Flash | PRC Spot Coal Price Steady; New Government Policy Stimulates PRC Power Grid & Plant Investments CITI'S TAKE 12 Feb 2026 09:22:49 ET │ 11 pages China Electric Utilities PRC Sxcoal spot coal price (5,500kcal/kg) at Qinhuangdao was relatively steady +1.8% wow, +1.2% mom, and -0.2% yoy to Rmb711/tonne on 11 February. The weekly spot coal price rise was driven by Indonesia's coal export stoppage. Meanwhile, General Office of State Council issued policy paper called 'Implementation Opinions on Improving t ...

LG Energy Solution has announced it will take full control of Nextstar Energy, a battery joint venture that has created Canada’s first large-scale EV battery factory in Windsor, Ontario. Stellantis is selling its 49% equity stake to LG Energy Solution (LGES), but will remain a major customer for the plant. NextStar Energy was established as a joint venture by the two companies in 2022 to build Canada’s first large-scale battery manufacturing facility. The ownership transition is a mutually agreed, stra ...

Core Viewpoint - LG Energy Solution will acquire full ownership of NextStar Energy from Stellantis, which is a strategic decision aimed at strengthening the battery manufacturing ecosystem in Canada and enhancing growth opportunities in North America [2][3][8]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - LG Energy Solution will purchase Stellantis's 49% equity stake in NextStar Energy, which was established as a joint venture in 2022 to create Canada's first large-scale battery manufacturing facility [2][8]. - The ownership transition is a mutually agreed decision between LG Energy Solution and Stellantis, ensuring a seamless transition and long-term growth for NextStar Energy [3][8]. Group 2: Strategic Implications - NextStar Energy will leverage LG Energy Solution's technological expertise and operational capabilities to better serve a wider customer base, including the Energy Storage System (ESS) industry [4][10]. - Stellantis will continue to be a key customer, sourcing battery products from NextStar Energy, thereby reinforcing the partnership [4][9]. Group 3: Investment and Employment - Over $5 billion CAD has been invested in NextStar Energy's facility, which currently employs over 1,300 people, with a target of 2,500 employees as production scales up [5][8]. - The facility is crucial for Canada's advanced manufacturing and clean-energy sector, enhancing North America's battery supply chain and supporting long-term industrial competitiveness [5][6]. Group 4: Market Position and Future Growth - LG Energy Solution aims to increase its global ESS production capacity to over 60 GWh this year, with more than 50 GWh of this capacity located in North America [11]. - The acquisition positions LG Energy Solution to respond swiftly to the growing demand in the ESS market and strengthens its role in Canada's electric vehicle industry [7][11].

February 2, 2026 12:40 AM GMT M Update Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. | Asia Pacific Nationwide Rollout of ESS Capacity Price China has formally enacted a nationwide capacity price mechanism for energy storage systems (ESS), benchmarking compensation to local coal-fired capacity prices and scaling by usable duration hours (ratio capped at 1). This structure meaningfully enhances ESS project economics. ESS capacity price rollout. A nationwide capacity price for standalone energy storage system (ESS ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference focused on the advanced manufacturing sector, particularly in technology and energy storage systems (ESS) [1] Company Insights CSI Solar (688472 CH) - **ESS Growth**: Projected global shipments of ESS for 2026E are expected to reach 14-17 GWh, primarily driven by demand in non-US markets [2] - **Backlog**: The current backlog is approximately USD 3 billion, with high-quality orders concentrated in overseas high-margin regions, indicating strong potential for profitability [2] - **Risk Management**: The company is involved in counter-litigation regarding potential US antidumping duties, assessing the overall risk as low [3] - **Supply Chain**: Currently relies on external sourcing for battery cells but believes it can pass future price increases to customers effectively [3] Maxwell Technologies (300751 CH) - **Order Projections**: Anticipates CNY 6 billion in new orders for 2025E, with expectations to rise to CNY 10 billion for 2026E [4] - **Segment Contributions**: Orders for 2026E are expected to include CNY 6 billion from solar (mainly overseas heterojunction) and CNY 3.5-4.0 billion from non-solar segments [4] - **Long-term Outlook**: Projects semiconductor revenue to scale up to CNY 10 billion by 2029-30E amid diversification efforts [4] Xizi Clean Energy Equipment (002534 CH) - **Growth Drivers**: Long-term growth is supported by overseas market expansion, energy storage operations, and the nuclear power segment, which currently generates CNY 1-2 billion in revenue [5] - **Market Challenges**: Faces localization and policy barriers for entering the US market, with a focus on complementary exports in the short term [5] Shuanghuan Driveline (002472 CH) - **EV Segment Growth**: Expected to generate approximately CNY 4 billion in revenue for 2025E, with double-digit growth projected for 2026E [7] - **ICE Business Decline**: Anticipates a revenue decline of 5-6% in the ICE segment for 2026E due to waning demand [7] - **Construction Machinery**: Projected single-digit revenue growth in 2026E, driven by potential order increases from key clients [7] Additional Insights - The conference highlighted the importance of navigating policy uncertainty and the need for new product development in the advanced manufacturing sector [1] - Companies are focusing on international markets to mitigate risks associated with domestic policy changes and market saturation [5][7] This summary encapsulates the key takeaways from the conference call, providing insights into the advanced manufacturing sector and specific company performances and projections.

