[Japan] JOGMEC to join gallium production study in Australia

As of August 4, 2025, the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) announced that it will take part in a joint study for gallium production in Australia in an effort to ensure a stable supply of the critical mineral used to make semiconductors. [1] The study will occur at an aluminum refinery operated by Alcoa of Australia Limited. JOGMEC partnered with Sojitz Corporation and formed Japan Australia Gallium Associates (JAGA), which signed an agreement with Alcoa. The study aims to assess the feasibility of extracting gallium, as a byproduct of alumina refining. The project seeks to establish a long-term gallium supply, with production targeted to start in 2026.

[1] https://www.jogmec.go.jp/english/news/release/news_08_00044.html

[USA] Energy Department announces first pilot project for advanced nuclear fuel lines

As of August 4, 2025, the US Department of Energy (DOE) conditionally selected Standard Nuclear as the first US company accepted into the July 2025 fuel line pilot program. [1] The initiative eliminates America’s use of foreign sources of enriched uranium and critical materials, thereby encouraging private investment in nuclear power. Standard Nuclear, based in Oak Ridge Tennessee, is the first conditional selection under DOE’s new pilot program and will leverage the Department’s authorization process to ensure a robust supply of nuclear fuel in both Tennessee and Idaho. This fuel is in high demand because reactor developers are getting ready to test their designs that use TRISO fuel. They will manage the sourcing of nuclear material feedstock for fuel fabrication, which could be acquired through DOE’s high-assay low-enriched uranium allocation program. The fuel line pilot program supports DOE’s new reactor pilot program that aims to have at least three advanced reactor designs achieve criticality by July 4, 2026.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-first-pilot-project-advanced-nuclear-fuel-lines

[USA] DOE issues final non-FTA LNG export authorization for exports from Venture Global Calcasieu Pass Project

As of August 4, 2025, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed a final authorization for additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to non-free trade agreement (non-FTA) countries from Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. [1] This allows Calcasieu Pass, an LNG export project that has been in operation since 2022, to export an additional 20 billion cubic feet of natural gas as LNG per year. Venture Global’s second LNG export project, Plaquemines, began exporting late in 2024. The company recently announced a final investment decision on Phase 1 of its third LNG export project, CP2. In March 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a conditional non-FTA export authorization to CP2 that is ready for a final order now that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has concluded its review of the project.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-issues-final-non-fta-lng-export-authorization-additional-exports-venture-global

[Japan] Sempra and JERA enter into 20-year LNG supply deal

As of July 31, 2025, Sempra Infrastructure, a subsidiary of Sempra, and JERA announced a 20-year sale and purchase agreement for the supply of 1.5 million tons per annum (Mtpa) of liquified natural gas (LNG) offtake from the Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 development project in Jefferson County, Texas. [1] This agreement marks a step beyond the non-binding heads of agreement signed in June 2025. The proposed Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 project is under active development, with future phases in the early development stage. The project has received all its main permits. It is expected to include two liquefaction trains capable of producing about 13 Mtpa of LNG, which could increase the total liquefaction capacity of the Port Arthur facility from 13 to 26 Mtpa for Phase 1. The project received authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in September 2023. In July 2024, Sempra announced that Bechtel had been selected for a fixed-price engineering, procurement, and construction contract for the project. The project also received authorization in May 2025 from the US Department of Energy to export US LNG to countries that do not have a free-trade agreement with the US. The project still requires completion of commercial agreements, securing more necessary permits, obtaining financing, and reaching a final investment decision.

