Month: January 2026

BEIJING, Jan. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On January 11, 2026, “The 16th Launch of Forecasting & Prospects Research Reports on Energy Economy” was held in Beijing. The conference released six research reports to the public, including “China’s Energy Development Prospects for the 15th Five-Year Plan Period”, “Research and Outlook on China’s Energy Economy Index 2026”, “Research on the Global Energy Transition Index (2015-2024)”, “International Crude Oil Price Analysis and Forecasting in 2026”, “Reviews and Prospects of China and World Carbon Markets (2026)”, and “Review and Outlook of Low-Carbon Computing Power Services”. This series of reports is from the targeted research results on specific topics chosen based on changes in international and domestic energy economics and climate policy situations over the previous year, performed by the research team led by distinguished Professor Yi-Ming Wei. Since 2011, these reports have been published by the Beijing Institute of Technology annually for 16 consecutive years, garnering widespread societal attention.

The release event invited experts from the National Energy Administration, China Meteorological Administration, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Energy Research Society, National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, China Association of Circular Economy, Nanjing University, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, China Coal Economic Research Association, Shanghai Futures Exchange, IEEE PES International Subcommittee on Electrical Energy Storage Markets and Planning, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and other institutions. Representatives from 30 media outlets, including China Media Group and People’s Daily Online, covered the press conference. A total of approximately 3000 participants from various sectors of society attended the event both online and offline.

At the opening ceremony, Bencong Wang, Vice President of Beijing Institute of Technology, delivered welcome remarks. Distinguished Professor Yi-Ming Wei of Beijing Institute of Technology and Director of Beijing Laboratory for System Engineering of Carbon Neutrality introduced the overall situation about the release event, reviewed the energy economic situation of 2025, and forecasted the key development trends for energy economy in 2026. The opening session was chaired by Professor Baojun Tang, Dean of the School of Management at BIT and Deputy Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research (CEEP).

During the report release session, the lead authors of the six reports presented the key findings. Professor Ronggang Cong and Professor Qiaomei Liang respectively chaired the report release sessions.

On future prospects, Professor Hua Liao, the lead author of “China’s Energy Development Prospects for the 15th Five-Year Plan Period”, pointed out that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the sustainable endogenous driving force for building China’s new-type energy system will have basically taken shape. The total scale of traditional fossil energy consumption is expected to reach a historic turning point and enter a downward range. The development of new energy remains a key pathway for counter-cyclical and cross-cyclical macroeconomic regulation, making important contributions to simultaneously promoting effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth of the economy.

On the energy economic landscape, Professor Baojun Tang, author of Research and Outlook on China’s Energy Economy Index 2026, noted that in 2025, the macroeconomy remained steady and improving, bolstered by the energy economy. In 2026, the hydrogen energy industry is expected to maintain strong momentum and, together with EVs lithium batteries and photovoltaics, will continue to attract significant market attention. The industry needs to rely on policies curbing excessive internal competition to improve quality and efficiency. With traditional energy providing foundational support, the sector aims to propel the high-quality development of the energy economy through the synergy of old and new drivers.

On the global energy transition, Dr. Yun Wu, author of Research on the Global Energy Transition Index (2015-2024), pointed out that the overall global energy transition in 2024 surpassed 2015 levels. However, the rising polarization of energy trade networks has increased system vulnerability. Currently, it is necessary to be vigilant against widening cross-country disparities, as well as declines in energy equity and transition enablement. China ranks 13th globally in energy transition and retains potential for improvement in the sustainability dimension.

On the energy market, Professor Lutao Zhao, the author of “International Crude Oil Price Analysis and Forecasting in 2026“, believed that in 2026 the supporting role of supply-and-demand fundamentals for oil prices will continue to weaken and the overall market pattern will tend to be looser; non-fundamental factors will also create downward pressure on oil prices, and geopolitical conflicts remain an important factor triggering market volatility. Oil prices are expected to continue their downward trend, with average Brent and WTI crude oil prices projected to range between US$53–63/bbl and US$49–59/bbl.

On the carbon market, Professor Ke Wang, the author of “Reviews and Prospects of China and World Carbon Markets (2026)”, pointed out that China’s national carbon market achieved leapfrog development in 2025, with significantly expanded market coverage and continuously strengthened policy influence and market expectations. Looking ahead, the national carbon market needs to further enhance market trading vitality and strengthen alignment with global carbon pricing mechanisms and cross-border emission-reduction rules.

