican senators, led by freshman Arkansas senator Tom Cotton, wrote a letter to Iran’s leaders warning that they would not honor any agreement Iran reached with the Obama administration over its development of nuclear weapons. 

The Obama administration did end up negotiating the July 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran and several world powers, under which Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear development and allow inspections in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. In 2018 the extremist Republicans got their way when Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal, largely collapsing it, after which Iran resumed its expansion of the nuclear enrichment  program it had stopped under the agreement.  

Now extremists in the House are trying to run foreign policy on their own. The costs of that usurpation of power are clear in Niger, formerly a key U.S. ally in the counterterrorism effort in West Africa. The new prime minister of Niger, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, whose party took power after a coup d’état threw out Niger’s democratically elected president, defended his country’s turn away from the U.S. and toward Russia in an interview with Rachel Chason of the Washington Post. Recalling the House’s six month delay in passing the national security supplemental bill, he said: “We have seen what the United States will do to defend its allies,” he said, “because we have seen Ukraine and Israel.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[xtruss]

Zimbabwe’s ‘White Gold’! Critical Minerals Law Favors China

Harare has Africa’s largest lithium reserves and Beijing is poised to benefit, despite an export ban.

— By Nosmot Gbadamosi | Foreign Policy | August 16th, 2023

A foreman looks on as an earth mover works on the slippery road at Arcadia Mine on Jan. 11, 2022 in Goromonzi, Zimbabwe. ​Tafadzwa Ufumeli/Getty Images

The world’s clean-energy transition will be impossible without African minerals—and a degree of resource nationalism from African countries is benefiting China, which has for decades invested in the African Green-Energy Market and accounts for 59 percent of the world’s lithium refining. Chinese companies run the majority of Zimbabwe’s mines and are better positioned to expand domestic processing there.

Lithium, often referred to as “White Gold,” is essential to producing Solar Panels and the Rechargeable Batteries that power electric vehicles; and in 2022, demand pushed prices up by more than 100 percent. Africa could supply a fifth of the world’s lithium needs by 2030, but to best serve citizens, African leaders are demanding that miners go beyond extraction and add value by locally processing the raw mineral.

Last December, Zimbabwe 🇿🇼, which has Africa’s Largest Lithium Reserves, imposed a ban on raw lithium ore exports, requiring companies to set up plants in the country and process ore into concentrates before export in order to boost local jobs and revenue. Those seeking to export and not process domestically would need to provide proof of exceptional circumstances and receive written permission to export raw lithium ore.

Zimbabwe’s ban, called the Base Minerals Export Control Act, will stop the country losing billions in mineral proceeds to foreign companies, officials said. Namibia 🇳🇦 has followed suit; and in 2020 around 42 percent of African nations, excluding those in North Africa, had implemented restrictions on raw exports, including the Democratic Republic of Congo 🇨🇩, Ghana 🇬🇭, and Nigeria 🇳🇬.

Traditionally, “mining companies after extraction enjoy all the benefits [while] leaving communities in their catchment areas to bear the brunt of life-threatening dangers associated with their operations,” Edmond Kombat, research and finance director of Ghana’s 🇬🇭 Institute for Energy Security, told ESI Africa. “It is time to stop that practice.”

However, China, which controls the world’s critical minerals supply chain, is ideally placed to reap benefits in these situations, because several Chinese owned companies have recently completed processing plants in the country. Chinese-owned Companies have Spent more than $1 Billion acquiring and developing lithium projects in Zimbabwe, which in contrast has seen Very Little Western investment.

Last month, Chinese minerals giant Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt opened a $300 million lithium processing plant at its Arcadia Mine in Zimbabwe, which it bought last year from Australia-based Prospect Resources for $422 million. The plant currently has the capacity to process around 450,000 metric tons of lithium concentrate annually. Under Zimbabwean law the refined lithium can then be exported for further processing into battery-grade lithium outside Zimbabwe.

In May, another Chinese company, Chengxin Lithium Group, commissioned a lithium concentrator to produce 300,000 metric tons per year at the Sabi Star mine in eastern Zimbabwe. And China’s Sinomine Resource Group said last month it had completed a $300 million lithium plant, after it bought Bikita Minerals, one of Africa’s oldest lithium mines, for $180 million.

