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BHP (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) are collaborating to extract up to 200 million tonnes of iron ore under two non-binding memorandums of understanding.

The companies said on Wednesday (January 14) that mining and extraction will be performed at BHP’s Yandi and Rio Tinto’s Yandicoogina operations, which sit approximately 80 kilometres away from each other.

“This is a clear example of productivity in action — unlocking new opportunities by making the most of our existing resources,” said Tim Day, BHP Western Australia’s iron ore asset president.

“Together we will extend the life of these operations, create additional value, and further support Western Australian jobs and local communities,” added Matthew Holcz, Rio Tinto’s iron ore chief executive.

Under the agreement, BHP will also supply its Yandi Lower Channel deposit wet iron ore to Rio Tinto for processing at existing wet plants under agreed-upon commercial terms.

BHP’s Yandi is a part of an 85/15 joint venture between BHP, Mitsui & Co. (TSE:8031,OTCPL:MITSF) and Itochu (TSE:8001,OTCPL:ITOCF). It produced 257 million tonnes of iron ore in 2023, which BHP says is “enough to make steel for approximately 2,980 Sydney Harbour Bridges.”

The companies will also collaborate on the development of Rio Tinto’s Wunbye deposit, located at the Yandicoogina operation. Yandicoogina is one of Rio Tinto’s highest-producing iron ore mines, and according to the company was among the first to operate a fleet of autonomous haul trucks and drills.

“The operation produces Hamersley Iron Yandi fines — a product with low impurities that delivers a high-iron sinter — used by customers across East Asia and Southern China in their steelmaking process,” Rio Tinto states on its website.

For this partnership, BHP and Rio Tinto will progress a conceptual study, then an order of magnitude study.

Regulatory and joint venture approvals, along with engagement with traditional owners, will be required for any implementation. Subject to a final investment decision, first ore from both deposits is anticipated early next decade.

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (January 16) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ether price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$95,649.68, down by 1.5 percent over 24 hours.

Bitcoin price performance, January 16, 2025.

Bitcoin price performance, January 16, 2025.

Chart via TradingView

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$3,311.49, down by 2.0 percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

  • XRP (XRP) was priced at US$2.07, down by 3.3 percent over 24 hours.
  • Solana (SOL) was trading at US$143.12, down by 1.5 percent over 24 hours.

Today’s crypto news to know

Trump pushes emergency power auction, shifts AI energy costs

US President Donald Trump and several state governors are pressing the operator of the largest US power grid to hold an emergency auction that would force major data center operators to finance new electricity generation needed for AI growth.

According to the Financial Times, the proposal would require tech companies to bid for long-term power contracts, potentially underwriting roughly US$15 billion in new power plants whether or not the electricity is ultimately used.

The push targets PJM Interconnection, which supplies power across the US Northeast and Midwest and sits at the center of the country’s fastest-growing data center corridor.

The administration is framing the move as a response to rising household electricity bills, which have climbed 13 percent since early 2025 amid surging demand from AI infrastructure.

Belgium’s KBC becomes first bank to offer Bitcoin, Ether trading under MiCA

Belgium’s KBC Bank is set to let retail customers buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether directly through its Bolero investment platform starting mid-February, marking a first for the country’s traditional banking sector.

The launch follows the full implementation of the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which gives banks a clear legal pathway to offer crypto services.

Until now, Belgian investors largely relied on foreign exchanges or fintech apps to access digital assets.

The bank has completed the required Crypto-Asset Service Provider notification under MiCA, with oversight shared between Belgium’s market and central banking authorities. Under the framework, Bitcoin and Ether fall into a general category of crypto-assets rather than stablecoins.

ETH founder says blockchain is nearing its 2014 vision

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin says the network is finally delivering on its original 2014 vision, as a series of technical upgrades push the blockchain closer to scalable, decentralized application infrastructure.

Ethereum is now scaling, it is now cheap, and it is on track to get more scalable and cheaper thanks to the power of ZK-EVMs,’ Buterin posted on X.

His comments come as Ether climbed above US$3,300, reflecting renewed market confidence in the network’s long-term roadmap. Buterin also pointed to Ethereum’s shift to proof-of-stake, lower transaction fees, and advances in zero-knowledge scaling and sharding as foundational progress.

