The UK Parliament recently passed a law allowing the government to take control of British Steel, a major player in the local steel industry. The move follows Chinese owner Jingye’s plans to shut down two operating blast furnaces at its Scunthorpe site. A Bold Move Towards UK Steel Industry Preservation The House of Commons, Parliament’s […]
Tag: Green
Renewables MMI: Tariffs & Renewable Energy Rollbacks—Trump’s Plan for U.S. Energy
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 […]
Renewables MMI: Solar Surplus & Transformer Woes in the Wake of Hurricane Beryl
The Renewable MMI (Monthly Metals Index) slowed in terms of bearish price action, moving sideways and dropping 2.66%. Meanwhile, cobalt prices suffered another huge price drop, mainly due to weak demand and oversupply pulling the index down more than up. According to renewable energy news sources, the market could experience more metal price volatility due […]
Norsk Hydro Comments on Current Aluminum Market Conditions
Recently, MetalMiner had the pleasure of speaking with Norsk Hydro about aluminum market trends, market insights and the general market outlook for the aluminum industry, especially in the U.S. As the premier green aluminum producer in the United States, Europe-based Norsk Hydro continues to make significant strides in helping to convert the aluminum extrusion market […]
Rare Earths MMI: Rare Earth Prices Stabilize After 6 Months of Drops and May’s Rebound
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) seemed to find some stabilization after six months of dropping followed by a brief rebound in May. Overall, the index moved sideways, rising by just 2.11%. Meanwhile, prices for rare earth elements continue to pull in both directions due to a number of factors. Issues like ongoing supply […]
Charging Ahead: The Revolution of Fast-Charging Technology
Let’s dive deeper into the electrifying waters of lithium-ion batteries, where the University of Liverpool’s recent breakthrough is making waves. Their latest technology promises a future where “fast” is an understatement when it comes to charging our electric chariots and techno-gadgets. In this brave new world, conventional lithium-ion batteries, dependable but somewhat sluggish beasts, are […]
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 […]
Aluminum Market Projections for 2024: Stability Amidst Economic Uncertainty?
Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Hydro, a green aluminum producer with multiple plants and locations around the globe. Mike Stier, Hydro’s Vice President of Finance, and Duncan Pitchford, President of Hydro Aluminum Metals in the U.S. (whom I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing before), sat down to discuss Hydro’s views on aluminum performance […]
Will Electric Cars Benefit or Threaten Europe’s Aluminum Industry?
Are electric cars going to benefit or threaten Europe’s aluminum industry? At first, it might appear a stupid question. However, it is also one that aluminum industry news sources continue to ask. The average European EV contained 283kgs of aluminum in 2022 compared to 169kgs for ICE vehicles. That is according to a study by […]
Renewables/GOES MMI: U.S. Transformer Shortage Pain Continues into 2024
The Renewables index began 2023 fairly sideways. However, it broke that trend in Q3 and Q4 when it edged downward. Numerous components of the index, including silicon and cobalt, experienced market oversupply. This caused prices to drop and pulled the index down with it. Grain oriented electrical steel also experienced market volatility in Q3 and […]