Ceramic and glass business news of the week for December 8, 2025

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

‘Renewable energy’ stripped from NREL’s name in shift of priorities

The U.S. Department of Energy renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory the National Laboratory of the Rockies to purportedly reflect the Trump administration’s “broader vision” of the lab. NREL was caught up by the Trump administration’s anti-renewables stance earlier this year when more than 100 staff were slashed from its headquarters in Golden, Colo.

RWE to build its largest battery energy storage facility in the UK

RWE is powering ahead with its largest U.K. storage project, Pembroke Battery Storage, taking a final investment decision. The roughly £200 million development, once constructed, will play an important role in the operation of the Pembroke Net Zero Center decarbonization hub in South Wales.

Iraq’s silica reserves exceed 350 million tons

The Ministry of Industry and Minerals announced that Iraq’s proven reserves of silica amount to 350 million tons. The Ministry is currently working to utilize silica primarily in the glass and refractories industries.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

SINTX signs supply agreement with Evonik

SINTX Technologies, Inc. signed a supply agreement with Evonik Corporation to manufacture the company’s proprietary silicon nitride–PEEK compound engineered for artificial intelligence-assisted additive manufacturing of patient‑specific implants that will be produced using equipment already in place at SINTX’s U.S.-based production facility.

Panasonic Energy and Brown University launch joint lithium-ion battery research

Panasonic Energy is working with Brown University’s School of Engineering on a joint development initiative to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries by analyzing and addressing materials degradation mechanisms.

Mines to open satellite campus in Guam focused on additive manufacturing

Colorado School of Mines will open its first satellite campus in Guam in 2026. Mines will confer a B.S. in mechanical engineering with a focus in additive manufacturing, allowing students in Guam and across the Pacific to complete a four-year mechanical engineering degree without leaving the island, a first in Guam’s history.

Glass producers partner to launch sustainable glass certification program

Some of the world’s largest glass developers, producers, and packaging companies came together for the launch of Responsible Glass, a global certification program set to bring new sustainability standards to glass production and sourcing.

Glass Futures and VEC Launch £1.5M AI initiative to cut emissions

Glass Futures and the University of Liverpool’s Virtual Engineering Center are launching AI Glass, a digital twin project designed to accelerate decarbonization and drive innovation in the glass manufacturing industry. Located at Glass Futures’ 165,000-sq.-ft Global Centre of Excellence in St. Helens, the project builds on the center’s pilot furnace and research labs.

Lucideon and Cavendish Nuclear sign MoU to advance nuclear waste management

Lucideon and Cavendish Nuclear, a wholly owned subsidiary of Babcock International Group, signed a memorandum of understanding to bring together Cavendish Nuclear’s engineering expertise in nuclear decommissioning and environmental clean-up works and Lucideon’s MIDAR geopolymer technology.

OTHER STORIES

Norway extends Arctic deep-sea mining freeze through 2029

Norway’s newly elected government has moved to halt all deep-sea mining activity in its Arctic waters until at least the end of 2029, extending an earlier pause and signaling a dramatic break from the country’s once-strong pro-mining stance.

Wright overhauls DOE, reflecting shift in US energy priorities

At the end of November 2025, the Department of Energy unveiled a reorganization that rebrands key offices and relocates a 1970s renewable and efficiency office. This reorganization is the latest move by the Trump administration to boost fossil fuels, minerals, and nuclear power while reducing renewable energy funding.

US follows up on Congo–Rwanda peace deal with plan to secure minerals

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation expressed interest in taking an equity stake in a new joint venture between Congo’s state miner Gecamines and Swiss commodities group Mercuria to market copper and cobalt. The investment plans emerged a day after U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to sign a deal to end a drawn-out conflict in Congo’s mineral-rich east.

New project will establish first renewable energy communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jointly co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the €3.5 million EU for Collective Action for Energy Transition project will establish Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first renewable energy communities.

MARKET TRENDS

How GM Energy plans to revolutionize electric vehicle ownership in the US

USA TODAY Cars spoke with General Motors Energy Vice President Wade Sheffer to learn more about the electric vehicle ecosystem that the company is creating using its variety of sustainable energy products.

Launch of new energy-trading market for Western states could put more solar to use

In 2026, a new energy trading market with its first participants is set to go online. California is set up to lead this push, thanks to its high-tech grid operator, its glut of renewable energy, and a fresh bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that paves the way for the regional market.

Report: New nuclear requires strong governance to avoid making old mistakes

A new report from the University of Michigan lays out implications of the widespread adoption of small modular reactors and other advanced nuclear reactors. It also provides policy recommendations for the governance of small modular reactors and the uranium supply chain to maximize public benefit.

NEW PRODUCTS

BIA releases new industry average EPD for clay masonry products

The Brick Industry Association announced a new industry average environmental product declaration for clay masonry products including clay brick, structural clay tile, thin brick, and clay brick pavers. This declaration expands the scope of BIA’s 2020 version to a cradle-to-grave assessment.

SCHOTT launches high-performance cover glass for next-generation space solar cells

SCHOTT and AZUR SPACE jointly developed a new solar cell cover glass for space applications, developed with funding from the European Space Agency and German Aerospace Center. SCHOTT Solar Glass exos provides enhanced radiation resistance and optical performance for simple silicon cells up to III-V multijunction satellite solar cells.

Q&A on the new book ‘Power Lines: The Human Costs of American Energy in Transition’

In a Q&A with Kleinman Center for Energy Policy staff, authors Sanya Carley and David Konisky share insights from their new book, which challenges the notion that a clean energy transition will automatically be a just one.