Black rainstorm may be among city’s most-claimed natural disasters. Claims from Tuesday's black rainstorm are much worse than Typhoon Wipha, but less than those from the 2023 black rainstorm, Zurich Insurance’s Greater China CEO says.\n\nEU biofuel proposals risk discriminating against outside firms: EcoCeres. The Silicon Valley start-up says it is ‘concerning’ that the US added only one-tenth of the power capacity that China added last year.\n\nTowngas to build hydrogen-powered EV stations amid mixed signals for clean fuel.\n\nUS falling behind China in AI energy race, Anthropic says. The Silicon Valley start-up says it is ‘concerning’ that the US added only one-tenth of the power capacity that China added last year.\n\nBYD outsells Tesla, BMW in Hong Kong’s right-hand drive EV market. Hong Kong sells fewer than 40,000 cars a year, but mainland carmakers consider it the beachhead for breaking into the global right-hand-drive market.\n\nChina’s mega dam project in Tibet sparks hydropower stock surge. The investment is set to benefit hydropower plant and grid equipment makers, but some analysts warn that market enthusiasm may wane soon.\n\nUK start-up Barocal wins US$1 million TERA-Award for green energy innovation. The award, which is in its fourth year, has been set up by Hong Kong tycoon Peter Lee Ka-kit to find green solutions to tackle climate change.\n\nChina and Europe power 24% growth in global EV sales in June. Sales in China jumped 28 per cent, while Europe’s demand rose 23 per cent to 390,000 units last month, according to Rho Motion.\n\nChina’s oil sector breaks new ground with export of suction anchors to Brazil. The suction caissons – developed under the Made in China 2025 project – will be used to secure deep-sea oil platforms in Brazil.\n\nCATL, BYD partner with BHP to electrify Australia’s mining industry. The Chinese firms will collaborate with BHP on battery development for mining equipment, locomotives and rapid charging infrastructure.\n\nShougang Lanzatech delays Hong Kong IPO again due to dispute with JV partner. The company provides no new guidance on listing and says it is ‘assessing an updated timetable’.\n\nEnvision launches world’s largest green hydrogen plant in Inner Mongolia. The plant, capable of producing 320,000 tonnes per year of green ammonia, will be scaled up to 1.5 million tonnes a year by 2028.\n\nChina’s polysilicon prices surge on hope about solar-panel competition curbs. Government is aiming to end price war, but not to help average selling prices recover, an analyst says.\n\nChina spins up offshore wind energy as Beijing promotes marine economy. Country on track to double offshore capacity additions this year, report from Global Energy Monitor says.\n\nA third of chip supply threatened by climate change by 2035: PwC. The acceleration of climate change may prove calamitous for semiconductor production, which relies on copper, a new report says.\n\nXpeng launches G7 ‘Super AI’ SUV, taking on Xiaomi YU7 and Tesla Model Y. The G7, Xpeng’s first model to feature its in-house Turing AI chip, starts at 195,800 yuan (US$27,325).\n\nCloudy with a chance of bankruptcy: US tariffs hurt China’s solar firms. One-third of China’s 121 listed solar producers are in the red; more than 50 along the supply chain have filed for bankruptcy this year.\n\nHong Kong has potential to become green marine fuel hub with Beijing’s backing. City can have a bigger say in green fuel trading and pricing if it becomes a trading hub, CIMC Enric president Leo Yang says.\n\nOil rises after 2-day slump as traders assess Iran-Israel ceasefire. Brent crude rose about 1 per cent to near US$68 a barrel, after slumping 13 per cent over the past two days, while West Texas Intermediate was above US$65.\n\nChina ‘dominates’ global hydropower development amid energy storage push: report. China accounted for almost all of Asia’s new hydropower capacity in 2024 as it bets on pumped storage to cope with a changing climate.\n\nCould old coal mines help ease China’s solar-panel overcapacity? The country leads the world in converting old coal mining sites into solar-power projects, according to Global Energy Monitor.\n\nChina to nearly double nuclear power capacity by 2040 in rapid build-up. The reactor-building spree would make China by far the world’s largest nuclear power generator, while the US strives to revive its own industry.\n\nChinese EVs: Xiaomi accelerates launch of Tesla Model Y rival YU7. Sales will start at the end of this month instead of in July, founder and CEO Lei Jun says.\n\nChinese solar firms bank on overseas expansion to survive amid US tariffs. Some of the world’s top solar firms are considering localising production in the US amid a worsening price war and geopolitical tensions.\n\nChina’s solar panel makers seek antidote to market ills as glut, price war, tariffs bite. Market players should aim for technological innovation, enabling higher profit margins and sustainable growth, GCL founder Zhu says.\n\nHumanoid haven: China’s new robot store showcases home-grown products.\n\nUnitree founder: ChatGPT moment in robotics could come within 2 years.\n\nRocketing to riches: China’s cash-hungry aerospace firms aim for IPOs.\n\nYuanhua eyes Hong Kong for assembly plant, IPO in overseas surgical robot push.\n\nAlibaba’s AI lab becomes target for talent poaching by Chinese rivals.\n\nOpinion | China’s clean energy transition solves several problems at once.\nOpinion | When travellers think sustainability, make them think Greater Bay Area.\nOpinion | Why economic ties are the missing ingredient for China-India detente.\nOpinion | Fallen world must ensure justice for future generations.\nOpinion | Africa could emerge a winner from China’s war-induced energy shift.\nOpinion | London and Hong Kong can lead way in UK-China finance cooperation.

Climate and energy: Latest News and Updates

The article covers a range of developments in global clean energy and climate-related sectors, highlighting China's dominance in hydropower and solar energy, growth in electric vehicle (EV) markets, advancements in green hydrogen and offshore wind, and challenges facing solar firms due to US tariffs and market overcapacity. It also touches on AI in energy, robotics, and geopolitical implications of energy transitions, including China's expansion in AI energy and nuclear power, and the role of start-ups and international partnerships in green innovation.