As the US-Iran military conflict enters its fourth week, global energy supply and electricity dispatch have drawn heightened attention. Taiwan's state-owned power provider, Taiwan Power Company (Taipower), said it is closely monitoring international developments and has formulated a comprehensive response plan — one that includes strengthening generator maintenance, flexibly managing hydropower resources, and promoting demand-side management to ensure a stable domestic power supply.

The Government of India, through the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), has released the National Generation Adequacy Plan (2026-27 to 2035-36), detailing a comprehensive roadmap to ensure a reliable and sustainable power supply for the next decade. The plan addresses the projected peak electricity demand of 459 GW and an annual energy requirement of 3,365 billion units (BU) by 2035-36.

Global crude oil prices have swung higher in recent weeks, sending ripples through energy markets that are now coursing swiftly into downstream manufacturing. Few sectors have felt the impact as acutely as auto parts. Modern vehicle production depends heavily on petroleum-derived inputs — from engineering plastics and synthetic rubber to chemical coatings — and the steady climb in feedstock costs is tightening pressure across the automotive supply chain.

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has signed a binding long-term supply and purchase agreement (SPA) with Samsung C&T Corporation for the supply of green ammonia over 15 years, commencing in the second half of fiscal year 2029. Valued at more than US$3 billion, RIL describes it as one of the largest binding green ammonia offtake agreements in the world.

Japan's 25th Smart Energy Week is taking place in Tokyo, where HD Renewable Energy (HDRE) showcased three major solutions: energy storage integration, electricity trading, and charging operations. The company stated that its target in the Japanese market is to develop 3 GW, and that its Helios 50MW storage project in the Hokkaido region has already begun trading on the electricity market.

Rapid growth in global electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage demand is accelerating shifts in the battery industry landscape. South Korea's three major battery makers, LG Energy Solution (LGES), SK On, and Samsung SDI, are facing pressure from Chinese competitors whose advantages in production capacity, cost, and market share continue to expand. At Inter Battery 2026, the Korean companies highlighted their respective technological strengths as they seek to maintain competitiveness.

India's Union Budget 2026 has introduced a comprehensive set of tax exemptions and duty-free incentives aimed at securing a larger share of the global technology supply chain, though the measures hold particular relevance for semiconductor and electronics manufacturers.

South Korea's leading battery makers showcased next-generation solid-state battery technologies at InterBattery 2026 as the industry pivots to new technologies amid slowing overall market growth. Major battery manufacturers are targeting mass production of solid-state batteries between 2027 and 2029, making product maturity and performance demonstrations the key highlights of this year's exhibition.

The large-scale bombings and attacks launched by the US and Israel against Iran have caused significant civilian casualties. With Iran carrying out retaliatory actions, the conflict could trigger a global energy crisis.

As tensions escalate between the US and Iran, global energy markets have grown increasingly volatile, sending crude oil prices above US$100 per barrel. Nelson An-ping Chang, chairman of Taiwan Cement Corporation (TCC) Group Holdings, warned that if the Middle East conflict drags on, it could evolve into a resource-draining war, driving up energy costs, fueling inflationary pressures, and disrupting supply chains across the global economy.

Amid a global supply chain restructuring and energy transition, Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) has expanded into three major sectors: semiconductors, automotive electronic components, and renewable energy. In 2025's volatile market, SAS's subsidiaries—including GlobalWafers and affiliates Taiwan Specialty Chemicals (TSC), Actron Technology (ATC), and Advanced Wireless Semiconductor Company (AWSC)—have successfully secured profits in advanced processes and AI applications through technological collaboration.

AI is rapidly driving global computing demand and accelerating semiconductor industry growth. Applied Materials vice president Erix Yu expects the semiconductor market to reach US$1 trillion in revenue in 2026—earlier than previous forecasts.

Wire and cable maker Hotron Precision Electronic Industrial's subsidiary, SmartGreen Solution, signed a long-term partnership with Canadian company Grid Vici on March 5, 2026. From June 2026 to December 2030, SmartGreen will serve as Grid Vici's exclusive manufacturing supplier, securing orders valued at up to NT$20 billion (US$630 million) over 3-5 years. Shipments are expected to begin in 2026.

While the global economy pins its growth hopes on the rapid scaling of artificial intelligence (AI), the physical foundation of that technology is currently facing an existential threat in the narrow seaways of the Persian Gulf.

Rising tensions between the US and Iran have rattled global energy markets, exposing new vulnerabilities in Middle East supply chains. After drone attacks forced QatarEnergy to suspend liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, Taiwan's energy authorities moved swiftly to safeguard domestic supply, activating contingency plans to cushion against potential disruptions.

As hyperscalers' energy consumption continues to rise, pressure to cut carbon emissions is intensifying. Oil giant ExxonMobil recently disclosed during its earnings call that carbon capture opportunities related to data centers are rapidly emerging. The company has held substantive talks with multiple firms and plans to announce related collaborations by the end of 2026.

The surge in demand for energy storage systems (ESS) in North America is fueling a competitive push among South Korea's three leading battery manufacturers—LG Energy Solution (LGES), Samsung SDI, and SK On—to expand lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery mass production. Industry insiders cited by Ddaily reveal that these companies are accelerating preparations to produce ESS-grade LFP batteries locally in the US.

The rules of winning in AI are changing, and one of the semiconductor industry's most prominent executives is calling time on the old playbook.

On February 10, ProLogium Technology held a groundbreaking ceremony for its planned gigafactory in Dunkirk, marking the start of on-site construction for its first manufacturing facility outside Taiwan. The plant will produce the company's "superfluidized all-inorganic solid-state lithium ceramic batteries" and represents a significant step toward establishing a localized battery supply chain in Europe.

Taiwan's government has mandated that renewable energy power sellers and generators must maintain "backup power capacity" to address the issue of intermittency and its impact on grid stability. The requirement is set at 10% for offshore wind and 3.3% for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Energy storage providers note that storage systems will become a key operational pillar for power sellers, allowing them to both fulfill backup capacity obligations and participate in trading on the electricity market.

Tesla is expanding simultaneously into self-driving vehicles, artificial intelligence robots, and energy infrastructure. Elon Musk has outlined plans to build US solar manufacturing capacity capable of producing 100 gigawatts annually within three years. The move has ignited an interplanetary contest spanning energy, geopolitics, and intellectual property.

Chicony Power, a Taiwanese power and energy management company, is accelerating a strategic shift away from its traditional reliance on PC and notebook power supplies, expanding into communications power systems, AI server power solutions, and intelligent low-carbon integration platforms as it seeks to build a more resilient business amid market volatility.

Samsung SDI, one of South Korea's three major battery makers, posted a steep operating loss in 2025 as the global market for electric vehicle batteries slumped. The company reported an operating loss of more than KRW1.7 trillion (US$1.17 billion) for the year. However, it is betting that a shift in strategy—anchored by local production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in the United States and an expansion of its energy storage systems business—will return it to profitability in 2026.