Summary of Conference Call Notes Industry Overview - The global grid equipment industry is experiencing a structural shortage driven by demand for grid upgrades and increased automation in data centers (AIDC) [31][32] - In the US, power has become a significant bottleneck for data center construction, with average wait times for grid connections increasing to nearly five years from three years in 2020 [31] - Major companies like Siemens Energy and GE Vernova have order backlogs equivalent to 3.0 to 3.7 years of revenue, indicating strong demand outpacing manufacturing capacity [31] - The shortage of power transformers and tank-type circuit breakers is particularly acute, with forecasts indicating a 30% shortage in 2026 narrowing to around 10% by 2030 [37] Company Insights: Sieyuan Electric - Sieyuan Electric is one of the top-3 suppliers to China's State Grid, with 34% of its revenue coming from overseas markets in 1H25 [2] - The company has a significantly shorter delivery cycle for transformers (6-9 months) compared to competitors (2-3 years), allowing it to capture market share in the US [2] - Expected overseas revenue growth for Sieyuan is projected at a 43% CAGR from 2025 to 2030, with contributions to total revenue reaching 53% by 2030 [2][51] - Sieyuan's global market share in switchgear and transformers is expected to grow to 8% and 6% respectively by 2030 [13][51] - The company is valued at 25X 2028E P/E, with a 12-month target price of Rmb194.6, implying a 22% upside [2][50] Company Insights: Huaming Power Equipment - Huaming holds a 32% market share by value and 90% by volume in on-load tap changers in China as of 2025 [3] - The company is expected to see overseas revenue growth at a 26% CAGR from 2025 to 2030, with global market share rising from 13% to 18% by 2030 [3][20] - However, the lengthy certification process for tap changers (18-36 months) limits rapid market entry despite the overall equipment shortage [3][22] - Huaming is valued at 22X 2028E P/E, with a 12-month target price of Rmb24.2, indicating a 12% downside [3][27] Key Market Dynamics - The US transformer market is projected to reach USD 5.5-6 billion by 2025, driven by data centers and renewable energy interconnections [56][58] - AIDC is contributing approximately 40% of incremental demand, significantly impacting order backlogs and lead times [58] - The pricing for power transformers in the US could be several times higher than in China, with potential gross profit margins increasing from 15% in China to 42% for exports to the US [65][77] Competitive Advantages of Sieyuan - Sieyuan's competitive edge lies in its high product quality, strong R&D capabilities, and efficient market execution [81] - The company has established itself as a leader in State Grid tendering, securing top ranks across multiple product categories [86] - Sieyuan's partnerships and operational excellence position it well to capitalize on the structural shortages in the US market [79][81] Conclusion - The grid equipment industry is poised for significant growth due to structural shortages and increasing demand for modernization - Sieyuan Electric is well-positioned to benefit from these trends, while Huaming Power Equipment faces challenges due to certification delays - Investors should consider the potential for high profitability in the US market, particularly for companies with shorter lead times and strong product offerings

