Clean Energy & Critical Minerals Support Schemes – 2026 Update

Clean Energy & Critical Minerals Support Schemes – 2026 Update

As the global clean energy transition accelerates, governments and industry players are expanding policy support for renewables, critical minerals supply chains, clean technology manufacturing, and energy resilience. These schemes are crucial not just to hit climate goals — they also shape economic prospects, supply chain security, and investment flows in 2026 and beyond.

🔋 What Are Critical Minerals and Why They Matter

“Critical minerals” are natural resources essential for clean energy technologies — like lithium, nickel, cobalt, rare earth elements (REEs), copper and graphite — used in batteries, EVs, wind turbines, semiconductors and defence systems. Supply disruptions or over-reliance on a few countries could slow the clean energy transition and expose economies to geopolitical risk.

🧠 Global Support Schemes Driving the Clean Energy Transition in 2026

🇺🇸 United States – Strategic Stockpiles & Supply Chain Security

In a major 2026 initiative, the U.S. government launched Project Vault, a $12 billion strategic critical minerals stockpile designed to counter China’s dominance in global rare earth and critical mineral supply chains. The stockpile will hold roughly a 60-day emergency supply of key minerals like lithium, copper and rare earth elements and includes public and private funding components.

This move complements broader U.S. efforts to strengthen domestic production, processing and recycling of critical minerals, and promote clean energy manufacturing.

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🇮🇳 India – Budget 2026 Focus on Clean Energy & Rare Earth Value Chains

In the Union Budget 2026-27, India placed strong emphasis on critical minerals as part of its clean energy and industrial strategy:

• Customs duty reliefs on solar glass inputs, lithium-ion battery machinery, and critical mineral processing equipment to lower input costs for clean energy manufacturers.
• Dedicated Rare Earth Corridors planned in mineral-rich states (Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu) to integrate mining, processing, research and manufacturing.
• Expanded incentives for critical minerals exploration and domestic value-chain development.
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🇬🇧 United Kingdom – Vision 2035 & Industrial Competitiveness

The UK’s Vision 2035 Critical Minerals Strategy is unlocking new support mechanisms for energy-intensive industries, including critical minerals:

• British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) aims to reduce electricity costs for energy-heavy manufacturers from 2027.
• Expanded relief under the Network Charging Compensation Scheme from 2026 to further lower electric costs.
• Up to £50 million in bespoke grants to support commercialisation of critical mineral projects.

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🇨🇦 Canada – Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund

Canada’s Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF) is allocating up to $1.5 billion until 2030 to build infrastructure enabling mineral supply chain development, including energy grid connections and transport access for clean energy and mining projects.

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🇦🇺 Australia – Production Tax Incentives & Grants

Australia’s Production Tax Incentives for Critical Minerals and Renewable Hydrogen are now law, providing a 10 % refundable tax offset for processing and refining eligible critical minerals and supporting renewable hydrogen production — part of the broader Future Made in Australia plan.

The government has also announced $21 million in new grants to diversify critical minerals supply chains and create hundreds of jobs.

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🌍 Why These Schemes Matter for 2026 & Beyond

🔹 Supply Chain Resilience – Strategic reserves and diversification efforts reduce exposure to single-source dependencies and global market volatility.
🔹 Innovation & Jobs – Funding schemes are driving clean energy manufacturing, R&D commercialization, and high-skilled employment.
🔹 Climate Targets – Incentives accelerate adoption of EVs, battery storage, and renewable generation — key to net-zero pledges.
🔹 Investor Confidence – Clear policy signals encourage private investment into clean energy and critical mineral projects.