Daily Digest for

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities proposes the Garden State Energy Storage Program to deploy 2,000 MW by 2030, launching Phase 1 in 2025 targeting 350–750 MW transmission procurement (at least 1,000 MW over multiple SFYs), with fixed incentives (10–20 year payouts), distributed blocks (target $300/$200/$150 per kWh with OBC adders) and application fees of $200/MW plus up to $100,000/MW pre-development security.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Denmark (led by Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen) signed an MOU on Aug 22, 2025 to cooperate on climate resilience, clean energy, technology, and cyber resilience — including a commitment to pursue carbon neutrality by 2045; full MOU text published.

The UK Trade Remedies Authority published a Statement of Essential Facts on 22 Aug 2025 proposing ad‑valorem anti‑dumping duties on Chinese biodiesel — 15.68% for Zhuoyue Group and cooperating exporters, 54.64% for other exporters — with stakeholder submissions due by 22 Sept 2025.

JICA and the African Development Bank signed an MoU at TICAD9 to launch EPSA6, targeting up to $5.5 billion in joint financing for 2026-2028 and adding resilience as a priority; EPSA has mobilized $12 billion since 2005.

UN delegates met at UN Headquarters to advance the high seas biodiversity treaty—discussing rules, a Clearing-House Mechanism and secretariat location—with 139 signatures and 52 ratifications (60 needed), and a target for entry into force in late 2025 or early 2026 and a possible first COP in 2026.

Degas Limited will invest $100 million over four years to scale AI-driven satellite monitoring, precision agronomy and farmer financing to establish Ghana as Africa’s first AI-powered agricultural hub, with interest from Japanese investors.

The Industrial Technology Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs exhibited 31 technology outcomes at the “2025 Meet Greater South” pavilion in Kaohsiung, promoting southern Taiwan industry upgrades through AI pilot lines, high-value materials and startup applications.

• Main action: The Industrial Technology Bureau showcased 31 results and highlighted support for 15 research organizations to build AI pilot production lines; 85 AI pilot lines have been completed nationwide covering 29 key industries (fasteners, hand tools, water hardware, auto parts, machine tools, etc.). The pavilion is open to industry, SMEs and the public Aug 22–23 at Kaohsiung Exhibition Center (Booth A1-1).
• Background and partnerships: The bureau subsidized ITRI to develop an AIoT petrochemical pipeline monitoring system (deployed at CPC Dalin plant and LCY Chemical) offering 24-hour continuous analysis and early warning; Plastics Center partnered with Formosa Plastics-Tairilong, Chang Hsing Materials and Hanxiang Aerospace to develop a recyclable thermoplastic composite UAV process (S-shaped multi-bundle fiber stacking) that reduces process carbon by 40% and entered the Paris Air Show in June with a cooperation intention signed with CETIM (France). Startup highlights include IVC (UAV with <5% accident rate and >90% autonomous control; US order for 100 units) and SoEasy Technology (梭易科) winning an Enspyre award and collaborating with a Swedish electronics partner on ship automation/monitoring.

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Hon Velenkosini Hlabisa, announced the 2025–2030 IUDF vision and a set of concrete institutional and programmatic actions at the National Urban Forum 2025 to strengthen coordination, finance, technology uptake, climate resilience, and municipal capacity.

• Main announcement/action: Establish a National Urban Coordination Mechanism and an Intergovernmental Urban Leadership Forum to institutionalise cross-sphere accountability; commit to a 2025–2030 IUDF Implementation Plan centered on Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society coordination, Inclusive Urban Development, Innovation in Financing and Technology (including green bonds, land value capture, community crowdfunding, digital twins, AI, and IoT), Climate Resilience, and Strengthened Local Government Capacity (via the Intermediate City Municipalities Programme, Small-Town Regeneration Initiative, and Cities Support Programme).
• Background and concrete details: The IUDF was adopted by Cabinet in 2016 and the second Implementation Plan covered 2020–2025; lessons include improved spatial planning, pilot small-town regeneration and intermediate city support, and innovative financing approaches but gaps in fragmented implementation, municipal capacity, spatial inequality, and monitoring. Specific timelines: By 2026, every municipality must have a climate-resilient spatial development plan; the Minister also committed to publishing annual urban progress reports and aligning IUDF with the NSDF and National Development Plan 2030 ahead of U20 and WUF13 participation.

California and Denmark will sign a partnership advancing climate collaboration, technology, and innovation.

• Main announcement: A delegation from Denmark, led by Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Ambassador Jesper Møller Sørensen, will join Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday, August 22 at approximately 9:45 a.m. in San Francisco County to sign a partnership focused on climate collaboration, technology, and innovation.
• Event details & access: The event will be livestreamed via the Governor’s Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram pages and available to TV stations on LiveU Matrix; in-person attendance is open to credentialed media only with RSVP required by 11 p.m., August 21, location to be provided upon RSVP confirmation and there will be limited press Q&A.