Summary of Tesla Inc. Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Tesla Inc - **Industry**: Autos & Shared Mobility - **Market Cap**: $1,585,713 million as of December 31, 2025 - **Stock Rating**: Equal-weight - **Price Target**: $425.00 Key Financial Metrics - **4Q25 Deliveries**: 418,000 vehicles, a decrease of 16% year-over-year, slightly missing sell-side consensus of 422,900 vehicles by 1% but beating Morgan Stanley estimates of 402,000 vehicles [1][8] - **Energy Storage System (ESS) Deployments**: 14.2 GWh, exceeding expectations of 13.4 GWh [1][8] - **2026 Estimates**: - Vehicle unit sales: 1.597 million, a decrease of 2.5% year-over-year - ESS deployment: 64 GWh, an increase of 37% [1] Core Business Insights - **Robotaxi Business**: The primary catalyst for Tesla's growth in 1H26, with advancements in Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology being crucial for future vehicle demand [1] - **Volume Growth Expectations**: Anticipated double-digit growth in vehicle volume starting from 2027 [1] Price Target Methodology - **Bear Case**: $145 per share, with components including: - $30/share for automotive (6 million units by 2040 at a 6.5% EBIT margin) - $50/share for Network Services (60% attach rate at $200/month ARPU) - $45/share for Tesla Mobility (2 million car fleet at ~40% EBITDA margin) - $20/share for Energy [3][25] - **Base Case**: $425 per share, with components including: - $55/share for core automotive (9 million units by 2040 at a 10.5% EBIT margin) - $145/share for Network Services (80% attach rate at $240/month ARPU) - $125/share for Tesla Mobility (5 million cars at ~$1.33/mile) - $40/share for Energy [19] - **Bull Case**: $860 per share, with optimistic projections for all segments [3][19] Earnings and Revenue Estimates - **2025 Revenue**: $93,941 million - **2026 Revenue**: $97,275 million - **2027 Revenue**: $118,124 million - **Auto Gross Margin**: Expected to be 16.3% in 2026 [27] Risks and Challenges - **Market Competition**: Increased competition from traditional OEMs, startups, and large tech firms in both automotive and robotics sectors [31][32] - **Execution Risks**: Associated with robotaxi, FSD, and humanoid projects [32] - **Regulatory Risks**: Potential regulatory challenges, particularly in China [32] Additional Insights - **Consensus Rating Distribution**: 42% Overweight, 38% Equal-weight, 21% Underweight [23] - **Global Revenue Exposure**: 20-30% from Europe and Mainland China, with minimal exposure to Latin America and MEA [28] This summary encapsulates the key points from the Tesla Inc. conference call, highlighting the company's performance, future expectations, and the associated risks in the current market landscape.

Summary of China Renewable Energy Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focused on the **China Renewable Energy** sector, specifically the solar energy market in China. Key Points Solar Capacity Forecasts - The forecast for **PRC solar installation** in 2025 has been slightly raised to **290GW** from **280GW** based on ongoing projects, while the forecast for **2026** has been lowered to **220GW**, representing a **24% year-over-year decline** from **250GW** [1][2] - Major Independent Power Producers (IPPs) like **China Huaneng Group** and **National Energy Investment Group** are cautious about solar capacity additions during the **15th 5-year period (2026-2030)** due to profitability issues from recent projects [1] Profitability Concerns - Recent solar projects have been less profitable due to **tariff cuts** and high **depreciation expenses** from installations made in **2022-2023** when module prices were elevated [1][2] - The average on-grid tariff has decreased significantly, impacting the financial viability of new installations [2] Market Dynamics - The solar sector is noted for its **cooperative attitude** among enterprises, which is seen as a positive aspect amidst market challenges [1] - There is a potential negative impact on **Energy Storage System (ESS)** demand due to the anticipated reduction in solar installations in **2026** [2] Module Pricing and Production - **China's solar module export value** decreased by **16.8% year-over-year** to **US$21,873 million** in the first 11 months of 2025, with a slight recovery in November showing an **18% year-over-year increase** [3] - The **module production volume** is expected to decline further, with a projected drop of **10.9% year-over-year** in December due to a lack of domestic installation rush [6] Inverter Market - **China's inverter export value** increased by **26% year-over-year** in November, with significant demand from regions like **Oceania** and **Europe** [7] Company-Specific Insights Preferred Companies - The report expresses a preference for companies involved in **Energy Storage Systems (ESS)** and **polysilicon production**, specifically naming **Sungrow**, **Deye**, **Tongwei**, and **GCL** as favorable investment opportunities [1] Valuation and Risks - **Ginlong Technologies** has a target price of **Rmb55.00** per share based on a DCF valuation, with a WACC of **10.1%** [19] - **Ningbo Deye Technology** has a target price of **Rmb102.0** per share, with a WACC of **8.4%** [21] - **Sungrow Power Supply** has a target price of **Rmb240.00**, with a WACC of **7.0%** [23] - **Tongwei** has a target price of **Rmb30.00** per share, with a WACC of **9.2%** [25] Risks - Key risks for these companies include lower-than-expected solar installations, increased competition, and potential trade tariffs against Chinese products [20][22][24][26] Conclusion - The solar energy market in China is facing challenges with profitability and installation forecasts, but there are still opportunities in specific segments like ESS and polysilicon production. The cautious outlook from major IPPs indicates a need for strategic investment in the sector.

