Key Takeaways
Aiko and Maxeon settled a global back-contact solar patent dispute, with Aiko licensed to Maxeon's patents outside the U.S., according to PV Magazine.
Winter Storm Fern disrupted North American solar generation in late January, according to PV Magazine's report citing Solcast data.
The UK and US formalized an agreement to enhance cooperation in securing critical minerals supply chains, according to Mining Technology.
Resolute Mining secured a mining permit for the Doropo Gold Project in Côte d'Ivoire from the Council of Ministers, according to Mining Technology.
Chinese solar manufacturers including Hoshine, Risen Energy, Jolywood, and Irico forecast net losses in 2025 due to rising raw material costs and weak industrial silicon prices, according to PV Magazine.
Oil & Gas Markets
Limited substantive market coverage this week. The provided oil and gas articles focus primarily on technical research into reservoir characteristics, pore structures, and geological formations rather than market developments or price movements. Articles from Petroleum Science examined topics including thermal maturity effects on shale gas reservoirs, helium accumulation mechanisms in shale gas, and pore water occurrence in gas shales, but these represent academic research rather than market-moving developments.
Broader market commentary from Investing.com Commodities addressed crude oil dynamics, noting that oil markets wavered as Iran tensions cooled and risk premiums began to fade. Additionally, India resumed Venezuelan crude purchases as Russian barrels exited the mix, according to Investing.com Commodities reporting. However, detailed price data and specific market movements were not provided in the available coverage.
Renewable Energy Developments
The renewable energy sector saw significant developments this week, particularly in solar technology and grid management. According to PV Magazine, Aiko and Maxeon resolved a long-standing global back-contact patent dispute. "Under the terms of the agreement, Aiko will be licensed to Maxeon's back-contact solar cell and module patents outside the U.S., while both companies drop all ongoing legal actions," PV Magazine reported. This settlement removes a major source of litigation in the solar industry and allows Aiko to expand its back-contact technology deployment internationally.
Weather disruptions impacted solar generation across North America in late January. According to PV Magazine's weekly update citing Solcast data, "January 2026 began with relatively mild, solar-favorable conditions across much of the eastern U.S., but ended with Winter Storm Fern" disrupting solar output. This weather event highlights the ongoing challenge of renewable energy variability and the importance of grid management tools.
The renewable energy sector is receiving increased attention regarding grid stability as penetration rates rise. According to PV Magazine, "The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity published a report on instability detection technologies to help countries with high renewable energy shares maintain grid reliability." These tools are becoming essential as utilities manage increasingly complex grids with higher renewable percentages.
The Chinese solar manufacturing sector faces significant headwinds. According to PV Magazine's Chinese PV Industry Brief, "Hoshine, Risen Energy, Jolywood, and Irico have all issued forecasts for net losses in 2025, as rising raw material costs and weak industrial silicon prices squeeze margins across the solar manufacturer." This margin compression reflects broader challenges in the global solar supply chain and may influence investment decisions in the sector.
Mining & Critical Minerals
The mining sector advanced on multiple fronts this week, with particular progress in gold development and critical minerals cooperation. According to Mining Technology, "The Governments of the UK and the US have formalised an agreement to enhance cooperation in securing supply chains for critical minerals, vital for numerous industries." This bilateral agreement underscores growing recognition of supply chain vulnerabilities and the strategic importance of critical minerals for energy transition technologies.
Gold project development continued with multiple milestones. According to Mining Technology, "Newcore Gold initiated pre-feasibility study (PFS) for Enchi Gold Project located in Ghana, with plans to finalise it by the end of H1 2026." Additionally, Resolute Mining achieved a significant permitting milestone: "Resolute Mining has secured a mining permit for the Doropo Gold Project from the Council of Ministers in Côte d'Ivoire," according to Mining Technology.
Operational developments also marked the week. According to International Mining, "Greatland Resources has purchased its first Caterpillar machine from local dealer WesTrac, with the Cat 6060 hydraulic mining shovel now ready to work at the Telfer gold-copper mine in the Paterson Province." This equipment addition supports expanded operations at the gold-copper facility.
Environmental and sustainability standards continue gaining traction in the mining sector. According to International Mining, "Eramet announces that its Eramet Grande Côte (EGC) site, specialising in mineral sands mining in Senegal, has achieved the IRMA 50 performance level, becoming the first site within the group to be audited" under the Responsible Mining Assurance program. This certification reflects industry movement toward higher environmental and social standards.
A notable development in the mining M&A space occurred earlier in the week. According to MINING.COM, discussions between Rio Tinto and Glencore regarding a potential merger collapsed, with valuation emerging as the primary point of contention rather than governance concerns. The article noted: "Behind the collapsed Rio–Glencore talks lies a simple truth: governance was noise, valuation was the real fight."
Week Ahead Preview
Investors will be monitoring several developing stories. The Chinese solar sector's margin pressures may influence quarterly earnings announcements and capital allocation decisions. Grid stability developments in Europe could signal regulatory shifts affecting renewable energy deployment. In mining, the completion timelines for Newcore Gold's Enchi pre-feasibility study and ongoing operations at newly permitted projects warrant attention. The UK-US critical minerals agreement may prompt additional bilateral or multilateral cooperation announcements.
This weekly recap is compiled from coverage by PV Magazine, Electrek, Mining Technology, International Mining, MINING.COM, Petroleum Science, and Investing.com Commodities. For daily updates, visit energystandard.io.