On low-carbon computing power, Professor Ronggang Cong, the author of “Review and Outlook of Low-Carbon Computing Power Services”, noted that China’s computing power industry has entered a critical transition period featuring tiered deployment, green and low-carbon development, and efficient services. In the future, it is necessary to anchor the value orientation of “low-carbon + inclusive + integration,” build a low-carbon computing power service system and network with east–west linkage, type matching, computing–electricity coordination, diversified markets, and rich formats, improve a sustainable computing power service ecosystem and market, and help China achieve a leap from a “computing power large country” to a “computing power strong country.”

During the conference, experts and scholars from government, industry, academia, and research institutions engaged in in-depth and extensive exchanges and discussions, generating a warm and enthusiastic response on site. Professor Hua Liao, Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, BIT, and Associate Professor Meng Shen, Assistant Director of the Center, chaired the expert commentary session and the media interaction session, respectively.

The conference was hosted by Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, BIT, Beijing Laboratory for System Engineering of Carbon Neutrality, Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon Neutrality System and Engineering Management (MoE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Energy Economics and Environmental Management, NSFC Basic Science Center for Energy and Climate Change, and Committee of Carbon Mitigation Engineering Management, CCS.

The conference was co-organized by School of Management, BIT, Sustainable Development Research Institute for Economy and Society of Beijing, Center for Electrical Energy System Transition, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Beijing Operations Research Society, Chinese Society of Energy Economics and Management, Energy Economics Professional Committee of China Energy Research Society, Editorial Department of Journal of Energy and Climate Change, and the Editorial Department of Coal Economic Research.

Download address of full report:
https://ceep.bit.edu.cn/zxcg/ndycbg/index.htm 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-16th-launch-of-forecasting–prospects-research-reports-on-energy-economy-302663935.html

SOURCE Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research of Beijing Institute of Technology

New analysis by Dr. Jessica Sylvester calls on institutions to build life-aligned learning models that reduce cognitive load, strengthen belonging, and expand opportunity for “sandwich generation” moms

PHOENIX, Jan. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies announced the publication of “Engaging the Overextended: Designing Higher Education for Women Balancing Care, Work, and Learning,” a new white paper by Jessica Sylvester, Ed.D., MBA, Senior Manager of College Operations and associate faculty member at the University, and a research fellow with the University’s Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR). The paper examines how traditional higher education structures often assume uninterrupted time and predictable availability—conditions that don’t match the lived reality of women managing caregiving, employment and education simultaneously.  

Drawing on findings from the 2025 University of Phoenix Career Optimism Special Report™ Series: Moms in the Sandwich Generation and related research, Sylvester connects workforce pressures to higher education engagement and persistence. The white paper highlights that 59% of sandwich-generation moms report their combined roles have restricted professional growth, 51% have left a job due to caregiving conflicts, and 62% say maintaining a career feels like a luxury—constraints that shape whether learners can start, continue, or return to school.

“Engagement is a design problem, not a motivation problem,” said Sylvester. “When institutions build learning around real life—flexible time structures, authentic welcoming, recognition of lived expertise, and thoughtful AI-enabled support—women who are balancing care, work and learning can persist and succeed without having to choose between family and future.”

White paper focus: life-aligned design for modern adult learners

The paper outlines practical, thoughtful approaches higher education leaders and policymakers can implement to better serve overextended learners, including:

• Reimagining time and engagement structures to support asynchronous participation and nonlinear progress
• Treating belonging as academic infrastructure through cohort models, mentoring networks and relational teaching practices
• Expanding stackable and modular learning pathways that translate into career mobility in real time
• Recognizing experiential learning through Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) as tool for parity that reduces time-to-completion and cost
• Using AI thoughtfully to expand capacity, including re-entry supports, just-in-time help and reduced administrative burden.

The full white paper is available on the University of Phoenix Career Institute® webpage or on the Research Hub.

About the author

Sylvester is a higher-education leader with more than 18 years of experience and Senior Manager of College Operations at University of Phoenix. She also serves as an associate faculty member with the University of Phoenix College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Education, and College of Business and Information Technology, and is a research fellow with the University’s Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR), focusing on how emerging technologies—including AI—shape learning, skill demands and student experience. Sylvester earned her Doctor of Education specializing in Higher Education Administration, and a Master of Business Administration at University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Social Work at Arizona State University.

About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

About the College of Doctoral Studies
University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s research program is built around the Scholar, Practitioner, Leader Model which puts students in the center of the Doctoral Education Ecosystem® with experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.