He acknowledged that competing narratives over the past several years distracted from the core mission, but argued the underlying technology has continued to strengthen. Improvements in decentralized messaging and privacy-focused tools were also cited as signs of ecosystem maturity.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Ontario has moved to fast-track Canada Nickel Company’s (TSXV:CNC,OTCQX:CNIKF,OTCQX:CNIKF) Crawford Nickel Project, positioning what is billed as the Western world’s largest nickel development as a cornerstone of the province’s push to secure domestic critical minerals supply chains.

Crawford is expected to attract roughly US$5 billion in investment and unlock what Ontario describes as the world’s second-largest nickel reserves, within the Timmins Nickel District.

The project includes plans for a large open-pit mine, two ore processing plants, associated mining infrastructure, and downstream facilities to produce nickel for stainless steel and electric vehicle markets.

“As President Trump takes aim at our economy, Ontario is moving at lightning speed to open this 100 per cent Canadian owned mine to create 4,000 jobs for Canadian workers,” said Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines.

“In 2026, our government is going full tilt to unlock one of the world’s largest nickel deposits that will supercharge our economy and help end China’s critical mineral dominance.”

Canada Nickel estimates the project will generate up to 2,000 jobs during construction and support about 1,300 direct jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs once in operation.

The company also projects the development could contribute more than US$70 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product over its lifetime, with US$67 billion attributed to Ontario.

The Ontario government said the Crawford project will advance under its newly launched “One Project, One Process” framework, making it only the second mining development to receive the designation since the program was introduced in October.

The streamlined approach is designed to consolidate permitting, reduce regulatory timelines, and provide greater certainty for large-scale projects deemed strategically important.

The provincial government said the new framework aims to cut mine permitting timelines by up to 50 percent, addressing a system that has historically taken more than a decade to approve major developments.

Under the model, the Ministry of Energy and Mines shall serve as a single one-stop-shop for provincial approvals and Indigenous consultation.

Local officials welcomed the move. “Fast-tracking the Crawford Nickel Project through the ‘One Project, One Process’ framework sends a strong message that Northern Ontario is open for business,” said George Pirie, the member of provincial parliament for Timmins.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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BHP (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP,OTCPL:BHPLF) and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO,OTCPL:RTPPF) are collaborating to extract up to 200 million tonnes of iron ore under two non-binding Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).

Mining and extraction will be performed at BHP’s Yandi and Rio’s Yandicoogina operations, which sit approximately 80 kilometres away from each other.

“This is a clear example of productivity in action – unlocking new opportunities by making the most of our existing resources,” said Tim Day, BHP WA Iron Ore Asset president.

“Together we will extend the life of these operations, create additional value, and further support Western Australian jobs and local communities,” added Matthew Holcz, Rio’s Iron Ore chief executive.

Under the MOU, BHP will also supply its Yandi Lower Channel Deposit wet iron ore to Rio Tinto for processing at its existing wet plants under agreed commercial terms.

The companies will also collaborate on the development of Rio Tinto’s Wunbye deposit, which sits in the Yandicoogina project.

BHP’s Yandi is a part of an 85:15 joint venture between BHP, and Mitsui (OTC Pink:MITSF) and Itochu (TSE:8001).

It holds a production record of 257 million tonnes of iron ore in 2023, which was described by BHP as “enough to make steel for approximately 2,980 Sydney Harbour Bridges.”

Meanwhile, Yandicoogina is regarded as one of Rio’s highest-producing iron ore mines, and among the first to operate a fleet of autonomous haul trucks and drills.

“The operation produces Hamersley Iron Yandi (HIY) fines—a product with low impurities that delivers a high-iron sinter—used by customers across East Asia and Southern China in their steelmaking process,” Rio wrote on its website.

For this partnership, BHP and Rio decided to progress a conceptual study, then an order of magnitude study.

Regulatory and joint venture approvals, along with engagement with traditional owners, will be required for any potential implementation.

Subject to a final investment decision, first ore from both deposits is anticipated early next decade.

