[In July 2025, Chile's lithium carbonate exports reached 29,300 mt, including 13,600 mt exported to China.]

The Office of the State Fire Marshal hosted the Second Annual Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Safety Symposium on August 20, 2026, in Orange County, California, in conjunction with the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) Fire Prevention and Safety Symposium. The event brought together fire service leaders, code officials, and industry experts to share insights and best practices in the rapidly evolving BESS landscape. As California leads the nation in battery storage deployment, with gigawatts of capacity operational and under construction, fire safety and emergency response protocols have become critical priorities.

On August 18, 2026, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) held a public meeting to consider Portland General Electric's waiver of competitive bidding rules for the acquisition of the Nottingham BESS project. OPUC staff supported the waiver request, which would allow the utility to proceed with the battery storage asset outside standard procurement procedures. The Nottingham project is part of Portland General Electric's broader strategy to integrate storage into its resource portfolio as Oregon advances its clean energy targets. The Commission's consideration of the waiver reflects the practical challenges utilities face in procuring storage through traditional competitive processes.

Natural Power announced on August 19, 2026, that it supported E Energy Invest, the investment vehicle of the Strioga Family Foundation, in acquiring a minority share in a battery energy storage system project in Italy. The transaction marks the client's first investment in Italy's rapidly growing energy storage market. Italy has emerged as one of Europe's most active BESS markets, driven by high solar penetration, grid congestion in the south, and regulatory reforms enabling standalone storage participation in energy markets. Natural Power's advisory role encompassed technical and commercial due diligence, reflecting the sophisticated support required by institutional investors entering the European storage sector.