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SOURCE University of Phoenix

TIANJIN, China, Jan. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TCL Zhonghuan Renewable Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (“TZE”) has recently announced its intention to acquire a controlling stake in DASOLAR Co., Ltd. (“DASOLAR”). This transaction strategically enhances TZE’s end-to-end capabilities along the N-type PV technology pathway, further exemplifying how leading enterprises are transforming the industrial landscape through targeted integration.

The acquisition of DASOLAR by TZE marks a calculated strategic initiative focused on the seamless integration of high-value assets, with the objective of driving operational excellence and enhancing efficiency through technology.

Notably, the core value of this integration lies not in simple scale addition but in the strong synergy of their shared technological roadmap. TZE, as the global pioneer in G12 silicon wafers, has consistently advanced innovations in N-type wafer thinning and low-oxygen crystal growth processes. Meanwhile, DASOLAR is a leader in N-type TOPCon cells and modules, having repeatedly set industry records for mass-produced cell efficiency and ranking as the world’s second-largest N-type module shipper in 2024. The two companies have already established a de facto upstream-downstream partnership along the N-type technology chain. Their deeper capital-level integration is expected to accelerate the alignment of technical standards and process parameters across the entire “material–cell–module” value chain, significantly shortening the R&D cycles for high-efficiency products and embodying the industrial upgrade logic of leveraging the strengths of leading players to elevate the industry.

Industry observers anticipate that this merger will generate three key synergies at the strategic level:

1. Technological Synergy: Building an Integrated High-Efficiency N-type Product Portfolio

TZE leads globally in G12 N-type wafers, while DASOLAR excels in TOPCon cell efficiency and module reliability. Post-acquisition, the two companies are expected to co-establish a joint innovation platform to collaboratively explore next-generation N-type technologies, such as BC cells and perovskite tandem cells. Analysts note that combining TZE’s deep expertise in crystal growth and wafer engineering with DASOLAR’s leading-edge capabilities in cell passivation, metallization, and module encapsulation could propel the combined entity further ahead in high-efficiency PV technology, better serving premium global markets.

2. Capacity and Supply Chain Synergy: Enhancing Operational Efficiency and Resilience

The acquisition will enable TZE to achieve closed-loop matching of high-quality internal capacity, reducing reliance on external supply chains. More importantly, it provides an opportunity to systematically optimize production segments through technological upgrades, setting a benchmark for “rational expansion and precision investment” in the industry. This integration strengthens supply chain resilience and operational efficiency, laying a solid foundation for long-term growth.

3. Strategic Synergy: Advancing Positioning as a Comprehensive Green Energy Solutions Provider

Beyond addressing TZE’s historical gap in downstream finished products, this integration will accelerate its transformation from a “materials supplier” to a “green energy solutions provider.” Leveraging TZE’s manufacturing strengths and DASOLAR’s global brand and distribution channels, the combined entity can strengthen its presence in premium markets and shift customer focus from “lowest price” to “value creation,” thereby fostering a fair and orderly market environment.

Notably, Li Dongsheng, Chairman of TCL and TZE, has repeatedly emphasized in public statements that sustainable growth lies in pursuing higher quality and technological excellence. This acquisition is a concrete manifestation of that philosophy. Looking ahead, as the two companies deepen integration in smart manufacturing, digital supply chains, and localized overseas production, TZE is poised to become one of the few globally integrated PV technology groups with full-stack capabilities spanning “wafers–cells–modules–system solutions,” contributing greater innovation to the global carbon neutrality agenda.

Of course, the success of this integration will require time to validate. The alliance between TZE and DASOLAR represents not only a corporate strategic upgrade but potentially a pivotal turning point for the PV sector—transitioning toward a model of “coexistence and mutual success.” The market will closely watch the specific actions taken by the two companies in deepening technological collaboration, optimizing capacity timelines, and executing global strategies—factors that may ultimately determine whether the combined entity can truly evolve from a “manufacturing powerhouse” into an “innovation leader” in the global energy transition.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tcl-zhonghuan-announces-strategic-acquisition-of-dasolar-to-accelerate-the-development-of-a-vertical-integration-driven-by-n-type-pv-technology-302663923.html

SOURCE TCL Solar

GUANGZHOU, China, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, GAC Energy has released its 2025 Ecological Service Report, highlighting strong advances in ultra-fast charging technology, nationwide network deployment, and V2G innovation under the GAC Group’s “2⁶ Energy Action” strategy – the strategic plan launched by GAC Group to develop a comprehensive, vertically integrated new energy vehicle (NEV) industry chain and ecosystem. By the end of 2025, GAC Energy operated 23,274 self-operated charging piles across 31 provinces and 211 cities, including 17,577 DC piles. It had 1,956 charging stations serving 8.92 million users and delivering 1.43 billion kWh of electricity, leading the industry in 1000V high-voltage fast-charging piles.

