Energy

A solar power plant in Pingdingshan, China. 
Caixin

In depth: Why China's once red-hot solar sector is cooling

Shortage of polysilicon, withdrawal of subsidies putting squeeze on industry

13 February 2022
A clay path runs through a forest in Dong Nai Province. Vietnam's wood pellet exports have tripled in five years as Japan and South Korea look for an alternative to coal. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Climate Change

Asia swaps coal for wood fuel, but emissions still a threat

Critics say biomass burning in South Korea and Japan poses logging, carbon risks

13 February 2022
Still in the driver's seat: Natarajan Chandrasekaran has been named executive chairman of Tata Sons for five more years.
Companies

Tata Sons sticks with Chandrasekaran as chief

Executive chairman with no family ties gets 5 more years as Indian group branches out

12 February 2022
An excavator loads coal to a train in Henan province, China, November 2021. Coal prices have been on the rise since the beginning of the year after a drop late in 2021.
Caixin

China's regulators move to rein in renewed surge in coal prices

Caps proposed as supply-demand gap widens over holiday, Olympics, winter weather

10 February 2022
Inpex plans to separate and recover carbon dioxide for gas at a plant near the northern city of Darwin.
Climate Change

Japan's Inpex to spearhead carbon capture at Australian gas field

Company seeks global partners for project located near Darwin

9 February 2022
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and U.S. President Joe Biden meet in the White House on Jan. 31. (Photo courtesy of the Amiri Diwan)
Indo-Pacific

Biden's elevation of energy-rich Qatar stuns Japan

Tokyo haunted by private-sector decision not to extend LNG contract with Doha

9 February 2022
Although analysts are bullish on the industry, NEV stocks declined nearly 12% in the first month of 2022. 
Caixin

China's new-energy vehicles reach a turning point

EV 'ecosystem' developing, but carmakers face fall in value of credits

8 February 2022
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discuss plans for Uzbekistan's first nuclear power plant in 2018.
International relations

Central Asia's struggle to keep lights on fuels nuclear ambitions

Blackout-hit Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan eye atom in rush for grid upgrades

5 February 2022
Japan's first large-scale test facility for carbon capture and storage is located on the northern island of Hokkaido.
Climate Change

Mitsubishi, Mitsui eye carbon capture with BP and Woodside

Study for Australian project comes as Japan lags in efforts to store CO2

4 February 2022
Workers inspect a wind turbine in China's Gansu Province. Chinese players have quickly gained know-how in the field, thanks partly to Beijing's push to promote renewable energy and curb the use of coal.
Energy

China wind turbine maker wins offshore project in Japan

Mingyang first Chinese company to land such an order as it plans overseas push

4 February 2022
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering has snagged the equivalent of a third of its orders from last year in just over a month in 2022. (Photo courtesy of the company)
Energy

Russia tensions spur LNG tanker orders for Korean shipbuilders

Demand soars to rarely seen high as Europe seeks alternate sources

4 February 2022
Nuclear fusion creates a large amount of energy and is considered less harmful to the environment than existing nuclear power plants. (Photo courtesy of Kyoto Fusioneering)
Startups

Nuclear fusion startup lures Japanese investors in global push

Kyoto Fusioneering seeks to partner with U.K., U.S. heavyweights after $17m financing

2 February 2022
As of Wednesday, Europe's gas inventories equaled some 40% of storage capacity, the lowest level since 2011, when comparable same-day data was first available. 
29 January 2022
This Murata plant in the Philippines is the electronics maker's first overseas site to be fully powered by rooftop solar. (Photo courtesy of Murata) 
Business Spotlight

Japan Inc.'s green shift in Southeast Asia hits renewables roadblocks

Legacy of financing coal haunts companies and regional suppliers

28 January 2022
Bill Gates speaks at the COP26 climate conference. (Photo courtesy of the UK government)
Energy

Bill Gates-backed fast-reactor effort joined by Japan heavyweights

Mitsubishi Heavy, nuclear agency to help build next-generation plant in U.S.

27 January 2022
Legal changes in the works in Japan will require power transmission companies to allow batteries to be connected to the grid. (Photo by Ryo Mukano)
Energy

Japan to open up power grids to battery storage for renewables

Subsidies will lower installation costs to help promote wind and solar power

27 January 2022
The briefcase-like contraption allows Scitem's customers to easily draw power from replaceable hydrogen canisters. (Photo courtesy of Scitem)
Startups

Portable hydrogen-powered generator goes to market in Japan

Startup Scitem sees cartridge-based system paving way for mobility solutions

25 January 2022
China Oilfield Services said the “accelerated transformation of the energy industry" had reduced the value of its oil rigs.
Energy

Chinese state groups write off assets as future of oil dims

$1.1bn in impairment charges to crush profits of COSL and COSCO Shipping Energy

24 January 2022
China Machinery Engineering Corp. and Chinese bank loans are helping Pakistan expand an open-pit coal mining site in Tharparkar. Here, dump trucks work the mine.
Climate Change

Pakistan to burn more domestic coal despite climate pledge

Islamabad expands use of lignite to ease burden of expensive imported fuel

24 January 2022
Chinese startup ExploMar is turning to hydrogen to fuel ships and other vessels. (Photo courtesy of ExploMar)
36Kr/KrASIA

Chinese startup develops hydrogen-based marine power

Demand for hydrogen-based systems set to grow amid push toward decarbonization

24 January 2022
President Joko Widodo launches InJourney, a new holding company for state-owned enterprises in tourism-related businesses, in West Nusa Tenggara Province on Jan. 13. (Photo courtesy of Indonesia’s presidential office)
Companies

Indonesia pushes state-owned industry consolidation and IPO plans

Tourism and food latest sectors targeted as government seeks economic recovery

19 January 2022
An iron ore mine in Western Australia: The country's energy and mining companies are looking urgently for new sources of revenue amid the global push to decarbonize. 
Climate Change

Australia's energy and iron ore producers bet big on hydrogen

Woodside and Fortescue jump on global decarbonization bandwagon

19 January 2022
Japan's sole offshore oil and gas field is off the coast of Niigata Prefecture. (Photo by Takuya Imai)
Energy

Japan nears debut of 1st offshore gas project in 32 years

Effort part of Tokyo's goal to reduce energy dependence on foreign sources

18 January 2022
Batteries that store energy from renewable sources are considered key to the world's decarbonization efforts. 
Energy

Huawei bolts into Japan with renewable power storage, chasing Tesla

Chinese and U.S. companies sell large units at 1/5 of Japanese prices

15 January 2022
Workers clean photovoltaic panels inside a solar power plant in Gujarat, India, where Reliance's investments are expected to create 1 million jobs.
Climate Change

Reliance Industries dives into green energy with $80bn investment

Mukesh Ambani eyes new opportunities from India's renewables push

15 January 2022