Zimbabwe hopes to satisfy 20 percent of the world’s total lithium demand when it fully exploits its known lithium resources. “If we continue exporting raw lithium we will go nowhere,” Deputy Mines Minister Polite Kambamura told Bloomberg last year. “We want to see lithium batteries being developed in the country.”

New rules stipulate that a 5 percent royalty rate will be payable on lithium exported, due half in cash and half in processed final products so that the country can build cash reserves it could use for government-backed borrowing.

U.S. sanctions on Zimbabwe 🇿🇼, imposed since 2001, have impacted the country’s access to borrowing and investment, leaving few options but China. Last year, Zimbabwean Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube claimed the country has lost more than $42 billion in revenue as a result of Western sanctions. The Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency reportedly received 160 lithium investment applications from investors based in China in the first half of 2023 compared to just five from the United States.

Even among Zimbabwe’s regional peers, U.S. companies have been left on the backfoot. Nigeria Rejected Elon Musk’s Tesla in favor of Beijing-based Ming Xin Mineral Separation to build Nigeria’s first lithium processing plant in Kaduna State, in the country’s northwest region. Nigerian officials reportedly rejected Tesla’s proposal because it did not align with the country’s new policies. “Our new mining policy demands that you add some value to raw mineral ores, including lithium, before you export,” Ayodeji Adeyemi, special assistant to Nigeria’s mines and steel development minister, told Rest of World.

For decades, African economists complained that foreign companies extracted minerals without benefit to citizens. In 2015, Zimbabwean researchers estimated the country had lost $12 billion due to illegal trade involving multinational companies in China 🇨🇳, Canada 🇨🇦, the United States 🇺🇸, and the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 —enough money to pay off Zimbabwe’s foreign debt.

Africa holds more than 40 Percent of Global Reserves of Key Minerals for batteries and hydrogen technologies. Yet it’s predicted that, by 2030, more than 80 percent of the world’s poor will live in Africa, and about 75 percent of them in resource-rich countries.

It makes sense for African Nations to step up efforts to increase quality jobs. “The United States and Europe must ensure that the partnerships they are building in Africa are mutually beneficial and non-extractive,” Theophile Pouget-Abadie and Rachel Rizzo recently wrote in Foreign Policy. “Otherwise, they will run headlong into the walls erected by an increasingly dominant Beijing.”

Washington in January signed a memorandum of understanding to help the Democratic Republic of Congo 🇨🇩 and Zambia 🇿🇲 develop an electric battery supply chain. But China is going beyond this in terms of thinking about what African nations need. Beijing, for example, with support from the United Nations 🇺🇳 Development Program, is facilitating a joint research center in Ethiopia 🇪🇹 to fast-track access to renewable energy in the country.

Experts warn that more African countries banning critical raw minerals exports will impede global decarbonization. Zimbabwe’s ban is perceived as unrealistic because the country lacks skilled workers. Some countries (Kenya 🇰🇪, Tanzania 🇹🇿, and Zambia 🇿🇲) have implemented policies requiring mining companies to train locals, according to a recent World Bank report. The report suggests national export bans alone can make countries worse off because investors simply move their business elsewhere, but that training requirements could ensure retention of investment and the creation of a skilled workforce.

[industryforecastnews]

Epoxy Adhesives Market Size To Reach USD 10.5 Billion By 2028

Epoxy Adhesives Market Growth & Trends

The global epoxy adhesives market size is expected to reach USD 10.5 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2021 to 2028. Increasing investments in electric vehicles (EVs) and solar and wind energy industries are the prominent factors attributed to the market growth during the projected period.

The industry is projected to experience significant growth owing to the growing emphasis on the incorporation of lightweight materials in the automotive and transportation industry. The usage of adhesives offers a reduction in the weight of the final product, which has become a crucial factor in the aerospace and automotive industries in recent years. Moreover, epoxy adhesives are used in various other industries as well, such as medical, sports tools, defense, and power and energy.

