Energy and battery commodity prices

The materials behind a battery, a solar module, a wind turbine and the grid that connects them — with a year of history, a note on what each one actually drives, and an honest statement of what has no public price at all.

How to read this. Prices are the last daily close (24 August 2026), taken from Yahoo Finance at build time and last refreshed on 2026-08-24. This site is a static export with no server, so these are not live ticks — they are a dated snapshot, rebuilt when the site is. Everything on the row — price, changes, sparkline and the 52-week range — is computed from the same closing series, so it is internally consistent.

Rows marked listed proxy are exchange-traded funds, not material prices. They are here because the underlying material has no free public feed, and they should be read as sector sentiment only. Nothing here is investment advice or a quotation.

Metals and materials

Copper
USD / lb
6.56
1 day
−0.36%
1 month
+3.73%
1 year
+46.78%
In everything that moves electricity — motor windings, pack busbars, cabling, transformers and the grid itself. The single most exposed metal in electrification.
52w 4.41–6.70
Aluminium
USD / tonne
3,387
1 day
−2.74%
1 month
−3.99%
1 year
+34.04%
Pack enclosures, busbars, solar module frames and mounting, and overhead conductors. Light, conductive and energy-intensive to smelt, so its price tracks power prices.
52w 2,489–4,195
Silver
USD / troy oz
68.98
1 day
−0.71%
1 month
+17.59%
1 year
+78.34%
The metallisation paste on a solar cell. Roughly a tenth of global silver demand is photovoltaic, which is why solar and silver now move together.
52w 38.58–115.08
Steel (US hot-rolled coil)
USD / short ton
1,212
1 day
+1.51%
1 month
+4.84%
1 year
+45.67%
Wind turbine towers, storage container shells, racking and mounting structures. Usually the largest single tonnage in a wind or utility-scale project.
52w 793.00–1,212
Iron ore (62% Fe, CFR China)
USD / tonne
95.21
1 day
+0.05%
1 month
−3.22%
1 year
−6.29%
Upstream of every tonne of that steel, and the earliest signal that structural costs are about to move.
52w 93.66–111.42

Instrument	Last	1 day	1 month	1 year	Trend
CopperUSD / lbIn everything that moves electricity — motor windings, pack busbars, cabling, transformers and the grid itself. The single most exposed metal in electrification.Traded commodity	6.56	−0.36%	+3.73%	+46.78%	52w 4.41–6.70
AluminiumUSD / tonnePack enclosures, busbars, solar module frames and mounting, and overhead conductors. Light, conductive and energy-intensive to smelt, so its price tracks power prices.Traded commodity	3,387	−2.74%	−3.99%	+34.04%	52w 2,489–4,195
SilverUSD / troy ozThe metallisation paste on a solar cell. Roughly a tenth of global silver demand is photovoltaic, which is why solar and silver now move together.Traded commodity	68.98	−0.71%	+17.59%	+78.34%	52w 38.58–115.08
Steel (US hot-rolled coil)USD / short tonWind turbine towers, storage container shells, racking and mounting structures. Usually the largest single tonnage in a wind or utility-scale project.Traded commodity	1,212	+1.51%	+4.84%	+45.67%	52w 793.00–1,212
Iron ore (62% Fe, CFR China)USD / tonneUpstream of every tonne of that steel, and the earliest signal that structural costs are about to move.Traded commodity	95.21	+0.05%	−3.22%	−6.29%	52w 93.66–111.42

Hydrogen and catalysts

Platinum
USD / troy oz
1,898
1 day
+0.55%
1 month
+19.10%
1 year
+42.51%
Catalyst in PEM electrolysers and fuel cells. Its cost is one of the reasons green hydrogen is still expensive per kilogram.
52w 1,332–2,852
Palladium
USD / troy oz
1,358
1 day
+0.67%
1 month
+8.89%
1 year
+24.83%
Mostly a petrol-engine catalyst — worth watching precisely because electrification is what erodes its demand.
52w 1,082–2,170

Instrument	Last	1 day	1 month	1 year	Trend
PlatinumUSD / troy ozCatalyst in PEM electrolysers and fuel cells. Its cost is one of the reasons green hydrogen is still expensive per kilogram.Traded commodity	1,898	+0.55%	+19.10%	+42.51%	52w 1,332–2,852
PalladiumUSD / troy ozMostly a petrol-engine catalyst — worth watching precisely because electrification is what erodes its demand.Traded commodity	1,358	+0.67%	+8.89%	+24.83%	52w 1,082–2,170

