Amid the global RE100 movement and intensifying net-zero transition, electricity has shifted from a basic utility to a strategic resource shaping national competitiveness and geopolitical positioning. Yet Taiwan's domestic solar industry is being pushed toward collapse by internal regulatory constraints that function as self-imposed roadblocks.

Two newly constructed data centers in Santa Clara, California, have yet to begin operations because of insufficient power supply from the local grid. The facilities, developed by Digital Realty and Stack Infrastructure, offer a combined capacity of approximately 100MW but remain largely unused, highlighting ongoing energy constraints in the region.

China's AI boom is entering a new phase as investors shift from high-valuation chip and pure-AI stocks to the infrastructure that keeps AI running, namely power, metals, cooling, storage, and grid-scale hardware. The move reflects concern over inflated tech valuations and recognition that data-center growth is driving lasting demand for electricity and materials.

Despite surging global demand for solar energy, South Korean manufacturers are seeing export volumes contract as China deepens its dominance over upstream silicon wafer and module production. Industry experts caution that rising domestic consumption alone will not revive local manufacturing unless supported by protective measures and mandatory local-sourcing requirements.

Microsoft has activated its data center in Atlanta, Georgia, connecting it with another Fairwater project data center in Wisconsin. This will support OpenAI and its own LLM training, using two-story buildings and liquid cooling to improve energy efficiency.

With the global race toward net-zero intensifying, Taiwan's energy strategy now stands at a critical crossroads. An amendment to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, currently under review in the Legislative Yuan, is drawing fierce concern from industry groups, who argue the proposal could create a self-inflicted "legislative barrier" that jeopardizes Taiwan's energy security, semiconductor supply chain, and the livelihoods of millions.

Some of India's export-oriented green hydrogen projects are expected to face delays due to global policy uncertainties, potentially pushing the country's clean fuel production target beyond its original timeline, according to a senior government official who spoke on November 11, 2025.

Hyundai Motor is reportedly grappling with shortages of Chinese-made permanent magnets, a key component in electric and hybrid vehicle motors, as Beijing's export controls on rare earth materials begin to ripple through South Korea's auto industry.

Analysts believe Tesla is shifting from battery-buying to battery-making, as its procurement team is reportedly in active communication with South Korean suppliers of cathode materials, anode materials, and copper foil for batteries. This reflects Tesla pursuing vertical integration to boost profitability and establish a self-contained ecosystem. According to the Korea Economic Daily, Tesla has also discussed orders with a South Korean copper foil manufacturer, with supply expected to begin in 2026.

Energy Taiwan 2025 concluded on October 31, 2025, with one key takeaway being that the massive power demand from AI data centers is driving the deployment of emerging low-carbon energy solutions with solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). With characteristics such as distributed generation, on-site power supply, and self-consumption, SOFCS may be a solution to address data center power gaps.

Buima reported steady revenue growth in October 2025 as orders for green energy and construction projects advanced. The company is accelerating its expansion into renewable energy, developing next-generation energy storage and management systems to strengthen its market position and capture international opportunities.

As AI computing demands rapidly increase, the number of GPUs in data centers continues to grow, driving electricity consumption up exponentially and making power usage effectiveness (PUE) a critical indicator for measuring data center energy efficiency. Currently, international regulations generally set 1.5 as the minimum threshold, with many countries moving toward stricter standards. Virginia even offers incentives for data centers achieving a PUE below 1.2.

The battery industry is emerging from a downturn, shifting from losses to profits. Experts say this turnaround is not solely due to renewed electric vehicle (EV) demand but is also driven by expanding non-automotive applications.

Below are the top DIGITIMES Asia stories from November 3 to November 10, 2025.

Data center power consumption has become a critical issue as global energy demand surges due to AI computing. The Trump administration has recently pushed through major energy regulatory reforms, aimed at shortening the review period for AI data centers connecting to the grid, with the goal of maintaining competitiveness and accelerating growth in the AI sector.

Electronic components and solutions provider Sinbon Electronics has faced significant pressure on its growth momentum in 2025 amid global economic volatility and shifting US policies. The company's green energy business, including the solar power segment, has declined sharply, halting a 15-year streak of revenue growth. However, Sinbon chairman Joseph Wang said that with new product lines and AI industry applications ramping up production, Sinbon expects to return to positive growth in 2026. A wave of major orders starting in the fourth quarter of 2026 is set to drive even stronger expansion in 2027.

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the General Administration of Customs announced on November 7 that they will suspend the implementation of several export control measures that were introduced in October, particularly regarding rare earth.

Affected by seasonal slowdowns and fewer working days, Chicony Power Technology's revenue in October 2025 was NT$2.487 billion (approx. US$80.5 million), down 25.6% year-over-year; cumulative revenue from January to October 2025 reached NT$29.096 billion, down 5.1% year-over-year. Compared to the same period in 2024, shipments of high-wattage NB power supplies were delayed due to ongoing shortages of key semiconductor materials for some customers. As a result, the product mix leaned toward low-end traditional models, making overall revenue relatively conservative.

South Korean electric vehicle (EV) battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) is facing a major security breach involving the theft of its high-density pouch-type battery technology, which reportedly ended up in the hands of Indian electric scooter manufacturer Ola Electric. The incident has raised significant concerns about the protection of South Korea's core industrial technologies.

Jabil said on November 4 that it has agreed to acquire Hanley Energy Group. The Ireland- and US-based company provides energy management and critical power systems for data centers. The deal is valued at about US$725 million in cash plus up to US$58 million in contingent payments tied to future revenue performance.

Samsung SDI is reportedly negotiating with Tesla to supply batteries for energy storage systems, aiming to leverage rising demand from AI data centers and renewable energy projects in North America.

Amid the global energy transformation driven by AI data centers, electric vehicle fleets, and ESG regulations, Taiwan's Seetel New Energy is emerging as a leading player in energy storage system design, manufacturing, and operations.

As the global push for net-zero emissions and energy transition gathers pace, energy saving and carbon reduction have become central to corporate competitiveness. With carbon fees now in place and mounting pressures on power stability and green electricity demand, manufacturers are moving beyond single equipment adoption toward comprehensive solutions that integrate diagnostics, storage, green power procurement, and microgrid systems.

Au Optronics (AUO) is accelerating its expansion in the smart energy sector, unveiling integrated "storage-first" and "solar-plus-storage" solutions at Energy Taiwan 2025. Partnering with its subsidiaries AET SustainTek and StarShining Energy, along with 21 ecosystem partners, AUO is positioning itself at the forefront of Taiwan's evolving post-grid energy storage landscape.