ET Highlights: India's renewable ammonia auctions set global price, EU Parliament supports CBAM reform, US EV market faces demand decline

Energy transition highlights: Our editors and analysts bring together the biggest stories in the industry this week, from renewables to storage to carbon prices.

Top story

India’s renewable ammonia auctions hit $604/mt in new global trade price point

India's recent domestic renewable ammonia auctions, which concluded at a weighted average price of around $604/mt, offer a new pricing point for global trade and may encourage faster adoption of the clean fuel, although regional regulatory differences may fragment the export market, according to industry members.

Solar Energy Corp. of India conducted its first renewable ammonia auction through July and August, choosing seven developers as suppliers of 724,000 mt/year of the clean fuel at a delivered, weighted average price of Rupees 53.27/kg to 13 fertilizer firms. The contracts are expected to be signed soon, with trades likely to start in three to four years.

The results are likely to strengthen offtakers' confidence in renewable ammonia and accelerate adoption across hard-to-abate sectors such as fertilizers, shipping, and other industries, according to industry members. The auctions also demonstrate that competition can effectively drive tariffs down in a way that the cost gap with conventional fuels is reduced and the environmentally friendly fuels come closer to the reach of consumers.

However, projects aiming to export clean fuels to Europe and Asia would need to factor in regional regulations with strict rules on additionality, time matching and geographic correlation that are meant to ensure the carbon intensity of the clean hydrogen/ammonia is at low or zero levels to qualify, which could push production cost up.

SPGlobal.com

EU parliament backs CBAM overhaul to boost region's industrial competitiveness

European lawmakers cleared the path for major changes to the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, exempting 90% of importers from compliance and administrative requirements in a bid to improve the bloc's industrial competitiveness. The simplification measures, part of the European Commission's Omnibus package presented in February 2025, passed with 617 votes in favor, 18 against and 19 abstentions.

INFOGRAPHIC: US EV market poised for demand downturn after credit repeal

The largest electric vehicle incentive in the US is set to expire on Sept. 30, bringing a cooling of the nascent market that saw explosive growth in recent years and forcing manufacturers to reconsider their strategy. As the end of the federal $7,500 tax credit approaches, EV sales are spiking, according to initial estimates from Cox Automotive. US EV sales reached a record in August and might set an all-time sales record in Q3 2025, according to a report by Cox.

Platts Connect

Hydrogen project pipeline shrinks 25% but robust expansion expected: IEA

The global low-carbon hydrogen sector is poised for substantial growth through 2030 despite recent project cancellations and persistent cost challenges that have reduced the pipeline of announced projects by nearly 25%, according to the International Energy Agency's latest analysis. Low-carbon hydrogen production by 2030 could now reach up to 37 million mt/year, down from a potential 49 million mt/year based on announced projects a year earlier, the IEA said in its 2025 Global Hydrogen Review.

APPEC: Singapore to play key role to advance sustainable energy, carbon products: senior minister

Singapore is positioned to play a significant role in four key growth areas— sustainable products, biofuels, alternative maritime fuels, and carbon products—as the country embraces growth opportunities for energy transition, Low Yen Ling, senior minister of State for the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, said at the APPEC 2025 event in Singapore, hosted by S&P Global Commodity Insights. The nation is expanding sustainable fuels production in Jurong Island to meet growing regional demand, the minister said.