The European Union is tightening its subsidy rules for green hydrogen production, effectively barring products with substantial Chinese involvement. The move reflects lessons learned from past challenges with Chinese competition, particularly in the solar energy sector, and aligns with strategies adopted by the US and Japan to counter Beijing's industrial dominance.

Following two weeks of heated discussions, the COP29 climate summit concluded with debates over climate financing dominating headlines. However, significant strides were made in energy, with resolutions on hydrogen, energy storage, and carbon trading establishing a framework for global energy transformation.

Amid surging electricity demands and growing potential in green energy, Foxconn is strengthening its market presence by leveraging AI to enhance operational efficiency and value creation.

Following multiple typhoons in 2024, Taiwan faces significant challenges to its power grid. Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) Vice President and CEO Ming-Shu Chen highlighted the increasing unpredictability of climate change's impact on Taiwan, stressing the need to enhance the resilience of power infrastructure and improve cross-agency collaboration to tackle extreme weather events effectively.

On December 3, China declared an export ban on these metals to the US, a retaliatory action following US President Joe Biden's administration's introduction of new technology restrictions targeting China.

The US Department of Commerce announced on November 29, 2024, its preliminary findings in antidumping duty investigations targeting crystalline photovoltaic cells and modules from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Through collaborations with US-based Bloom Energy, Taiwan is accelerating its AI data center development, with power supply emerging as a critical challenge. The government plans to establish an AI data center in Tainan, leveraging hydrogen fuel systems to ensure a stable energy supply amid growing demands.

Onsemi's leadership has been increasing its presence in China recently. After Felicity Carson, SVP of global operations at Onsemi, attended PCIM Asia 2024 in Shenzhen at the end of August 2024, company president and CEO Hassane El-Khoury made a subsequent visit to Shanghai to meet with local media.

Foxconn has reportedly secured 200 acres of land in Tamil Nadu for a battery manufacturing plant, aligning with the company's strategic focus on AI and EV as growth engines.

Following Amazon's recent announcement of its investment in nuclear energy in the US, industry watchers are waiting to see if such investment will expand to other regions.

Taiwan-based E-One Moli Energy (Molicel) has commenced shipments of backup battery units (BBU) to a major cloud service provider (CSP), according to parent company Taiwan Cement (TCC).

China's Ministry of Finance and State Taxation Administration has announced significant changes to its export tax rebate policy, effective December 1. The new policy eliminates rebates for 59 products and reduces the rebate rate from 13% to 9% for 209 items, including refined oil, solar panels, lithium batteries, and modules, vanadium redox flow batteries, and certain non-metallic mineral products. This 4% reduction represents an approximate 30% decrease in rebates.

Trade disputes between the EU and China, especially in the solar and automotive sectors, underscore the intricate nature of global trade. Chinese manufacturers have shown resilience and adaptability, often finding ways around regulatory hurdles.

Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) Group is expanding its renewable energy presence through a recent stock subscription agreement with Anneal Energy, securing a 45% stake and becoming the largest institutional shareholder. This move aligns with adjustments to Taiwan's Electricity Act, which now allows Type III solar power plants—those with less than 2,000 kilowatts in capacity—to sell green energy to renewable trading companies for corporate use.

Panasonic's battery manufacturing division has found a silver lining in the growing demand for data center energy systems, offsetting the impact of slowing electric vehicle (EV) sales. The division reported strong financial results despite challenges in the EV market.

Following the victory of Donald Trump and the Republican Party in the US presidential and congressional elections, major changes are anticipated when the new administration takes office. Chief among these changes is the likely rescinding of unspent funds under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which could significantly impact the renewable energy, energy storage, and electric vehicle (EV) sectors.

Transitioning to net-zero emissions by 2050 presents a major challenge for Taiwan and many countries alike, demanding extensive changes to energy infrastructure, industrial practices, and consumer behavior. Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) has adopted an "ecosystem" approach to unify the energy supply chain, enabling practical applications of hydrogen energy, marine energy, energy storage, grid integration, and carbon capture solutions.

Following the convening of local enterprises by the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) to address vicious competition tactics in China's solar energy industry, Chinese solar firms have jointly acknowledged the significance to mitigate price-cutting practices, according to industry sources.

Liteon Technology will continue to focus on AI servers, green energy, and high-performance infrastructure, with the company planning shipments of 33kW power shelves for next-generation AI servers in the fourth quarter of 2024. Furthermore, the company has completed testing of its liquid-to-liquid cooling system, with initial shipments slated to begin in 2025, and is formally entering the home energy storage market. Despite the traditionally off-peak season, the company expects both quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year growth as revenue from AI-related products continues to rise.

The industry's trio of cloud service providers (CSPs) are actively embracing nuclear energy with unprecedented enthusiasm, signaling a major shift in the global energy landscape. As the AI race intensifies, massive investments from companies are flooding into infrastructure projects worldwide, driving a surge in demand for carbon-free energy (CFE). The global response to this transformation will significantly shape the future energy landscape.

Taiwan is aligning with a growing global trend, as nations and tech giants increasingly turn to nuclear power to meet the surging electrical demand driven by AI. Premier Cho Jung-Tai recently suggested that Taiwan maintains a "very open" attitude toward adopting new nuclear technologies, marking a potential shift in the government's stance on nuclear energy.

The US Department of Energy estimates the country will need to add 200 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050 to meet its net-zero targets and phase out coal-fired power plants. That translates to roughly 200 new reactors.

This year's Hon Hai Tech Day (HHTD24) not only showcased Foxconn's latest technological developments and plans to partners, investment institutions, and the media, but it was also open to the general public for the first time. Noteworthy technology and applications have been summarized as follows.

Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo has raised the possibility of establishing renewable energy facilities in the Philippines to address Taiwan's surging energy demands, particularly from the semiconductor industry. With domestic green power development facing mounting obstacles, Taiwan could consider transporting power back via shipping or undersea cables to bridge the gap.

Chinese automaker Seres, in partnership with Huawei to produce the Aito EV brand, reported strong financial results for the first three quarters of 2024, driving notable growth for its supply chain. Taiwan-based suppliers, particularly Kwang Hwa Electronic Material, saw a significant revenue boost in September due to increasing orders from Seres.