A growing focus on sustainable solutions and increasing usage of mass timber in the construction industry is expected to bolster the consumption of adhesives, which is further anticipated to offer lucrative growth opportunities for the market. Furthermore, a surge in DIY home improvement activities has been witnessed during the COVID period, as people were spending more time at home. Thus, wide-scope applications in various industries make the market more lucrative.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted various commercial and industrial sectors, which led to a halt in new investments resulting in a downfall in global revenue. Moreover, with the continuing second and third waves of the virus, restrictions were seen in Q1 2021 as well. During the pandemic, the prices of raw materials have increased owing to a rise in logistic costs, unavailability of raw materials, and unfavorable weather conditions. It also adversely impacted the end-use industries which remained shut down during the pandemic. 

Request a free sample copy or view report summary: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/epoxy-adhesives-market-report

Epoxy Adhesives Market Report Highlights

By technology, the two component segment dominated the market and was estimated at USD 2.9 billion in 2020. The two component epoxies have excellent shear strength owing to different curing characteristics and provide an additional advantage of getting cured at room temperature, which aids to its consumption

By application, the automotive and transportation segment dominated the market with a revenue share of over 42.0% in 2020. Growth in the EV industry and increasing consumption of adhesives over mechanical fasteners in vehicles is anticipated to boost the market growth

The power and energy segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 7.1%, in terms of revenue, during the forecast period. Adhesives are used to protect and bond sensitive mechanical and electrical components such as solar panels, charge controllers, and wind turbine blades in the energy industry

Asia Pacific dominated the market and held the largest revenue share of over 45.0% in 2020. Increasing investments in the energy and automotive industries of the region are anticipated to further propel market growth across the forecast period

Epoxy Adhesives Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global epoxy adhesives market on the basis of technology, application, and region:

Epoxy Adhesives Technology Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

One Component

Two Component

Others

Epoxy Adhesives Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

Automotive & Transportation

Building & Construction

Power & Energy

Electrical & Electronics

Others

Epoxy Adhesives Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Central & South America

Middle East & Africa

List of Key Players of Epoxy Adhesives Market

3M

Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.

Bostik

Dow

H.B. Fuller Company

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

Mapei S.P.A

Parker Hannifin Corp

Permabond LLC

Sika AG

Browse Full Report: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/epoxy-adhesives-market-report

[datastring]

Feldspar Market Projected to Reach $2.3 Billion by 2035

The global Feldspar market is expected to experience substantial growth, reaching $2.3 billion by 2035, up from $1.2 billion in 2024. This growth is primarily driven by the increasing demand for Feldspar in key applications such as glass manufacturing, ceramic & tile production, and paints & coatings. Other important sectors, including construction & architecture and ceramics & glass manufacturing, are also contributing to the expansion of the market.

Access detailed report insights here - https://datastringconsulting.com/industry-analysis/feldspar-market-research-report

Key Applications of Feldspar

Feldspar is predominantly utilized in the ceramics and glass manufacturing industries due to its unique properties. Plagioclase Feldspar, in particular, is favored for its high melting point and ability to act as a fluxing agent, reducing the melting temperature. Leading companies such as Sibelco and Minerals Technologies Inc. take advantage of these attributes, strengthening their market positions by providing high-quality Feldspar-based solutions.

In addition to ceramics and glass, Feldspar is widely used in the construction and architecture sectors. Orthoclase Feldspar, known for its weather resistance and hardness, is especially popular for producing building stones and aggregates. This makes it an ideal material for the production of durable and weather-resistant building materials, giving companies like Imerys and LB Minerals a competitive advantage in the market.

Shift Towards Sustainable Mining Practices

The Feldspar industry is undergoing a significant transformation, particularly with a shift towards green mining practices. As environmental concerns and stringent regulations continue to rise, companies are increasingly investing in sustainable practices. These initiatives focus on reducing carbon emissions, minimizing water consumption, and curbing ecological degradation. Some of the measures include the use of electric vehicles for transportation within mining fields and the integration of solar energy in mining operations. These sustainable practices are not only helping reduce the industry’s environmental impact but also contributing to global sustainability goals.

Industry Leadership and Strategies

The Feldspar market is highly competitive, especially in the top demand hubs, including China, India, and the United States. Leading players such as Imerys Minerals, Eczacibasi Esan, The Quartz Corporation, and Mahavir Minerals are leveraging various strategies to maintain their market positions:

Sibelco focuses on rigorous quality control measures and comprehensive testing to ensure the highest product standards.