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Company Strengthens Event Tech Infrastructure with Milestone AWS Migration and Enhanced Blockchain Credentialing

  • AWS Cloud Infrastructure Optimization

  • Smart Contract Uniformity

  • Flexible Asset Standards ERC721/ ERC1155

TORONTO, ON AND NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 16, 2026 / Nextech3D.ai (CSE:NTAR,OTC:NEXCF)(OTCQB:NEXCF)(FSE:1SS), an AI-first technology provider specializing in live event solutions, is pleased to announce it has finalized its integration with BitPay, a global leader in blockchain payment services. This integration, paired with significant backend infrastructure upgrades, strengthens the Company’s Phase 2 Blockchain Suite across its flagship platforms: KraftyLab, Map D, and Eventdex.

Strategic Technical Milestones Achieved

Over the past week, the Company successfully completed a series of critical technical migrations and deployments designed to enhance platform stability and scalability:

  • Smart Contract Uniformity: Integrated smart contract deployment across both backend and frontend systems to ensure a singular, verified contract version for all users.

  • Flexible Asset Standards: Enabled support for both ERC721 (for unique collectibles) and ERC1155 (for multi-tier ticket types) standards. This flexibility allows organizers to manage diverse assets-such as VIP and General Admission-within a single, cost-efficient contract.

BitPay Integration & Value Proposition

The BitPay integration enables Nextech3D.ai’s clients to settle transactions in over 100 digital assets. Industry data highlights the material benefits for merchants adopting blockchain payments:

The Road Ahead: Roadmap Highlights

With the foundational AWS migration complete, the Company is focusing on the final elements of its Q1 blockchain roadmap: Configurable Royalty Splitting: Finalizing logic to redirect 7-10% of resale value back to creators and organizers. Custodial Resale: Enabling ticket resale directly from custodial wallets to remove the technical friction for non-crypto-native corporate users.

CEO Commentary

‘Integrating BitPay is a logical step in our mission to modernize the experience economy,’ said Evan Gappelberg, CEO of Nextech3D.ai. ‘By providing our enterprise clients with versatile, secure payment options and blockchain-backed credentials, we are removing technical barriers to entry. We believe these updates contribute to our competitive position as we look to scale our offerings in 2026.’

He continues ‘Moving our backend to AWS containers while simultaneously launching BitPay provides the ‘Easy Button’ our enterprise clients demand. We are building a robust, high-margin foundation that positions Nextech3D.ai as a leader in the large and growing global ticketing and experience market.’

About Nextech3D.ai

Nextech3D.ai is an AI-first technology company specializing in live event solutions, 3D modeling, and spatial computing. Through its flagship Map D, Eventdex, and KraftyLab platforms, the company provides interactive floor plans, registration, ticketing, and blockchain-enabled credentialing for large Fortune 500 organizations worldwide including Google, Oracle, Microsoft, Netflix and others.

Website: www.Nextech3D.ai
Investor Relations: investors@nextechar.com

For further information, please visit: www.Nextech3D.ai.

Investor Relations: investors@nextechar.com

Sign up for Investor News and Info – Click Here

Evan Gappelberg /CEO and Director
866-ARITIZE (274-8493)

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking Statements The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute ‘forward-looking information’ under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, ‘will be’ or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results ‘will’ occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Nextech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Nextech3D.ai Corp

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

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BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) has raised US$12.5 billion for its artificial intelligence–focused infrastructure venture backed by Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), as the world’s largest asset manager deepens its push to support surging AI demand.

The capital raise advances a long-term fundraising target of US$30 billion set when the partnership was unveiled in 2024. This positions the venture as one of the largest private efforts aimed at financing AI-related infrastructure globally.

With the use of leverage, BlackRock has said the platform could ultimately support as much as US$100 billion in total investment.

The partnership also brings together BlackRock and its infrastructure unit Global Infrastructure Partners alongside Microsoft, Abu Dhabi–based investment vehicle MGX, NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), and xAI.

The group is focused on funding new and expanded data centers as well as the energy infrastructure required to power them, with the bulk of initial investments expected to be made in the US.

BlackRock’s recent assessment finds that energy and power infrastructure will become a primary beneficiary of AI-driven growth over the coming years.