[1] https://www.sempra.com/newsroom/press-releases/sempra-infrastructure-and-jera-announce-sale-and-purchase-agreement-us-lng

[USA] DOE allows Talen Energy to operate unit above limits to avoid outages

As of July 28, 2025, the US Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order to allow a nearly 400-MW oil-fired units near Baltimore to run beyond its operating limits as the eastern US endures a heat wave. [1] The request for the order was filed by the PJM Interconnection and the unit is owned by Talen Energy. [2] Talen Energy and its subsidiaries had multiple units slated to retire in May, before reaching a “reliability-must-run” agreement that was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which delayed it. In issuing the order, DOE agreed with PJM in acknowledging an “imminent electric reliability emergency” in the Baltimore Gas and Electric zone in Maryland. According to PJM’s petition to DOE, there could be blackouts in the BG&E zone without the order.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/PJM%27s%20202%28c%29%20Order%20No.%20202-25-6.pdf

[2] https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/PJM%E2%80%99s%20202%28c%29%20Application%20202-25-6.pdf

[USA] Department of Energy issues report evaluating impact of greenhouse gases on US climate, invites public comment

As of July 29, 2025, the US Department of Energy released a new report entitled “A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the US Climate,” which evaluated existing peer-reviewed literature and government data on the climate impacts of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions. [1] The report provides an assessment of the “conventional narrative” on climate change, concluding that CO2–induced global warming “appears” to be less damaging economically than commonly believed and aggressive mitigation strategies may be “misdirected.”  The report was developed by the 2025 Climate Working Group, a group of five independent scientists assembled by Secretary Wright with expertise in physical science, economics, climate science, and academic research. The report also asserts that US policy actions are allegedly expected to have undetectably small direct impacts on the global climate and any affects will emerge “only with long delays.” The report was published as part of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule repealing the 2009 Endangerment Finding.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-issues-report-evaluating-impact-greenhouse-gasses-us-climate-invites

[Japan] KEPCO plans to build first new nuclear reactor since Fukushima

As of July 22, 2025, Kansai Electric Power (KEPCO) announced that it will begin surveys for the construction of a new nuclear power plant at its Mihama power station in Fukui prefecture, western Japan, to replace the existing facility. [1] marks Japan’s first concrete step towards building a new nuclear reactor since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. The surveys would focus on topography, geology, and other studies to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. They will also include communications with the local community. KEPCO had been analyzing a successor to the Mihama No. 1 reactor since November 2010, but suspended the study after the 2011 disaster. In 2015, it decided to decommission the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors at Mihama.

[1] https://www.kepco.co.jp/english/corporate/ir/brief/pdf/2025_jul22_1.pdf

[USA] DOE terminates funding for Grain Belt Express

As of July 23, 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the Loan Programs Office (LPO) has terminated its conditional commitment for the Grain Belt Express Phase 1 project, a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line intended to connect wind and solar capacity across Kansas and Missouri. [1] The commitment, which would have provided a loan guarantee of up to $4.9 billion, was issued by the Biden administration in November 2024. [2] The DOE found after a review of the project’s financials that the conditions necessary to issue the guarantee are unlikely to be met, and it is not critical for the federal government to have a role in supporting the project. Invenergy, the company behind the project, has highlighted the Grain Belt Express’s ability to “unlock access to one of the strongest combined wind and solar energy resources in the United States.”

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-terminates-taxpayer-funded-financial-assistance-grain-belt-express

[2] https://arpa-e.energy.gov/sites/default/files/migrated/Rajat%20Majumder.pdf

[USA] Constellation-Calpine deal approved by FERC

As of July 23, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved Constellation Energy’s proposal to buy Calpine from Energy Capital Partners. [1] The deal is valued at $16.4 billion and subject to conditions that aim to reduce the expanded company’s ability to exert market power. [2] The proposed mitigation plan involves Constellation selling five power plants in the PJM Interconnection, and FERC believes that the transaction “will not have an adverse effect on competition.” Although Constellation agreed not to enter into colocation data center deals until mid-2026 or until FERC issues an order clarifying PJM’s rules on the issue, the company will be free to partake in above-market data center transactions under the approved conditions. As part of the plan, Constellation will sell four power plants in the PJM Interconnection totaling 3,546 MW. They include: the 1,134 MW gas-fired combined cycle Bethlehem Energy Center; the 569 MW dual-fuel combined cycle Hay Road Energy Center; and the 707-MW, gas-fired simple cycle Edge Moor Energy Center.

