Nvidia, ByteDance, and the U.S.-China AI Chip Standoff Over H200 Exports 
American Airlines CEO to Meet Pilots Union Amid Storm Response and Financial Concerns 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Instagram Outage Disrupts Thousands of U.S. Users 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Alphabet’s Massive AI Spending Surge Signals Confidence in Google’s Growth Engine 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Baidu Approves $5 Billion Share Buyback and Plans First-Ever Dividend in 2026 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies 
CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration After Panama Court Revokes Canal Port Licences 
Hanhwa Q Cells and Microsoft have signed a partnership deal for the supply of solar panels and the provision of related services. The companies revealed that this is for the upcoming projects of the American tech firm.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hanwha Q Cells will deliver more than 2.5 gigawatts of solar panel modules to Microsoft. This amount of electric power is enough for 400,000 households.
It was mentioned that this is the first time that Microsoft is collaborating directly with a solar panel supplier as it aims to take on clean energy on a big scale. It has made the pledge to buy renewable energy to attain 100% renewable energy usage by the year 2025.
Hanwha Solutions is the parent company of Hanhwa Q Cells, and it is planning to invest about KRW3.2 trillion, or around $2.6 billion, to set up its solar hub in Cartersville, Georgia. The facility will manufacture four important parts for renewable energy, which include modules and solar ingots, a raw material required for making solar wafers that are typically used as a base for solar panels. Additionally, it is also expected to produce 3.3 GW per year, and commercial production is set to start by the end of 2024.
“Building a resilient solar energy supply chain is essential to advancing a global green energy economy,” Microsoft’s vice chairman and president, Brad Smith, said in a press release. “Microsoft’s partnership with Qcells will help make this vision a reality by bringing innovation and investment to rural Georgia.”
Hanhwa Q Cells, chief executive officer, Justin Lee, also stated, “We are striving to build and deliver turnkey clean energy solutions, including those made in America, and this partnership with Microsoft will help accomplish this vision.”
Lee added that this deal with Microsoft is only the start of a great team-up that “not only supports our two companies but helps deliver a clean energy future for customers and communities.”
Photo by: Raphael Cruz/Unsplash