Quarzwerke Group emphasizes innovative formulation techniques to meet the diverse needs of its customers.

Minerali Industriali is expanding into new regions, capitalizing on global demand for Feldspar-based solutions.

These strategies are helping these players remain competitive as they navigate the growing demand for Feldspar in various industries.

Growth Outlook for 2025-2030

The Feldspar market is expected to experience substantial growth from 2025 to 2030. Key market drivers include the rising demand for Feldspar in the glass and ceramics industries, the growing need for fillers in the paint industry, and advancements in Feldspar processing technologies. These factors are poised to support the continued expansion of the market in the coming years.

Regional Analysis

North America has emerged as a significant player in the Feldspar market, driven by robust demand from the construction and glass industries. The ongoing boom in infrastructure and housing developments in the region is contributing to increased demand for Feldspar. Additionally, the ceramic and glass manufacturing sectors, which heavily rely on Feldspar as a fluxing agent, are thriving, providing ample opportunities for growth and expansion.

An interesting trend in North America is the growing adoption of Feldspar in the advanced ceramics sector. This development is influencing the regional market dynamics and driving further demand for high-quality Feldspar products.

Market Insights and Opportunities

DataString Consulting offers a detailed analysis of the global Feldspar market, examining product types (Plagioclase, K-, Hydrous), applications (Ceramics, Glass Manufacturing, Paints & Coatings, Fillers, Others), and grades (Commercial Grade, High Purity Grade) across more than 20 countries. This research provides valuable insights into the market’s trends, opportunities, and competitive landscape, helping businesses identify key growth areas.

About DataString Consulting

DataString Consulting helps companies develop strategies for market expansion, revenue diversification, and entry into new markets. By offering in-depth insights into emerging trends, competitor landscapes, and customer demographics, DataString Consulting enables businesses to uncover new opportunities and streamline their market strategies. With more than 30 years of combined experience in market research and strategic advisory, DataString Consulting continues to track high-growth segments across over 15 industries, providing actionable insights for businesses worldwide.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this New York Times story:

President Trump’s repudiation of renewable-energy technologies stands to make the United States an outlier in the world.

Many of its large-economy peers are choosing a different path. Even as coal, oil and gas still power the global economy, and more fossil fuels are burned year after year, the movement globally is toward heavy investment in solar, wind and batteries, the prices of which have fallen sharply in recent years.

The European Union has aggressively moved away from coal. Its use of natural gas is declining, and last year solar alone made up 11 percent of power generation across the 27-country bloc, inching above coal, according to a new analysis by Ember, a research group.

Britain closed its last coal-burning power plant last year, and its government has said it would issue no new drilling licenses in the North Sea. Norway, a petrostate that has enriched itself with oil exports, offers such attractive incentives for clean transport that 90 percent of new cars sold in 2024 were electric.

Even Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, has set a goal to generate half of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030.

China is in a league of its own. It burns more coal than any country by far, making it the world’s biggest emitter of planet-heating greenhouse gases. But at the same time, it is home to nearly two-thirds of all the world’s utility-scale solar and wind projects under construction. China’s dominance of the manufacturing of inexpensive solar panels has driven down the price of solar energy globally. And its companies are setting up electric vehicle factories as far afield as Thailand and Brazil.

Worldwide, investors poured nearly twice as much money into renewable energy in 2024 as they did into fossil fuels, according to the International Energy Agency. “The world is undergoing an energy transition that is unstoppable,” Simon Stiell, the head of the United Nations’ climate agency, said Tuesday at the World Economic Forum gathering in Davos, Switzerland.

Mr. Trump’s energy-related executive orders, many issued on his first day in office, seek to make it easier for companies to produce oil and gas, and empower the government to stop clean-energy projects that have already been approved. (Coal use has sharply declined in the United States, mainly because of the availability of cheap fracked gas.)

[intensifyre]

Gensol Engineering shares hit another lower circuit level; drop for 11th day

New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) Shares of Gensol Engineering continued their southward journey on Thursday, tumbling 5 per cent to hit another lower circuit level, amid the ongoing crisis at the firm.

