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Aug 6
US polysilicon tariff exposes chip security's solar dependence

The Trump administration is preparing to impose a 15% tariff and minimum import prices on polysilicon and selected derivative products, placing an upstream material shared by solar panels and semiconductor chips at the center of efforts to reduce US exposure to Chinese supply.

US imports of high-purity polysilicon jumped to US$190 million in 2025. Still, the bigger story is in the volume: 6,791 tonnes, more than five times the 1,286 tonnes imported in 2024, according to UN Comtrade trade data.
US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on August 6 imposing minimum import prices and a 15% tariff on polysilicon and its derivatives, a move that hands a durable pricing advantage to US and non-Chinese producers while squeezing Chinese manufacturers out of price competitiveness in the American market.

China's State Council has launched a new recommendation program for "leader" companies in energy efficiency and carbon efficiency, with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issuing the notice on August 4, 2026. The program is designed to push heavy industry to cut energy use and emissions, as low-carbon certification increasingly becomes a key credential for future market competition.

Taiwan's government has recently begun classifying the semiconductor and AI industries as high-energy consumption industries in recent documents. This marks a notable development, as the manufacturing sector in general moves toward improving energy efficiency and eliminating toxic materials and waste products in pursuit of more eco-friendly measures to lessen the impact of climate change.

Factorial Energy and SK On have agreed to study whether existing battery plants could be adapted for solid-state cells, a move that could affect how next-generation batteries reach global markets. The deal underscores a broader industry push to scale cleaner, denser energy storage through established manufacturing networks, rather than entirely new factories.

J&V Energy announced on August 3, 2026, that it had completed the acquisition of a portfolio of operational solar projects in Taiwan held by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), the global infrastructure investment arm of BlackRock. With a total installed capacity of 187MW, the portfolio marks the largest domestic solar asset transaction by installed capacity in 2026.

Backup battery units are set to become standard equipment in AI servers using 800V high-voltage direct current architectures, according to Dynapack president Chang Chung-hsing.

The offshore wind industry has faced pressure from the Russia-Ukraine war and COVID-19, both of which pushed up construction costs and slowed development in Taiwan. Some developers have exited the market, raising concerns among green-power-hungry industries that renewable projects could be delayed and customer net-zero timelines may slip.
Taiwan Cement Corp. (TCC) formally launched its Europe listing plan, Project Arcadia, on July 27 after holding a video meeting with its first group of international investment banks and advisers. The company said the move marked a major step in its effort to build a capital markets presence in Europe.
Inner Mongolia HyperStrong Technology is a major production subsidiary established by Beijing HyperStrong Technology in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. Its development offers a useful case study as competition intensifies among China's battery energy storage system integrators.
China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) on the 23rd released the 15th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy Development, setting out renewable energy targets for 2030 and, for the first time, requiring new data centers to be planned together with renewable power projects to raise the share of green electricity use.