Summary of Key Takeaways from the Conference Call on Asia Electrical Equipment Industry Overview - The focus of the conference call was on the Asian power grid equipment and energy storage system (ESS) sectors, particularly in Singapore [1] Company Insights Transformer Makers - Investors showed more interest in LS Electric, Sieyuan Electric, TBEA, and Chung Hsin Electric due to more attractive valuations compared to Hyundai Electric and Fortune Electric [1] - LS Electric is expected to receive new orders from Amazon Web Services (AWS) for US datacenters, reflecting its strong track record [2] - PRC transformer makers, particularly Sieyuan and TBEA, reported significant growth in overseas orders, with Sieyuan's export revenue increasing by 89% year-over-year in 1H25 and TBEA's new orders from abroad rising by 88% year-over-year [2] Quality Comparison - Hyundai Electric indicated that the failure rate for Korean transformers is 0.01%, while for Chinese transformers it is 0.03%, suggesting a slight quality advantage for Korean products [3] Production Cost Analysis - Production costs for high voltage transformers in Korea are 65% of those in the US, while costs in China are estimated to be 10-20% lower than in Korea [6] Market Dynamics PRC Power Grid Capex - PRC power grid capital expenditure (capex) growth was revised down to 8-9% year-over-year for 2025, from a previous estimate of 13%, due to slower-than-expected approvals for new projects [7] Impact of US Legislation on ESS - The US "One Big Beautiful Bill" will affect Sungrow's ESS business by disqualifying projects using Chinese equipment from receiving a 30% investment tax credit. Sungrow plans to mitigate this by sourcing batteries from South Korea and Japan and offering price discounts for US sales [8] Company Valuations Chung Hsin Electric - Target price set at NT$200 based on a 21x 2026E EPS, supported by strong order backlog from Taipower's grid upgrade projects [9] LS Electric - Target price of W560,000/share based on a DCF model, reflecting stable cash flows in the power grid equipment industry [11] Sieyuan Electric - Target price of Rmb170.00/share based on a DCF model, with stable cash flows expected [13] Sungrow Power Supply - Target price of Rmb240.00 based on a DCF valuation, with a focus on long-term potential returns [15] TBEA Co - Target price of Rmb26.00/share derived from a DCF model, with stable cash flows anticipated [18] Risks Chung Hsin Electric - Risks include slower-than-expected sales growth, budget cuts on power grid upgrades, operational accidents, and weaker macro fundamentals [10] LS Electric - Key risks include lower-than-expected overseas new orders, higher tariffs, and rising raw material costs [12] Sieyuan Electric - Risks involve lower-than-expected PRC grid capex, overseas new orders, and raw material costs [14] Sungrow Power Supply - Risks include slower solar installation growth, lower ESS demand, and intensified trade tensions affecting exports [17] TBEA Co - Risks include lower polysilicon prices, higher prices for key materials, and reduced transformer demand [19]

Summary of the Conference Call on Energy Storage Systems (ESS) in China Industry Overview - The conference call focused on the **Energy Storage Systems (ESS)** market in China, highlighting its rapid expansion driven by strong policy support and increased project filings [6][15][17]. Key Insights and Arguments 1. **Growth Projections**: - Global ESS installations are projected to grow by **40-60% year-over-year in 2026**, an increase from the previous estimate of approximately **30%** [6][7]. - China's ESS installation estimates for FY25-30 have been raised by **14-32%**, with a target of **180GW** installed capacity by 2027 [6][15]. 2. **Policy Support**: - Recent regulatory actions across multiple provinces are accelerating ESS deployment, with over **4,200 projects** totaling **518GWh** filed in Q3 2025, marking a **343% year-over-year increase** [6][33][35]. - The **NDRC** announced an "Action Plan in Energy Storage Development" targeting **180GW** of cumulative ESS installations by 2027, requiring an investment of **Rmb250 billion** [15][17]. 3. **Market Dynamics**: - The shift from mandatory ESS paired with renewable energy to independent ESS is noted, with capacity compensation models emerging as a future revenue source [23]. - Independent ESS projects accounted for **93.2%** of total capacity in the recent surge of project filings [35]. 4. **Earnings Impact**: - Earnings for ESS-related companies, such as **Sungrow**, are expected to increase by **2-15%** due to the favorable market conditions [6][8]. 5. **Regional Developments**: - Various provinces are implementing capacity compensation policies to incentivize local ESS installations, with specific rates outlined for different regions [18][21]. Additional Important Content - **AIDC Trends**: - The call discussed the rising power demand from **AIDC (Artificial Intelligence Data Centers)**, which is expected to account for **12%** of total US power demand by 2028, driving ESS adoption [61][62]. - AIDC projects are anticipated to have an ESS attachment ratio ranging from **10% to 30%** of their load, with durations varying from **2 to 8 hours** [62]. - **Financial Analysis**: - ESS projects in **Inner Mongolia** are projected to achieve an internal rate of return (IRR) of **13%** over the next 10 years, incentivizing further development under the current policy framework [24]. - **Market Challenges**: - Despite the surge in project filings, there is a cautionary note that not all filings may convert to actual installations, as developers may rush to secure project resources [38]. - **Future Outlook**: - The ESS market is expected to continue evolving with increasing integration of renewable energy and advancements in technology, potentially leading to a more flexible and resilient power system [17][67]. This summary encapsulates the critical points discussed during the conference call, providing insights into the current state and future prospects of the ESS market in China.