In its latest Investment Directions report, which surveyed 732 Europe, Middle East, and Africa–based clients, BlackRock found that while AI remains central to investment thinking, enthusiasm for large US technology firms has cooled.

Only about one-fifth of respondents identified big tech as a compelling opportunity for 2026, signaling a shift after the strong rally in AI-related equities in 2025.

Instead, investors increasingly see power generation, grid upgrades, and related infrastructure as offering more durable returns as data center demand accelerates.

The AI infrastructure partnership was launched last year amid growing concern that constraints in electricity supply and grid capacity could slow the rollout of next-generation computing facilities.

By combining private equity capital with debt financing, the venture aims to scale investment quickly while spreading risk across a broad group of institutional backers.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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(TheNewswire)

Prismo Metals Inc.

 

Prismo’s Interest Currently Stands at 95% With Option for Full Control

Vancouver, British Columbia, January 16th, 2025 TheNewswire – Prismo Metals Inc. (‘Prismo’ or the ‘Company’) (CSE: PRIZ,OTC:PMOMF) (OTCQB: PMOMF) is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced transaction with Infinitum Copper Corp. (TSXV: INFI) (‘Infinitum’) whereby Prismo has increased its interest in the Hot Breccia copper project, located in the heart of Arizona’s prolific copper belt, from 75% to 95%. In addition, Prismo has obtained an irrevocable option to acquire Infinitum’s remaining 5% interest, providing a clear path to 100% interest in the project.

Alain Lambert, CEO of Prismo commented: ‘This transaction marks a significant milestone for Prismo and provides a clear mechanism to securing full ownership of Hot Breccia. It materially improves the strategic flexibility of the project.’

He added: ‘Prismo remains firmly committed to advancing Hot Breccia. The recent extension of certain milestone obligations under the option agreement with Walnut Mines LLC, the owner of the Hot Breccia claims, together with the completion of the transaction with Infinitum, provides the Company with additional flexibility as we evaluate a range of strategic alternatives. Each of these pathways’ goal is to drill what we consider to be one of the most compelling copper exploration opportunities in Arizona and the broader United States.

Dr. Linus Keating, manager of Walnut Mines LLC, enthusiastically commented: ‘Walnut Mines is solidly in favor of any action that moves Hot Breccia closer to a serious drill program. We are hopeful that this transaction will accomplish that goal in 2026. In our opinion, this property remains one of the best copper exploration opportunities in North America.’

Under the terms of the transaction, Prismo paid Infinitum CA $185,000 to acquire a 20% additional interest in the Hot Breccia project and assumed all of Infinitum’s remaining obligations under the existing option agreement with Walnut to issue shares to Walnut, which has been satisfied by the issuance to Walnut of 450,630 common shares at a deemed issue price of $0.11 per share. Prismo has also agreed to pay Infinitum 5% of any consideration received in connection with a transaction in which Prismo assigns its interest in Hot Breccia to a third party to acquire the 5% interest held by Infinitum.

Prismos Hot Breccia project lies at the heart of the Arizona Copper Belt, which hosts several globally significant porphyry copper deposits.  Examples of these significant deposits are Freeport McMoRan’s Miami-Inspiration mining complex, BHP’s San Manuel mine, Rio Tinto and BHP’s Resolution deposit and others (see Figure 1).  

 

Figure 1. Location of the Hot Breccia Project in the Arizona Copper Belt.

The Company wishes to update its January 12th, 2026 news release to confirm that the Company issued 2,250,000 units for gross proceeds of $225,000 and issued 140,000 Finder’s Warrants and paid finder’s commissions of $14,000 to a certain qualified finder. Each Unit consisted of one common share in the capital of the Company (a ‘Share‘) and one common share purchase warrant of the Company (a ‘Warrant‘). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Share for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the date of issue at an exercise price of $0.175. Prismo intends to proceed next week a final closing of 1,500,000 Units for gross proceeds of $150,000.

About Prismo Metals Inc.

Prismo (CSE: PRIZ,OTC:PMOMF) is a mining exploration company focused on advancing its Hot Breccia copper project in Arizona and its Palos Verdes silver project in Mexico.