In ultra-fast charging technology, GAC Energy continued to strengthen its technology and operations throughout the year. Ultra-fast charging piles were upgraded to 640 kW, with individual gun capability reaching 720 kW and 800 A. In May, an AI-powered smart management cloud platform was introduced, enabling real-time control and automated operation of charging facilities, raising equipment online availability to 99.2% and significantly enhancing service stability.

The charging network has entered a phase of accelerated expansion. By March 2025, GAC Energy’s charging services had surpassed 100 million cumulative sessions, with the user base exceeding 5 million and 24/7 service ensuring worry-free travel. In July, total charging volume exceeded 1 billion kWh. In September, the number of self-operated charging piles took the industry lead by surpassing 20,000. By November, the charging network covered China’s major cities and main travel corridors, with more than 1,800 self-operated charging stations deployed, ensuring that users in core urban areas can conveniently reach a station within 1 km.

In the V2G field, GAC Energy completed China’s first private car owner V2G discharge order in August 2025 and, in September, built the country’s largest V2G microgrid, with an average daily discharge of more than 11,000 kWh per station. By the end of 2025, GAC Energy’s national V2G discharge exceeded 1.35 million kWh, with power trading surpassing 130 million kWh and cumulative carbon reduction reaching 3.43 million tons, contributing to a low-carbon, sustainable energy ecosystem.

Entering 2026, GAC Energy is accelerating its momentum—driving the evolution of smarter, faster, and greener charging solutions, and building a secure, sustainable energy ecosystem that powers the future of mobility.

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SOURCE GAC

Activist federal judges once again demonstrate bias against Trump administration policies

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A group of public interest organizations involved in an ongoing lawsuit to stop construction of the massive Virginia offshore wind project is condemning a federal district court judge’s decision to overturn an order of the Department of the Interior pausing construction of the project based on national security concerns. The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project is located 25 miles off the coast of Norfolk, VA, which is home to the largest military complex in the world.

On Friday, Judge Jamar Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued an injunction lifting the Department of the Interior’s order suspending construction on the project.

The U.S. Navy has issued a series of classified reports over the last decade strongly objecting to offshore wind development as endangering national security and hampering military readiness and operations, arguing that most of the waters off Norfolk, for those reasons, were unsuitable for offshore wind development. Notwithstanding these objections, the Biden and Obama administrations forced the Department of Defense (now Department of War) to sign off on the construction of the CVOW.

In 2024, the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT), the Heartland Institute, and the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) sued the Biden administration to halt construction of Virginia Wind, citing violations of numerous environmental and administrative permits. That suit is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The following comments may be used for attribution. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Judy Kent, Director of Media Relations for CFACT, at jkent@cfact.org, or call/text 703-477-7476.

“Instead of showing deference to well-documented military objections, a single federal judge, without any expertise in national security, has taken it upon himself to substitute his judgment for the considered opinion of military professionals. To make matters worse, the federal district court does not even have jurisdiction to decide this matter, since it is essentially a contract dispute between the government and a wind developer. These types of disputes can only be heard in the Court of Federal Claims, which does not have the authority to issue injunctions. The Department of the Interior should appeal this decision immediately.”

“This is an erroneous decision which ignores long-standing U.S. Navy objections to offshore wind and its clear threat to national security interests. This decision is also made by the wrong court. As the DC Court of Appeals has recently ruled, disputes between a government contractor and a federal agency must be heard in the Court of Federal Claims, which has no jurisdiction to issue injunctions. We trust DOI will promptly appeal this decision.”

“This ruling is poorly reasoned and legally deficient, but unsurprising, considering the political leanings of those who appointed this judge. There are ample grounds, based on threats to national security and endangered species for cancelling this improperly vetted and rushed project. Clever forum shopping put this case in a U.S. District Court favorable to Dominion Energy, when it should have been heard in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.”

