Carbon News | At the current pace, the U.S. will achieve carbon neutrality by 2148.

【Answer 1】 On January 9 local time, Meta announced three landmark agreements with Vistra, Oklo, and TerraPower to jointly fund nuclear power projects in Ohio and Pennsylvania, aiming to secure up to 6.6 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear-generated electricity for its large-scale AI data centers by 2035. This represents one of the broadest and most ambitious collaborations to date between a major U.S. tech giant and nuclear power suppliers. Joel Kaplan, Meta’s Global Affairs Head, stated: “Nuclear energy will power our AI future, strengthen the nation’s energy infrastructure, and deliver clean, reliable electricity for all.” (Source: Cailian News) 08 Extreme Weather Forces Shutdown of a French Nuclear Reactor EDF (Électricité de France) announced on January 9 that the Unit 1 reactor at the Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant in northwestern France was disconnected from the grid due to Storm “Goretti.” In a statement released the same day, EDF said that, under the impact of Storm “Goretti,” the output of Flamanville’s Unit 1 reactor had been reduced to 50% on the morning of the 8th and entered “island mode” — i.e., “disconnected from the grid and generating only the power required for its own operations” — near midnight. The statement also noted that Unit 2 had previously been shut down for scheduled maintenance; Unit 3 had reduced its output to 55% on the 8th in anticipation of the storm. Its turbine tripped early on the 9th, after which the reactor switched to external grid power. (Source: Xinhua News Agency) 09 Egypt Signs $1.8 Billion Renewable Energy Agreement According to a report by Egypt’s state television on January 11, Egypt has signed renewable energy agreements totaling $1.8 billion. Among these deals are contracts with Norwegian renewable energy developer Scatec and Chinese company Sungrow Power Supply. Egypt aims for renewables to account for 42% of its electricity generation mix by 2030 — a target at risk without further international support. In a statement, Egypt’s Cabinet said Scatec will build a solar power plant and energy storage facility in Minya Governorate, Upper Egypt. The project will have a generation capacity of 1.7 GW, supported by a battery energy storage system with a total capacity of 4 GWh. Sungrow will construct a battery manufacturing plant in the Suez Canal Economic Zone; some of its output will supply the first project. (Source: Reuters) 10 University Research Reveals “Long-Tail” Degradation Phenomenon in PV Plant Modules Recently, a research team from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) investigated the “long-tail” phenomenon in large-scale photovoltaic (PV) power plants and found that approximately 20% of solar modules deployed in the field degrade significantly faster than expected. The “long-tail” phenomenon occurs when a large number of modules within the same facility underperform relative to expectations — posing substantial risks to asset owners. It is termed “long-tail” because the curve of energy output over time exhibits a sharp peak followed by an extended low tail. This phenomenon implies that asset owners may face losses in power generation and extended investment payback periods. The study recommends systemic mitigation strategies, including robust system design to decouple interdependent degradation pathways, adoption of more reliable module architectures, and stricter manufacturing quality control coupled with proactive on-site monitoring.

Indian Financial News, October 30, 2023 — Tamil Nadu Aims to Become the Primary Investment Destination for Taiwanese Companies.