Please follow @PrismoMetals on , , , Instagram, and

Prismo Metals Inc.

1100 – 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6  Phone: (416) 361-0737

Contact:

Alain Lambert, Chief Executive Officer alain.lambert@prismometals.com

Gordon Aldcorn, President gordon.aldcorn@prismometals.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends‘ or anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may’, could‘, should‘, would‘ or occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as ‘forwardlooking statements’, are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management’s expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the timing, costs and anticipated results of drilling at Hot Breccia; the ability of Prismo to fund drilling and pursue potential third-party partnerships; the Company’s strategic flexibility with respect to the Hot Breccia project going forward; the number of shares issuable by Prismo to Walnut pursuant to the transaction described in this news release; and the Company’s expectations regarding mineralization and other qualities of the Hot Breccia project.

These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: delays in obtaining or failure to obtain appropriate funding to finance the exploration program at Hot Breccia; the risk that the Company will not enter into a third-party partnership with respect to the Hot Breccia project; the risk that mineralization will not be as anticipated at the project; the risk that the Company will not be able to take advantage of geological information to refine drill targeting; metal prices; market uncertainty; and other risks and uncertainties application to exploration activities and the Company’s business as set forth in the Company’s disclosure documents available for viewing under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that: the ability to raise capital to fund the drilling campaign at Hot Breccia and the timing of such drilling campaign; the ability of the Company to enter into a third-party partnership on the project; that the project will have the anticipated mineralization and other qualities; and the  Company will be able to take advantage of geological information to refine drill targeting.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

Copyright (c) 2026 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

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The solar industry is turning to base metals and innovation to bypass the soaring silver price.

Silver’s exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity make it a critical material in the production of photovoltaics (PV). However, record-high prices are forcing key solar industry players to find more cost-effective alternatives.

In a September 2025 report, BNEF analysts note that silver represents about 14 percent of the total cost of production for solar panels, up from 5 percent in 2023. At the time, silver was trading in the US$42 to US$46 per ounce range.

Since then, the white metal’s price has exploded, hitting an all-time high of US$93.77 on Wednesday (January 14). That’s double the level it was in September, and a nearly 200 percent increase from the year before.

In an industry already fraught with intense competition, such a large leap in the price for a major component is unsustainable. In response, top manufacturers in China such as LONGi Green Energy Technology (SHA:601012) are turning to base metals and technological innovations to help manage solar panel input costs.

Solar panel makers bypassing silver

China dominates the global solar PV industry, representing more than 80 percent of worldwide manufacturing capacity across the supply chain, including polysilicon, wafers, cells and modules.

In early January, Bloomberg reported that starting in Q2, LONGi Green Energy is planning to start mass producing solar cells using base metals instead of silver in an effort to reduce costs.

Di Giacomo believes that because LONGi Green Energy is one of the solar industry’s technological leaders, its move away from silver marks a significant turning point for the sector.

Bloomberg notes that the company has joined the ranks of other Chinese solar manufacturers looking to sidestep silver’s price volatility. In December, JinkoSolar Holding (NYSE:JKS), which is headquartered in China, but listed in the US, said it was looking to roll out large-scale production of solar panels using base metals. Additionally, smaller firm Shanghai Aiko Solar Energy (SHA:600732) is producing 6.5 gigawatt solar cells without silver.

“Other major manufacturers, such as JinkoSolar and AIKO Solar, are also exploring silver-free technologies or solutions that minimize the use of this metal,” said Di Giacomo. “The convergence of efforts among leading players suggests this is not an isolated trend, but rather a structural shift in how solar panels are designed and manufactured.”

Is copper a viable alternative to silver?

Copper is the prized favorite among the base metals for swapping out silver.

While both metals have seen unprecedented price rallies on the back rising industrial demand from clean technologies and artificial intelligence, silver maintains an enormous premium over copper. Currency, the price of a troy ounce of silver is trading at about 22,000 percent higher than a troy ounce of copper.

“Although its conductivity is slightly lower, copper is far more abundant, cheaper and supported by a more diversified supply chain,” stated Di Giacomo. “These characteristics make it an attractive option for an industry seeking to scale production without exposure to bottlenecks in critical raw materials.”