[1] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250723-3061&optimized=false&sid=ff67ba86-3b04-4705-9f91-9860c7fb29cf

[2] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250703-5191&optimized=false

[Japan] GSSG Chikuden launches with US $400M commitment from Vision Ridge Partners

As of July 16, 2025, GSSG Chikuden LLC, a utility-scale battery storage developer focused on the Japanese power market announced its launch today after receiving $400 million commitment from sustainable real assets investor Vision Ridge Partners. [1] GSSG Chikuden intends to use the investment to support its development, construction, and operation of utility-scale battery energy storage systems (“BESS”) across Japan’s power grid. The new company is a joint venture between Vision Ridge and Asia-focused solar-plus-storage investor GSSG Solar LLC, which has committed capital too, and will operate the business. GSSG Chikuden launches with an existing pipeline of development projects with secured grid interconnection rights, and plans to acquire more projects to expand its reach. GSSG Chikuden primarily seeks to accelerate the Japanese energy transition through development, construction, and operation of utility-scale BESS.

[1] https://gssgsolar.com/gssg-chikuden-launches/

[USA] Westinghouse collaborates with Google to accelerate nuclear deployments

As of July 16, 2025, Westinghouse Electric Company and Google Cloud have partnered to deploy artificial intelligence tools in a bid to streamline the construction of advanced nuclear reactors and improve the performance of the existing nuclear fleet. [1] The collaboration will be integrated with Westinghouse’s proprietary nuclear AI tools, known as bertha and HiVE, with Google’s data platforms and machine learning capabilities. The companies say the tools will make nuclear construction more efficient and repeatable, which has continued to remain a challenge for the industry that increasingly gets called upon to deliver more carbon-free power to meet demand. Westinghouse and Google have completed a proof-of-concept by using the AI-enhanced plant design platform that generates and optimizes construction work packages for Westinghouse’s AP1000 modular reactor system. This is an important advancement for reducing project delays and costs that have historically afflicted nuclear projects. While details on deployment timelines are limited, the Westinghouse declared that the collaboration aims to optimize deployments of its full reactor lineup, including the AP1000, the AP300 small modular reactor (SMR) and eVinci microreactor.

[1] https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/blog/westinghouse-shares-vision-for-new-ap1000-reactors-with-president-trump-and-u.s.-senator-dave-mccormick-and-partners-with-google-on-ai-at-energy-summit

[USA] David LaCerte nominated to fill vacant seat at FERC

As of July 17, 2025, the White House named David LaCerte, an official in the US Office of Personnel Management, to fill a vacant seat at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. [1] LaCerte has served as the principal White House liaison and senior advisor to the director of the OPM since January 2025. The Office of Personnel Management is the chief human resources agency and personnel policy manager for the federal government. LaCerte contributed to Project 2025, organized by the conservative Heritage Foundation to assist with the presidential transition effort. LaCerte has a background in energy litigation and environmental, safety, and incident response issues. If confirmed by the Senate, LaCerte would serve for the remainder of former FERC Chairman Willie Phillips’ term, which expires June 30, 2026. If confirmed, FERC would have a 3-2 Republican majority. It is currently split between Republicans and Democrats 2-2.

[1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-d743/

[Japan] First shipment of LNG from Mitsubishi’s LNG Canada Project

As of July 1, 2025, Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) announced that the LNG Canada Project has shipped its first LNG cargo as of June 30th 2025. The project is Canada’s first large-scale LNG project with a production capacity of 14 million tons per annum (mtpa). [1] MC will offtake 15% of the LNG produced and supply it to customers across Asia, with the primary destination being Japan, through its wholly-owned LNG marketing subsidiary Diamond Gas International. Since Canada has abundant natural gas reserves as well as geographic proximity to Asia, Canada is expected to help ensure a stable energy supply to Asia. MC and its partners are also exploring opportunities of doubling the project’s LNG production capacity.

