With the advent of large-scale Longjing storage power stations, the fear of wasting electricity has vanished. No matter how many solar farms are constructed, the energy can now be captured with near-perfect efficiency. Thanks to the unique properties of the Longjing material, power loss during the charge and discharge cycles is almost non-existent, making it the ultimate medium for energy storage.
When the government officially unveiled the "New Energy Sunshine Project," the news sent shockwaves through global markets. While proponents of green energy cheered, the fossil fuel industry entered a period of mourning. Stocks for oil and coal giants began a relentless downward spiral that showed no signs of stopping.
The eyes of the world are now fixed on the first phase of the project: the Kubri Desert Solar Power Station and its accompanying Longjing storage facilities. Everyone is waiting to see if this massive undertaking can actually deliver the revolutionary results the government has promised.
Domestically, the scale of this national project has breathed new life into the manufacturing sector. The sheer volume of solar panels required for the project is staggering, providing a massive windfall for domestic photovoltaic giants. In the stock market, these companies have seen their shares hit the daily limit for ten consecutive days, with some seeing their total market value double or triple overnight.
Meanwhile, the international lithium battery industry is in a state of panic. Since Jason is sourcing a massive supply of Longjing materials from the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, domestic production has soared. However, the government has mandated that these superior batteries must first meet domestic demand before being approved for large-scale export.
Foreign lithium giants are currently surviving on the scraps of the low-end market, but they can see the writing on the wall. Many have already halted the construction of new factories and are desperately trying to sell off their existing lithium assets at bargain-basement prices. Outside of our borders, the battery industry is a bloody battlefield; stocks have been cut in half, and smaller companies are filing for bankruptcy every day.
The sudden shift in the energy landscape has left OPEC reeling. After initially trying to wait out the news, they have been forced into emergency meetings. They are caught in a desperate cycle—slashing production to prop up prices while simultaneously arguing that rising costs justify the hikes. The oil futures market has become a volatile roller coaster, leaving traders with weak hearts in a state of constant anxiety.
Even the most powerful leaders are feeling the pressure. President Putin of Russia, whose economy is heavily dependent on oil and natural gas exports, has been making urgent calls to the capital. He has requested multiple meetings, emphasizing the "deep friendship" between the two nations while offering to sign new energy contracts at significantly lower prices. He knows that if Russia loses this market to the "Sunshine Project," the economic fallout will be catastrophic.
The Middle Eastern princes are equally distressed. Private jets worth hundreds of millions of dollars are landing at the capital airport daily as these leaders arrive to plead their case. They always knew the oil era would end, but they expected it to happen fifty years from now. The breakthrough of the Longjing battery has dragged that future into the present, leaving them with no time to diversify their economies. Watching their wealth evaporate as oil prices tank, many are left in a state of silent desperation.
As BYD and Ningde Times fully embrace Longjing technology, older battery types like lithium iron phosphate are being abandoned entirely. This technological leap has allowed domestic phone manufacturers to redefine the smartphone market. Because the batteries are so efficient, phones can now be designed thinner and more elegantly without sacrificing power, leading to an unprecedented sales boom.
Foreign consumers are so desperate for these long-lasting devices that a new "gray market" has emerged. Backpackers who used to smuggle iPhones into the mainland are now doing the opposite—buying domestic high-capacity phones, taking them to places like Hong Kong, and selling them globally for double the price.
Tim Cook has been in the country for over two weeks, desperately trying to negotiate with the Department of Commerce while remotely managing Apple's global price-cutting strategy. He knows that his devices, with their modest batteries and "ancestral" slow-charging speeds, can't compete with the new tech. If the four major domestic brands are allowed to flood the international market, Apple's stock will face a blow from which it may never recover.
Not far behind him is Lee Jae-yong, the head of Samsung. Having recently put his legal troubles behind him, he skipped his rest to fly straight here. While Apple has a loyal "fanbase" that might stick with them out of habit, Samsung—operating in the same Android ecosystem as the domestic brands—is in much more immediate danger. As he looks over the latest market research reports, his expression remains grim.