MEDIA CONTACT
Judy Kent
703-477-7476
jkent@cfact.org

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SOURCE Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow

ASTON, Pa., Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Neumann University has received a $5 million gift — the largest in its history by an individual — from William Fegley, Jr., and his wife Jacquelyn to support undergraduate nursing students in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. The family has designated $4.5 million for undergraduate nursing student scholarships and $500,000 for state-of-the-art laboratory equipment.

In recognition of the gift, the university’s BSN and graduate nursing programs were named The Jacquelyn Wilson Fegley ’71 College of Nursing at a January 16 ceremony at Neumann’s suburban Philadelphia campus.

Born and raised in Chester, Pennsylvania, Jacquelyn Wilson Fegley entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia after graduating high school in 1962, spending ten years in service and teaching before earning a nursing degree from Our Lady of Angels College (now Neumann University) in 1971. She went on to a nursing career, while her husband, William Fegley, built a career in public accounting and served as an adjunct professor and lecturer. The couple married in 1974. Today, they have five children and 11 grandchildren.

Neumann University will begin awarding the Fegley scholarships this fall. Criteria include academic achievement and financial need. Fifteen new students each year will benefit, receiving $6,000 annually ($24,000 over four years).

Nursing is the largest undergraduate major at Neumann University, with approximately 120 students per year accepted into the program. Over the last four years, Neumann’s nursing graduates have achieved an impressive 96.9% first-time test-takers pass rate on the exam required for licensure as a Registered Nurse. During the same four-year period, the first-time test-takers pass rate was 89.98% in Pennsylvania and 86.33% nationally.

“This extraordinarily generous gift comes at a time when the demand for highly competent, practice-ready nurses continues to grow nationwide,” said Dr. Chris Domes, president of Neumann University. “The Fegley nursing scholarships will help transform the lives of countless aspiring nurses, including many first-generation college students, by supporting their academic journey to a lifelong professional career.”

Neumann University is an independent, Catholic college, committed to providing students with opportunities for success through rigorous academic majors, leadership opportunities, and professional internships. The campus culture emphasizes the Franciscan values of reverence, integrity, service, excellence, and stewardship. With more than 60% of students as the first in their families to attend college, Neumann has been recognized for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report for six consecutive years.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/neumann-university-receives-record-5-million-gift-for-nursing-scholarships-302662918.html

SOURCE Neumann University

ASTON, Pa., Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Neumann University has received a $5 million gift — the largest in its history by an individual — from William Fegley, Jr., and his wife Jacquelyn to support undergraduate nursing students in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. The family has designated $4.5 million for undergraduate nursing student scholarships and $500,000 for state-of-the-art laboratory equipment.

In recognition of the gift, the university’s BSN and graduate nursing programs were named The Jacquelyn Wilson Fegley ’71 College of Nursing at a January 16 ceremony at Neumann’s suburban Philadelphia campus.

Born and raised in Chester, Pennsylvania, Jacquelyn Wilson Fegley entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia after graduating high school in 1962, spending ten years in service and teaching before earning a nursing degree from Our Lady of Angels College (now Neumann University) in 1971. She went on to a nursing career, while her husband, William Fegley, built a career in public accounting and served as an adjunct professor and lecturer. The couple married in 1974. Today, they have five children and 11 grandchildren.

Neumann University will begin awarding the Fegley scholarships this fall. Criteria include academic achievement and financial need. Fifteen new students each year will benefit, receiving $6,000 annually ($24,000 over four years).

Nursing is the largest undergraduate major at Neumann University, with approximately 120 students per year accepted into the program. Over the last four years, Neumann’s nursing graduates have achieved an impressive 96.9% first-time test-takers pass rate on the exam required for licensure as a Registered Nurse. During the same four-year period, the first-time test-takers pass rate was 89.98% in Pennsylvania and 86.33% nationally.

“This extraordinarily generous gift comes at a time when the demand for highly competent, practice-ready nurses continues to grow nationwide,” said Dr. Chris Domes, president of Neumann University. “The Fegley nursing scholarships will help transform the lives of countless aspiring nurses, including many first-generation college students, by supporting their academic journey to a lifelong professional career.”

Neumann University is an independent, Catholic college, committed to providing students with opportunities for success through rigorous academic majors, leadership opportunities, and professional internships. The campus culture emphasizes the Franciscan values of reverence, integrity, service, excellence, and stewardship. With more than 60% of students as the first in their families to attend college, Neumann has been recognized for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report for six consecutive years.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/neumann-university-receives-record-5-million-gift-for-nursing-scholarships-302662918.html

SOURCE Neumann University