Sebi, through its interim order on Tuesday last week, barred brothers Anmol Singh Jaggi and Puneet Singh Jaggi from accessing the securities markets until further notice.

The action comes amid accusations of siphoning off loan funds from their publicly listed company Gensol Engineering for personal use, raising concerns over corporate governance and financial misconduct.

The stock of the crisis-hit firm dropped 4.96 per cent to ₹95.80 — its lowest trading permissible limit for the day as well as 52-week low level — on the BSE.

At the NSE, it dived 5 per cent to hit the lower circuit as well as 52-week low of ₹94.91.

From its 52-week high of ₹1,125.75, the stock has lost 91.49 per cent so far.

The stock has been tumbling for 11 trading days, including Thursday.

Gensol Engineering is engaged in providing solar consulting services, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services, and leasing of electric vehicles, among others.

Sebi received a complaint in June 2024 related to the manipulation of share price and diversion of funds from Gensol and thereafter, started examining the matter.

Additionally, Sebi directed Gensol Engineering to put its planned stock split into the ratio of 1:10 on hold.

The Corporate Affairs Ministry on Monday said it will take necessary action in the Gensol Engineering matter after examining market regulator Sebi’s order against the company.

“Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing.”

Intensify Research Services is a professional stock consultive firm in Indore in share market latest news. We provide expert investment advice and guidance to individuals and High Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs), valuable trading tips and strategy Visit us at Intensify Research Services to learn more.

[industrynewsupdates]

U.S. Motive Lead Acid Battery Market Outlook, Competitive Strategies And Forecast

The U.S. motive lead acid battery market is expected to reach USD 1.57 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.3% from 2023 to 2030. The demand for lead-acid batteries in the country is majorly driven by their wide application in the automotive industry as a battery backup system for electric vehicles. As electric vehicles are gaining popularity in the U.S. market as a sustainable mode of transportation, the demand for motive lead-acid batteries is anticipated to grow considerably over the forecast period.

Moreover, industrial sector, including chemical, shipping, metal, and mining, is expected to hold a major share of lead-acid battery applications, owing to rapid industrialization. A large manufacturing base of chemical companies and the presence of multinationals, including Bayer AG, BASF SE, Dow, and Akzo Nobel N.V., adopting lead acid batteries as a UPS system are expected to increase industry penetration over the forecast period.

The benefits of lithium-ion batteries are a cost-effective and high energy density & better cycle life compared with lead acid batteries. The aforementioned factors make lithium-ion batteries a growing alternative to lead acid batteries, which is anticipated to hinder market growth in the coming years.  

The rising demand for ESS is expected to fuel product demand over the forecast period. ESS utilizes batteries considering its advantages such as recyclability, high power delivery, and cost-effectiveness. Lead acid batteries are the most-used battery types for ESS due to applications such as battery systems, emergency power supply systems, and stand-alone systems with PV for mitigating output fluctuations from solar and wind power. Furthermore, lead acid batteries are lower in cost compared to alternatives and are expected to witness industry growth in the coming years.

Curious about the U.S. Motive Lead Acid Battery Market? Download your FREE sample copy now and get a sneak peek into the latest insights and trends. 

U.S. Motive Lead Acid Battery Market Report Highlights

• The market was worth USD 1.19 Billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.3% during the forecast period.

• According to the World Wind Energy Association, the U.S. is the world’s second-largest producer of energy and wind and is anticipated to witness substantial growth in the production of energy and wind over the forecast period. In the U.S., the evolution of the energy system is driven by technology innovation, market competition, and state/local policies expressing citizen preference rather than central government planning. This is anticipated to augment the market growth.

• The Material handling segment accounted for 25.96% share in 2022 in the market owing to the increasing investment in these equipment and machinery.

• Valve Regulated Lead Acid Battery in construction segment is projected to grow at a substantial rate throughout the forecast period.

• 99.9% Purity (Pure Lead acid) in purity segment accounted for largest share 82.10% share in 2022.