The red metal may be a great electrical conductor, but it doesn’t match silver’s capabilities. There’s also the tendency for copper to oxidize and degrade, testing the long-term viability and reliability of copper-based solar components. For those reasons, subbing in copper presents technical challenges for PV makers.

One area of concern for replacing silver with copper is the high temperatures needed in the fabricating process for tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cells, the technology currently dominating the solar panel industry.

This might not be as big an issue for LONGi Green Energy, which manufactures back-contact (BC) cells. The technical processes for adapting copper to this new type of solar cell architecture is much simpler compared to TOPCon cells.

“New generations of copper-metallized cells are achieving efficiency levels increasingly close to those of traditional silver-based models,” said Di Giacomo. “In some cases, improvements are even being observed in mechanical strength and module durability, key factors for long-term solar installations and operation under demanding environmental conditions.”

BC cells have also been shown to generate more power from the same amount of sunlight compared to TOPCon cells. A white paper from renewable energy advisory company Rinnovabili states that field data indicates that BC modules are capable of producing up to 11 percent more energy over their lifetime compared to TOPCon technology.

How will substitution impact silver?

In a November 2025 report, the Silver Institute reported that industrial silver demand is projected to drop by 2 percent in 2025 to 665 million ounces. One of the contributing factors in the decline is an approximate 5 percent decrease in silver demand from the solar industry, even though the number of global PV installations set a new record high for the year. This is “due to a sharp drop in the amount of silver used in each module,” according to the firm.

“A sustained reduction in solar sector silver demand could alter market dynamics,” warned Di Giacomo.

However, at this point it’s too early to tell. For one, TOPCon technology is expected to account for 70 percent of the market in 2026. The cost of manufacturing BC cells is not expected to reach parity with TOPCon cells until the end of the decade, said Molly Morgan, senior research analyst at CRU Group, as reported by pv magazine.

“That’s why we believe we might see a coexistence of the two technologies in the 2028 to 2030 timeframe,” she said.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Will Rhind, CEO of GraniteShares, outlines his thoughts on gold and silver heading into 2026, noting that historical precedents point to higher prices.

‘Clearly when you look back on some of those other periods for gold — and silver particularly — where they went to all-time highs, then we could be talking about a lot higher prices,’ he said.

Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Syntholene Energy (TSXV:ESAF,FSE:3DD0) is a next-generation clean energy company developing high-performance, carbon-negative synthetic liquid fuels, with aviation as its initial target market. The company is commercializing its proprietary Hybrid Thermal Production System, a breakthrough technology designed to enable low-cost, large-scale production of ultrapure synthetic jet fuel (eSAF).

Syntholene targets production costs up to 70 percent lower than the nearest competing technologies, positioning its fuel to be cost-competitive with — and ultimately cheaper than — conventional fossil fuels. With a mission to deliver the world’s first truly high-performance, low-cost, and carbon-neutral eFuel at industrial scale, Syntholene aims to unlock a new era of affordable, sustainable aviation and clean energy solutions

Futuristic truck with Syntholene Energy fueling an airplane jet engine in a stylized, neon-lit setting.

Syntholene is progressing its Hybrid Thermal Production System from laboratory-scale validation toward a real-world demonstration facility in Iceland, leveraging abundant geothermal resources and long-term expansion potential.

Company Highlights

  • Proprietary Production Technology – Synthetic fuel (eFuel) produced through a fully integrated, proprietary pathway designed for superior performance and materially lower cost than conventional power-to-liquid methods
  • Low-Cost, High-Performance Fuel – Engineered to deliver high energy efficiency while significantly reducing production costs
  • Sustainable Feedstocks – Manufactured using renewable electricity, green hydrogen, and captured carbon
  • Ultra-Low Emissions – Delivers up to 90 percent lower lifecycle emissions compared to conventional jet fuel
  • Drop-In Compatibility – Fully compatible with existing aircraft engines and global fueling infrastructure
  • Scalable Clean Energy Solution – Designed for industrial-scale deployment to accelerate the transition to sustainable aviation fuel

This Syntholene Energy profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

Click here to connect with Syntholene Energy (TSXV:ESAF) to receive an Investor Presentation

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