[1] https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/news/release/2025/20250701001.html

[USA] Trump prepares tariffs for Japan, South Korea, other countries ahead of August 1st

As of July 7, 2025, President Donald Trump unveiled the tariff rates the U.S. will charge imports from certain countries. This follows the expiration of a 90-day pause on country-specific levies. [1] Many countries on the list, including Japan, South Korea, and Thailand, are major suppliers of battery components and electrical transformers to the U.S. [2] The rates range from 25% to 40% and are mainly the same as the previous tariffs that were unveiled and paused in April. [3] However, several rates changed; Japan’s proposed rate increased from 24% to 25%, while South Korea and Thailand remained the same at 25% and 36% respectively. In executive order 14257, the terms of the arrangements are further clarified, stating that if any trading partner takes steps to remedy non-reciprocal trade arrangements and “align sufficiently” with the U.S. on economic and national security matters, the ‘Harmonized Tariff Schedule’ may be modified to decrease or limit in scope the duties imposed under the order. In a July 7 executive order, the 90-day pause, which was set to expire on July 9, is extended until the tariffs go into effect on August 1st.

[1] https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-06063.pdf

[2] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/extending-the-modification-of-the-reciprocal-tariff-rates/

[3] https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/07/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-continues-enforcement-of-reciprocal-tariffs-and-announces-new-tariff-rates/

[USA] DOE releases report on evaluating US grid reliability and security

As of July 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a report entitled “Report on Evaluating U.S. Grid Reliability and Security.” [1] The report fulfills a section of Trump’s executive order ‘Strengthening the Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid,” by forming a uniform methodology to identify at-risk regions and guide federal reliability interventions. The analysis reveals that the existing generation retirements and delays in adding new firm capacity will lead to a surge in power outages and an increasing mismatch between electricity demand and supply. This will especially originate from AI-driven data center growth, which will affect energy security. The report reaffirms that with current retirement schedules and additions, most regions will face dangerous reliability risks within 5 years. The power grid will be unable to meet expected demand for AI, data centers, manufacturing, and industrialization, while maintaining an affordable cost of living for Americans. The projected load growth indicates that retirements increase the risk of power outages by 100 times in 2030. Furthermore, traditional peak-hour tests to evaluate resource adequacy do not sufficiently account for growing dependence on neighboring grids.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-releases-report-evaluating-us-grid-reliability-and-security

[USA] Federal agencies revoke environmental review rules

As of July 1, 2025, the Federal Regulatory Commission and other federal agencies revoked regulations on the management of environmental reviews of proposed projects under the National Environmental Policy Act. [1] Federal agencies that revoked their NEPA regulations include the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Transportation, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). [2] The action was in response to Trump’s executive order that aims to accelerate energy development, including by rescinding NEPA regulations. [3] Some agencies proposed to replace the prior regulations with new ones, while others replaced the rules with nonbinding guidance. [4] The primary reasons cited for rescinding and reforming were delays, removing red tape, and accelerating infrastructure projects. [5] FERC voted unanimously to revise its regulations, stating that the agency will “continue to ensure [their] environmental reviews are legally durable so projects stand up in court and get built.”

[1] https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/06/30/secretary-rollins-rolls-back-overly-burdensome-environmental-regulations-unleash-american-innovation

[2] https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-secretary-announces-updated-nepa-procedures-end-permitting-paralysis-and-unleash

[3] https://www.doi.gov/oepc/national-environmental-policy-act-nepa

[4] https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-unveils-sweeping-updates-nepa-usdot-fast

[5] https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/ferc-revises-nepa-procedures-make-permitting-more-efficient

[USA] DOE announced updated NEPA procedures

As of June 30, 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) published an interim rule rescinding all NEPA regulations and published new NEPA guidance procedures for the DOE.  [1] The updates to the Department’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), alter the permitting process to make it more efficient. The goal of the update is to coordinate an interagency effort to simplify NEPA compliance, lower construction costs, eliminate delays, and prioritize energy production and infrastructure development. The update follows Trump’s Executive Order 14154 “Unleashing American Energy,” and implements reforms enacted by Congress under the 2023 Builder Act. Key reforms include eliminating agency procedures, reducing the maximum Environmental Assessment, requiring the designation of a “lead agency,” implementing deadlines, increasing transparency, and more. The updated procedures also include a discussion of the recent Supreme Court decision in Seven County, which limits requirements for agencies to analyze upstream and downstream Greenhouse Gas (GHG) effects and curtails crucial climate change analysis.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-secretary-announces-updated-nepa-procedures-end-permitting-paralysis-and-unleash