U.S. Motive Lead Acid Battery Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the U.S. motive lead acid battery market based on construction, purity application, and material handling:

U.S. Motive Lead Acid Battery Construction Outlook (USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Flooded

• Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA)

U.S. Motive Lead Acid Battery Purity Outlook (USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• 99.9% Purity (Pure Lead acid)

• Less than 99.9% Purity

U.S. Motive Lead Acid Battery Application Outlook (USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Automotive

• Telecom

• UPS

• Electric Vehicles

• Golf Carts

• Mining

• Material Handling

o Forklift

o End-Controlled Rider Pallet Jack

o Narrow Aisle Forklifts

o Counterbalanced Forklifts

o Large Counterbalanced Forklifts

o (Agvs, Etc.)

o Others

U.S. Motive Lead Acid Battery Material Handling Application Outlook (USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• VRLA Motive Lead Acid Battery

o Forklift

o End-Controlled Rider Pallet Jack

o Narrow Aisle Forklifts

o Counterbalanced forklifts

o Large counterbalanced forklifts

o Others

• Flooded Motive Lead Acid Battery

o Forklift

o End-Controlled Rider Pallet Jack

o Narrow Aisle Forklifts

o Counterbalanced forklifts

o Large counterbalanced forklifts

o Others

U.S. Motive Lead Acid Battery State Outlook (USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Texas

List of Key Players of the U.S. Motive Lead Acid Battery Market

• Crown Battery

• East Penn Manufacturing

• EnerSys

• Exide Technologies

• GS Yuasa Energy Solutions, Inc.

• Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.

• Johnson Controls

• Panasonic Corporation of North America

• Trojan Battery Company

• U.S. Battery Mfg.

Order a free sample PDF of the U.S. Motive Lead Acid Battery Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[markettrendsus]

Unleashing Potential: The Expanding Horizons of the Energy Storage Market

The energy storage market is witnessing a dynamic transformation, driven by the urgent need for renewable energy integration and the global emphasis on carbon neutrality. This sector is critical not only for stabilizing grids as they increasingly depend on intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar but also for enhancing energy security and efficiency across diverse applications.

As we delve into the current landscape, it is evident that the market for energy storage has expanded beyond mere utility. It now plays a pivotal role in residential, commercial, and industrial energy systems. The technology's evolution is largely fueled by advancements in battery technologies, particularly lithium-ion batteries, which dominate due to their favorable energy-to-weight ratios and efficiency. However, the horizon is broadening with the emergence of alternatives such as solid-state batteries, which offer greater safety and potentially higher energy densities, and flow batteries, which excel in scalability and longevity.

Get More Info: https://dimensionmarketresearch.com/report/energy-storage-market/

The surge in electric vehicle (EV) adoption globally is significantly influencing the energy storage market. EVs not only require high-capacity batteries but also contribute to energy storage solutions through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems. These systems allow for the storage of excess energy, which can be fed back into the grid during peak demand periods, thereby supporting grid stability and promoting the use of renewable energy sources.

Market analysts project robust growth in the energy storage sector, driven by declining costs and increased efficiency of storage technologies. According to recent studies, the energy storage market is expected to grow exponentially, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 20% over the next decade. This growth is underpinned by supportive government policies, including subsidies and incentives for renewable energy installations and the development of energy storage solutions.

Geographically, North America and Europe are at the forefront of the energy storage market, spurred by regulatory support and high consumer awareness about renewable energies. However, Asia-Pacific is not far behind, with countries like China and India ramping up their energy storage installations to meet their substantial energy demands and ambitious carbon neutrality goals.

The competitive landscape of the energy storage market is vibrant and continuously evolving. Key players include established technology giants as well as nimble startups that are innovating at a rapid pace. These companies are not only focusing on enhancing the capacity and efficiency of batteries but are also exploring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to optimize battery management and energy distribution systems.

The challenges facing the energy storage market are not insignificant. Issues such as the supply chain for raw materials, environmental concerns related to battery disposal, and the initial high capital cost of deployment are pertinent. Nevertheless, ongoing research and technological breakthroughs are promising to address these challenges effectively.

As we look to the future, the energy storage market is set to be a cornerstone of the global energy transition. It is crucial for stakeholders to continue their focus on innovation, scalability, and sustainability to fully unleash the potential of this transformative technology. With its ability to bridge the gap between energy production and consumption, energy storage stands as a beacon of hope for a sustainable and efficient future.