Energy

Brent crude
USD / barrel
93.10
1 day
−1.37%
1 month
−3.80%
1 year
+35.32%
Sets diesel and freight costs, so it shows up in the landed price of an imported battery and in every diesel-versus-storage comparison.
52w 58.92–118.35
WTI crude
USD / barrel
85.71
1 day
−1.55%
1 month
−4.03%
1 year
+32.27%
The US benchmark. The Brent–WTI spread is a quick read on whether a move is global or regional.
52w 55.27–112.95
Natural gas (Henry Hub)
USD / MMBtu
2.78
1 day
+0.11%
1 month
−3.31%
1 year
+2.97%
Sets the marginal cost of power in many grids, and therefore the value of shifting a kilowatt-hour from one hour to another.
52w 2.52–7.46
Gasoline (RBOB)
USD / gallon
3.00
1 day
−10.45%
1 month
−11.71%
1 year
+39.56%
The fuel an electric two- or three-wheeler is displacing. When it rises, every cost-per-kilometre comparison moves in electricity's favour.
52w 1.68–3.77

Instrument	Last	1 day	1 month	1 year	Trend
Brent crudeUSD / barrelSets diesel and freight costs, so it shows up in the landed price of an imported battery and in every diesel-versus-storage comparison.Traded commodity	93.10	−1.37%	−3.80%	+35.32%	52w 58.92–118.35
WTI crudeUSD / barrelThe US benchmark. The Brent–WTI spread is a quick read on whether a move is global or regional.Traded commodity	85.71	−1.55%	−4.03%	+32.27%	52w 55.27–112.95
Natural gas (Henry Hub)USD / MMBtuSets the marginal cost of power in many grids, and therefore the value of shifting a kilowatt-hour from one hour to another.Traded commodity	2.78	+0.11%	−3.31%	+2.97%	52w 2.52–7.46
Gasoline (RBOB)USD / gallonThe fuel an electric two- or three-wheeler is displacing. When it rises, every cost-per-kilometre comparison moves in electricity's favour.Traded commodity	3.00	−10.45%	−11.71%	+39.56%	52w 1.68–3.77

Listed proxies

Lithium and battery technology
USD / shareproxy
76.61
1 day
+2.72%
1 month
+11.03%
1 year
+64.72%
Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF. A basket of miners and cell makers — sentiment on the battery chain, not a lithium price.
52w 46.36–91.62
Battery technology
USD / shareproxy
15.98
1 day
+3.56%
1 month
+10.28%
1 year
+45.94%
Amplify Lithium & Battery Technology ETF. Weighted differently from LIT; the gap between the two is itself informative.
52w 10.92–18.03
Rare earth and strategic metals
USD / shareproxy
80.75
1 day
+6.69%
1 month
+13.80%
1 year
+37.14%
VanEck Rare Earth ETF. The closest public read on neodymium and praseodymium, the magnets in direct-drive wind turbines and EV motors.
52w 57.35–109.53
Solar
USD / shareproxy
49.32
1 day
−0.82%
1 month
−8.19%
1 year
+17.74%
Invesco Solar ETF. Polysilicon and module prices have no free public feed; this is the tradable stand-in.
52w 40.96–73.93
Wind
USD / shareproxy
23.86
1 day
−0.29%
1 month
−1.97%
1 year
+24.01%
First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF. Turbine makers and wind operators.
52w 18.18–27.23
Uranium and nuclear
USD / shareproxy
46.07
1 day
+5.09%
1 month
+12.45%
1 year
+16.81%
Global X Uranium ETF. Firm low-carbon generation is storage's main competitor for the same job.
52w 37.52–61.81
Grid infrastructure
USD / shareproxy
180.93
1 day
−0.13%
1 month
+0.25%
1 year
+25.16%
First Trust Clean Edge Smart Grid ETF. Transformers, switchgear and transmission — the constraint that decides how much renewable capacity is usable.
52w 140.43–199.80
Clean energy (broad)
USD / shareproxy
17.59
1 day
−0.23%
1 month
−5.12%
1 year
+19.90%
iShares Global Clean Energy ETF. The widest of these baskets, useful as a benchmark for the others.
52w 14.16–23.75