[USA] Senate repeals major clean energy tax incentives

As of June 16, 2025, draft legislation released by the Senate Finance Committee will terminate or scale back most of the major tax incentives for clean energy contained in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. [1] Senate Republicans proposed to end most tax breaks for wind and solar power, electric vehicles, and other clean energy, contrary to expectations. The plan would eliminate a $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric vehicle purchases and home energy rebates, within 6 months. In addition, a tax credit for homeowners who install solar panels on rooftops would end in 180 days, and a subsidy for making hydrogen fuels would expire this year. Federal tax credits for wind and solar power will be rapidly phased out, and wind and solar companies will qualify for full tax breaks only if they start construction in the next 6 months. The House version of the bill would have ended those tax breaks immediately. Notably, the Senate bill would preserve tax credits for companies that build nuclear reactors, geothermal plants, hydropower dams or battery storage through 2033. The Senate draft, like the House bill, would also make solar leasing companies ineligible for federal tax credits.

[1] https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/chairman-crapo-releases-finance-committee-reconciliation-text

[USA] States and ratepayer advocates urge FERC to reject MISO petition

As of June 13, 2025, state utility regulators and ratepayer advocates are urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reject a Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) petition that requests the agency to declare that “unsolicited” long-range transmission planning, monitoring, and evaluation is outside the scope of its market monitor’s duties. [1] Market monitors from the PJM Interconnection, MISO, and ISO New England said that transmission planning and market oversight are linked. [2] Potomac Economics (PE), which serves as the independent market monitor for MISO, argued that there are not many coherent arguments indicating that transmission planning does not affect MISO’s markets and services. [3] Yet, MISO transmission owners like Ameren, Duke Energy, and Entergy support minimizing PE’s role in transmission planning, asserting that unsolicited monitoring and evaluation of MISO’s transmission planning activities are beyond the scope of PE’s tariff-assigned responsibilities. They argue that PE should not be entitled to compensation funded by MISO customers. The petition originated from PE’s criticism of MISO’s needs and cost-benefit analysis that underlie its roughly $22 billion Tranche 2.1 transmission portfolio that was approved in December. MISO asked FERC to declare that unsolicited transmission planning and monitoring are outside the scope of PE’s engagement under MISO’s tariff and that the grid operator does not have to pay for the activities.

[1] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250613-5201&optimized=false&sid=1f13c387-bf83-457a-9977-4e41b80f5e5c

[2] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250613-5150&optimized=false&sid=1f13c387-bf83-457a-9977-4e41b80f5e5c

[3] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250507-5187&optimized=false&sid=1f13c387-bf83-457a-9977-4e41b80f5e5c

[Japan] JERA announces milestone agreements with US partners to secure up to 5.5 million tonnes of new long-term LNG supply annually over 20 years

As of June 12, 2025, JERA has finalized 20-year agreements to procure up to 5.5 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US. [1] The agreements, which were introduced publicly at the US Department of Energy headquarters in Washington DC, advance JERA’s goal of building a diversified LNG procurement portfolio in support of stable energy for Japan and Asia. The agreements are expected to support economic activity worth $200 billion to the US GDP through long-term offtake commitments. The total value of these transactions surpasses JERA’s cumulative equity investment in the US, which is currently worth $6 billion. The agreements include sales and purchase agreements with NextDecade Corporation and Commonwealth LNG, as well as heads of agreement with Sempra Infrastructure and Cheniere Marketing LLC to secure future LNG supply from the US. The new agreements build upon JERA’s existing operations in the US, which include offtake contracts totaling 3.5 million tonnes per year.

[1] https://www.jera.co.jp/en/news/information/20250612_2184