【Answer 2】 1. Ultratech Cement has received board approval for a massive investment of ₹130 billion to expand its production capacity. This expansion plan aims to add an additional 21.9 million tonnes of annual capacity and will involve a combination of brownfield and greenfield projects. This major investment reflects Ultratech Cement’s commitment to meeting the growing demand in the cement industry and scaling up its production capabilities. We will continue to closely monitor the progress of this expansion project. 2. Premium residential developers in Gurgaon and Noida — including DLF, TARC, Raheja, and Unity Group — have begun releasing inventory after a prolonged period of sluggish sales. Significant demand is emerging from residents in central and western Delhi, who are seeking exclusivity and security in gated communities. According to experts, this marks the first time so many branded products have entered the market simultaneously, while supply constraints persist. DLF is also set to soon announce its final tower — spanning 2.1 million square feet. Midtown West, a premium residential complex located on Shivaji Marg in Moti Nagar, West Delhi, is currently being developed in a joint venture with Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC). 3. Ola responded to a recent electric scooter fire incident in Pune, stating that its investigation confirmed aftermarket parts installed on the scooter caused a short circuit, leading to the fire. The company confirmed that the scooter’s battery remained intact and fully functional. Fortunately, the customer sustained no injuries. 4. JSW One is the e-commerce platform of the JSW Group. Riding on strong momentum in the first half of the fiscal year, the platform expects its gross merchandise value (GMV) to surpass $1 billion by the end of this fiscal year. It sells flat and long steel, stainless steel, and cement products to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Sales in the first half of FY 2023–24 (April–September) surged over fourfold year-on-year, exceeding ₹170 billion (approximately $220 million). 5. Mr. R.C. Bhargava, Chairman of Maruti Suzuki India, stated last Friday that sales of small cars could rebound within two to three years once consumer income levels rise. Previously, robust sales of larger and more expensive vehicles enabled the company to exceed quarterly profit expectations. Persistently high lending rates and recently cooling inflation have squeezed disposable incomes. 6. A senior official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), responsible for regulating flying schools in India, faces corruption charges. The DGCA’s Director of Flight Operations and Training, Mr. Gill, allegedly accepted three aircraft as bribes from flying schools and then leased them out to different schools at a monthly rent of ₹9 million per aircraft. 7. Mr. Punit Chhatwal, Managing Director of Indian Hotels Company, stated that the ongoing upcycle in India’s hospitality sector is not a short-term trend lasting three to four years, but rather a long-lasting structural shift. He added there are no signs of any slowdown in the short- to medium-term. IV. India and the Global Economy 1. Honda Motor Co. stated it will launch only sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in India going forward, as the Japanese automaker seeks to capitalize on this rapidly expanding segment. Honda emphasized that electrification will be a key focus area, and the company remains open to alliances for developing emerging technologies — provided such partnerships deliver mutual benefits. 2. Earlier this month, Google rolled out a series of India-centric announcements, including expanding its flagship Google Pay app into business lending, manufacturing Pixel smartphones in India, and collaborating with India’s government-backed Digital Commerce Open Network and Bhashini. These initiatives form part of Google’s broader strategy to consolidate its position in India — one of its most critical markets globally and the world’s largest data market. This comes at a pivotal moment. 3. Apple’s India business recorded a 48% increase in sales in FY 2022–23, reaching ₹493.2 billion — nearly hitting the ₹500 billion revenue milestone. According to regulatory filings with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, net profit surged 76% to ₹22.3 billion. This marks the fastest net profit growth for the Cupertino-based tech giant in India over the past five years — analysts attribute it to higher-margin next-generation devices gaining greater sales share and lower component costs. 4. Petronas (Malaysia’s national oil company), Singapore’s GIC, and Greenko’s founders will invest $2 billion in AM Green, a new green energy platform. 5. Construction of five green ammonia facilities, each with an annual capacity of one million tonnes; the goal is to become one of the lowest-cost producers of green hydrogen, green molecules, and related derivatives. Once finalized, this will represent the largest foreign direct investment (FDI) in the green molecules sector in India to date. 6. A senior executive at telecom giant Jio indicated that, following its success in India, the company views global expansion as a viable option — and is continuously evaluating it. To truly advance the vision of Digital India, the Indian government should begin utilizing the ₹757 billion Universal Service Obligation Fund — not only for deploying mobile towers, but also to make devices and services affordable for individuals. 7. Financial statements filed by Star India — owned by The Walt Disney Company — with the Registrar of Companies show that its consolidated net profit for FY23 declined 31% year-on-year to ₹12.72 billion, down from ₹18.34 billion in the previous fiscal year. Although revenue from TV and digital operations rose 6% to ₹198.57 billion, total revenue increased 9% to ₹206.99 billion, making it India’s highest-revenue traditional media and entertainment company. The U.S. media group is currently negotiating the sale of its Indian business with Reliance Industries.

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