Instrument	Last	1 day	1 month	1 year	Trend
Lithium and battery technologyUSD / shareproxyGlobal X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF. A basket of miners and cell makers — sentiment on the battery chain, not a lithium price.Listed proxy — not a material price	76.61	+2.72%	+11.03%	+64.72%	52w 46.36–91.62
Battery technologyUSD / shareproxyAmplify Lithium & Battery Technology ETF. Weighted differently from LIT; the gap between the two is itself informative.Listed proxy — not a material price	15.98	+3.56%	+10.28%	+45.94%	52w 10.92–18.03
Rare earth and strategic metalsUSD / shareproxyVanEck Rare Earth ETF. The closest public read on neodymium and praseodymium, the magnets in direct-drive wind turbines and EV motors.Listed proxy — not a material price	80.75	+6.69%	+13.80%	+37.14%	52w 57.35–109.53
SolarUSD / shareproxyInvesco Solar ETF. Polysilicon and module prices have no free public feed; this is the tradable stand-in.Listed proxy — not a material price	49.32	−0.82%	−8.19%	+17.74%	52w 40.96–73.93
WindUSD / shareproxyFirst Trust Global Wind Energy ETF. Turbine makers and wind operators.Listed proxy — not a material price	23.86	−0.29%	−1.97%	+24.01%	52w 18.18–27.23
Uranium and nuclearUSD / shareproxyGlobal X Uranium ETF. Firm low-carbon generation is storage's main competitor for the same job.Listed proxy — not a material price	46.07	+5.09%	+12.45%	+16.81%	52w 37.52–61.81
Grid infrastructureUSD / shareproxyFirst Trust Clean Edge Smart Grid ETF. Transformers, switchgear and transmission — the constraint that decides how much renewable capacity is usable.Listed proxy — not a material price	180.93	−0.13%	+0.25%	+25.16%	52w 140.43–199.80
Clean energy (broad)USD / shareproxyiShares Global Clean Energy ETF. The widest of these baskets, useful as a benchmark for the others.Listed proxy — not a material price	17.59	−0.23%	−5.12%	+19.90%	52w 14.16–23.75

Currencies

US dollar / Indian rupee
INR per USD
95.65
1 day
−0.12%
1 month
−1.26%
1 year
+9.53%
Cells, inverters and BMS boards are imported and priced in dollars. This line moves landed cost as much as the metals do, and it is the one most often left out of a quotation.
52w 87.33–96.88
US dollar / Chinese yuan
CNY per USD
6.72
1 day
−0.00%
1 month
−0.74%
1 year
−6.21%
Most of the world's cells are made in China, so the dollar–yuan rate sits underneath the price of nearly every pack.
52w 6.72–7.17

Instrument	Last	1 day	1 month	1 year	Trend
US dollar / Indian rupeeINR per USDCells, inverters and BMS boards are imported and priced in dollars. This line moves landed cost as much as the metals do, and it is the one most often left out of a quotation.Currency pair	95.65	−0.12%	−1.26%	+9.53%	52w 87.33–96.88
US dollar / Chinese yuanCNY per USDMost of the world's cells are made in China, so the dollar–yuan rate sits underneath the price of nearly every pack.Currency pair	6.72	−0.00%	−0.74%	−6.21%	52w 6.72–7.17

What is deliberately not here

The materials that matter most to a battery are the ones with the least price transparency. There is no free, public, real-time feed for any of the following, so rather than dress a sector fund up as a spot price, we are naming the gap.

Lithium carbonate: Spot is assessed by subscription services (Fastmarkets, Benchmark, SMM) and traded on GFEX in China. No free public feed.
Cobalt and nickel sulphate: LME nickel is licensed data; battery-grade sulphate is a separate assessed market again.
Graphite (anode): Almost entirely contracted bilaterally, with Chinese export licensing on top. No transparent market price.
Polysilicon and solar modules: Assessed weekly by PVInsights and similar, behind subscription.
Neodymium and praseodymium: Chinese domestic pricing dominates and is not freely published.

Where we quote a lithium carbonate price in an article — as in our piece on the 2026 rebound — it is taken from named published reporting on the date of writing and cited there, not from this page.

These prices are inputs, not answers. To see what they do to a specific decision, the BESS, mobility and home energy calculators each let you move the cost inputs and watch the answer change. Dated analysis of what the market is doing lives in news.

Price data via Yahoo Finance, retrieved at build time. Provided for information only, without warranty of accuracy or timeliness; verify against a primary source before relying on any figure commercially. Not investment advice.