Geopolitics and AI push US energy storage to record-breaking quarter

The US energy storage industry achieved its most successful first quarter of 2026 to date, driven by surging AI computing demands and growing concerns over fossil fuel reliability. According to the US Energy Storage Market Outlook (ESMO) second quarter 2026 report published by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, developers deployed 9.7 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of new storage capacity in the first quarter of 2026. This represents a 32% increase year-over-year, reflecting the sector’s resilience within the domestic clean energy supply chain despite a strained political environment.

Continue reading

AI servers drive order growth; Weltrend’s fan motor driver IC visibility strong

At its earnings conference, Weltrend Semiconductor described the first quarter of 2026 as an exceptional one. Despite the period being historically slow, the company posted year-over-year and sequential growth. Nearly all major product lines demonstrated strong growth momentum, with server-related products standing out in particular. Order visibility is now expected to remain strong throughout the full year. Meanwhile, AI servers are becoming increasingly diversified, with demand across GPUs, ASICs, and CPUs growing almost simultaneously, underpinning a highly promising operating outlook.

Continue reading

India roundup: India accelerates chip ambitions, but ecosystem gaps remain a key challenge

India is advancing its technology and semiconductor ambitions through new fab projects, packaging facilities, data center investments, and industry partnerships. However, analysts say the next phase of the India Semiconductor Mission will depend on addressing weaknesses in equipment, materials, supply chains, talent, and R&D, as the country seeks to convert investment momentum into a sustainable semiconductor ecosystem and broader digital manufacturing growth.

Continue reading

Tech Forum 2026: AI data centers turn to on-site power amid grid constraints

DIGITIMES analyst Sabrina Yu warned that artificial intelligence data centers face four major energy challenges — rising GPU thermal design power, a new high-voltage direct current architecture, persistent grid bottlenecks, and intensifying sustainability and carbon-emissions pressure on operators — prompting cloud service providers to increasingly rely on behind-the-meter power.

Continue reading

Column: US summit signals shift to trusted supply chains, reshaping global manufacturing partnerships

At the 2026 SelectUS Investment Summit in Maryland, US officials used the flagship investment forum to outline a national industrial strategy prioritizing supply chain reconstruction and alliances, casting manufacturing and AI infrastructure as strategic priorities. The event drew more than 5,500 attendees from over 100 countries.

Continue reading

Geopolitics disrupts chips — can Taiwan and South Korea cooperate to hold the line?

The global semiconductor industry is being pulled in two directions. On one side, the cost of building a single advanced chip factory has ballooned to as much as US$40 billion, concentrating production in the hands of a shrinking club of players. On the other hand, US-China technology rivalry is redrawing the map of who gets to make what — and for whom.

Continue reading