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Oct 19, 09:35
Exclusive: Chinese energy storage giants reportedly exit US as two-way tech restrictions open door for non-Chinese suppliers
Major Chinese energy storage system suppliers that once dominated the US market have reportedly withdrawn almost entirely from US operations in 2026, amid mounting regulatory restrictions, overlapping tariffs, and stringent ownership scrutiny, according to US supply chain sources.
Taiwan has launched its first proof-of-concept project for shifting renewable electricity through energy storage, a move that could give companies worldwide a model for managing mismatches between green-power generation and consumption. The initiative may improve renewable-energy utilization, support corporate net-zero targets, and test how grid operators handle flexible electricity demand.
Chinese battery giant CATL is deploying sodium-ion technology to expand into Europe's energy storage system (ESS) market. The company recently signed a strategic agreement with German system integrator Intilion to deploy up to 3GWh of energy storage projects over the next five years, drawing renewed market focus to the commercialization potential of sodium-ion batteries.
TECO Electric and Machinery participated in Energy Taiwan on October 14, showcasing its smart microgrid solutions and outlining the future development of its power and energy business group.
Delta Electronics chairman Ping Cheng said at the 2026 Global Views Leaders Forum on October 15, 2026, that the world is entering an era of electrification, with AI data centers and EVs driving electricity demand beyond available supply. Delta is expanding its focus from power consumption to an integrated microgrid architecture spanning generation, transmission, distribution, energy storage and consumption, with solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and solid-state transformers (SSTs) as its key products.
The focus of the global AI race has shifted from securing advanced chips to securing access to electricity, with electrical power now becoming the deciding factor for computing capacity. As power consumption surges at AI data centers (AIDCs), conventional public grids are increasingly facing bottlenecks, and self-generation and improved grid resilience are now requirements in major data center construction projects worldwide.
As hydrogen development and applications take center stage at Energy Taiwan 2026, industrial gas giant Linde LienHwa Group is introducing an end-to-end "Hydrogen-as-a-Service" (HaaS) business model. To support this push, the company plans to progressively localize vehicle assembly in Taiwan, expecting tangible results as early as 2028, according to Jeffery Shan, vice president and head of Merchant & Clean Energy at Linde LienHwa.
TSEC is focusing its overseas expansion on Japan's rooftop solar market and expects Taiwan's solar installations to recover in 2027 from a market low point. For the Taiwan-based solar manufacturer, building a solar plant in the US remains an important direction, but it is not an immediate priority, as the company monitors the uncertainty around the US Minimum Import Price (MIP) policy.
US President Donald Trump said at a Republican rally in Alaska on Tuesday that Taiwan had agreed to buy 30% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a planned Alaska pipeline project over 20 years, according to Reuters. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who also spoke at the rally, said Taiwan had committed to investing US$4.4 billion.
The rapid expansion of AI data centers in the US is placing growing pressure on conventional power grids, as their substantial and highly variable electricity requirements strain available supply in certain regions. Power shortages have even delayed the construction of some AI data center projects.
Delta Electronics showcased its on-site solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power generation solution at Energy Taiwan 2026, alongside its first physical solid-state transformer (SST) product.
Star Shining Energy Holdings (SSEH) acquired Star Shining Enetek Corporation (Enetek), a spin-off of AUO's energy business, on October 1, 2026, combining power generation assets with engineering and technology capabilities. The acquisition extends SSEH's business beyond solar into geothermal power, industrial waste heat recovery, energy storage and corporate self-generation.