The artificial intelligence boom is creating an unprecedented energy crisis. As AI data centers proliferate worldwide, electricity demand is surging faster than supply can keep pace, forcing governments and industries to rethink power infrastructure on a massive scale.
Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) convened its 19th committee meeting on January 21, 2026, bringing together senior executives from leading tech companies to address mounting concerns over renewable energy availability and pricing. TSMC senior vice president Lora Ho and Pegatron chairman Tzu-hsien Tung attended the session, where industry leaders pressed the government on critical energy policy issues.
The urgent net-zero transition in high-tech sectors like semiconductors and AI computing is driving rapid growth in Taiwan's green power sales market. Greenet, a leading domestic electricity retailer under J&V Energy Technology, listed on the OTC market in June 2025 and recently received approval to uplist its shares.
Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) chairwoman Doris Hsu emphasized power supply issues affecting Taiwan-US industry expansion, including Taiwan's green energy shortages and US AI data center conflicts. SAS is committing to 100% green energy for new plants and integrating green energy certificates with wafer sales.
China's rare earth supply chain faced renewed uncertainty after a deadly explosion at a steel plate plant operated by Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union, compounding market concerns driven by falling exports and tighter trade controls.
China is phasing out export tax rebates for the solar industry, marking an end to a crucial lifeline that has propped up the industry for more than a decade.
China's solar industry is heading into a volatile period as an impending export tax policy change exposes structural strains across the supply chain, increasing the risk of a market shakeout in the second quarter of 2026.
As the global race to build ever-larger artificial intelligence models accelerates, the reliable operation of AI data centers has emerged as a decisive factor in the competition for computing power. Seetel, a Taiwan-based energy solutions provider, is seeking to capitalize on this demand by offering end-to-end EPC services—spanning planning, engineering, construction, testing, and operations—to deliver customized power and energy storage solutions tailored to AI data center infrastructure.
Reports that Reliance Industries has paused plans to manufacture lithium-ion battery cells have reignited debate over India's clean-energy ambitions, highlighting technology bottlenecks even as the conglomerate insists its net-zero strategy and investment roadmap remain firmly on track.
EV manufacturer Ola Electric has rolled out Ola Shakti, a residential battery energy storage system (BESS), from its gigafactory in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu, marking the company's formal entry into India's residential energy storage market and an expansion beyond its core automotive business, according to ANI, PV Magazine, and the Economic Times.
China's total trade in goods reached CNY45.47 trillion (approx. US$6.51 trillion) in 2025, marking a 3.8% year-over-year increase and setting a new record, the General Administration of Customs announced on January 14. Exports rose 6.1% to CNY26.99 trillion, while imports edged up 0.5% to CNY18.48 trillion, maintaining China's status as the largest merchandise trader globally.
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