SouthCoast Wind Farm Gets Approval Amid Uncertainty

[Solid-State Battery: Nine Departments' 15th Five-Year Plan Incorporates Automotive Solid-State Batteries into Specialised Standards System, Accelerating Supply of Cutting-Edge Technology Standards] On 9 September 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and eight other departments issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicle Industry (MIIT Joint Regulation Letter [2026] No. 305). In the task of "continuously improving the standards system," the Plan specifies the ongoing establishment and refinement of specialised standards systems for automotive chips, automotive software, automotive artificial intelligence, automotive solid-state batteries, and low-carbon development of automobiles. In the task of "accelerating the supply of cutting-edge cross-disciplinary standards," it further proposes accelerating the formulation of frontier technology standards for automotive artificial intelligence, cockpit-driving integration, solid-state batteries, distributed electric drive, fully active suspension, integrated driving units, and chassis fusion control. The Plan does not establish a separate special clause for the industrialisation of solid-state batteries; the relevant arrangements primarily focus on standards taking the lead, providing regulatory support for subsequent technological breakthroughs and large-scale application.

Researchers at Anhui Normal University, with Beijing Normal University and University of Science and Technology Beijing, published results on high-performance lithium-chlorine batteries in Advanced Materials. By tuning pore size in covalent organic framework materials from about 2.7 nm down to 0.9 nm, the team greatly enhanced chlorine confinement. The optimized microporous material achieved over 97% coulombic efficiency at high current density, 200 stable cycles at minus 20 degrees Celsius with 99% average efficiency, and high discharge capacity even at minus 40 degrees, offering a general design strategy for practical Li-Cl2 batteries.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and eight other departments jointly issued the 15th Five-Year plan for intelligent connected NEVs. By 2030, NEV passenger cars and commercial vehicles are targeted to reach 70% and 40% of new vehicle sales in their segments, with autonomous driving at scale and average EV energy consumption around 11.5 kWh per 100 km. The plan outlines 17 key tasks across five areas, including coordinated mining and recycling of lithium, cobalt and nickel resources, standards for vehicle solid-state batteries, wider use of electric heavy-duty trucks in trunk logistics, and a carbon peak in the auto industry before 2030.