The Renewables MMI (Monthly Metals Index) moved sideways month over month, increasing a slight 1.86%. Meanwhile, renewable energy projects could face some challenges from a combination of tariffs and changing Federal policies. Trump Administration’s Energy Policies Reshape the Renewable Sector Since taking power in January, the Trump administration has reshaped the U.S. renewable energy landscape […]
Category: Environment
Renewables MMI: Mixed Market Signals & Policy Changes Potentially Incoming
The Renewables MMI (Monthly Metals Index) held firmly sideways, shifting down a mere 0.06%. With the incoming Trump administration, it is possible the renewable energy sector could witness market shifts in the upcoming year. The Biden Administration prioritized the expansion of renewable energy systems, including more specific projects like electric vehicles. However, the Trump Administration […]
Renewables MMI: China’s New Decarbonization Initiatives, What it Means for Steel and Aluminum Buyers
The Renewables MMI (Monthly Metals Index) finally witnessed a significant increase in price action for the first time in a year. In total, the index ascended by 9.97%, drawing fresh attention to renewable resources. The main culprit for the increase in price action was a significant rise in neodymium prices, likely in response to China’s […]
Chinese Steel & Aluminum Buyers: Brace for Oncoming Crackdown!
It has been in the works for some time now. China is finally all set to add industrial metal sectors like steel and aluminum as well as cement to its national carbon trading market. According to media reports, the change will happen by the end of 2024. Essentially, this means domestic steel, aluminum and cement […]
Cobalt Mining: A ‘Dirty’ Truth
The cobalt mining industry, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has received backlash in both the past and present for human rights concerns. In the DRC, children as young as seven are sometimes employed to work in hazardous conditions to collect cobalt, a crucial material for electric car batteries, smartphones and other modern […]
Renewables/GOES MMI: Despite Slight GOES Supply Gut, U.S. Still Lacks Enough Transformers for Renewable Energy
The Renewables MMI (Monthly Metals Index) witnessed more notable declines month-over-month than last month’s MMI, declining by 7.09%. Renewable energy news sources indicate there exists a number of renewable energy projects within the U.S. currently ready to begin work, but are on hold due to an array of factors. Furthermore, solar and wind fields still […]
Renewables MMI: Problematic Dependence on China for Silicon and Solar Panels?
The Renewables MMI (Monthly Metals Index) continued its slight downward trend month-on-month, dropping by 3.8%. Two large components of the index, silicon and cobalt prices, continue to experience drops due to lingering renewable energy supply bottlenecks from 2023. This, along with falling grain-oriented electrical steel prices, brought the index down Silicon for Solar Panels: A […]
European Aluminum Industry Faces Existential Threats
The European aluminum manufacturing industry is under attack from two short- and medium-term threats, both of which have the potential to significantly impact aluminum consumers across the region. Threat #1: Potential Russian Aluminum Ban, Aluminum Manufacturing Shortage The first threat is the widely debated possibility of the EU banning Russian aluminum. While the UK has […]
Renewables/GOES MMI: The “Dirty” Business of Disposing of Solar Panels
Numerous factors continue to pull at the Renewables MMI (Monthly Metals Index) as it moves through Q1. This past month, the index largely moved sideways, only exhibiting a slight upward movement of 1.66%. Meanwhile, renewable energy news indicated that metals like cobalt and silicon could remain in oversupply for some time. Moreover, expanding mining operations […]
Ironing Out the Future of the Battery Market: How Rusty Batteries Could Power Our Lives
In an electrifying twist of fate, the global battery market is buzzing with excitement over a technology designed to make things rust on purpose. We’re talking about iron-air batteries. Leading this “rusty revolution” is Form Energy, a company that clearly didn’t get the memo about rust being a bad thing. Form’s team recently completed work […]
