Global Scans · Affordable and Clean Energy · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

• [New] The UAE has been rapidly expanding on its green energy ambitions, with plans to generate most of its electricity through renewables by 2050. Khaleej Times
• [New] The renewable energy storage segment is projected to grow at a remarkable CAGR of 7.2% from 2026 to 2032. 6wresearch
• [New] Sodium-ion batteries will enter mass production in the fourth quarter, and has signed the world's largest 60 GWh energy storage sodium battery order. Ebak Battery
• [New] Alongside targets for electrification, energy efficiency and the circular economy, Turkey set a goal of halving growth in global waste by 2035. Lowy Institute
• [New] Semi-transparent solar cells that could be added to windows to efficiently harvest energy from indoor light as well as the sun have been developed by an international team led by UCL researchers. University College London
• [New] The European Union has made all homes 90% energy efficient by 2030. Straits Research
• [New] Retailer Coles and Origin are expanding their renewable-energy partnership, which will see the installation of 15 MW of solar at 75 sites, as well as 15 MWh of battery assets. Sustainability Online - A business news platform with a
• [New] The UAE targets net zero by 2050, and its energy strategy aims for 32% clean energy by 2030, with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, targeting 8,000 MW by 2030 and nuclear as its principal vehicles. OBSERVER RESEARCH FOUNDATION ( ORF )
• [New] Ghana aims to incorporate 1,000 megawatts of nuclear power into its energy mix, targeting construction initiation around 2027. RUSSIA'S PIVOT TO ASIA
• [New] China's National Energy Administration reported over 130 GW of distributed solar PV installed nationwide as of end-2023, with a target to achieve 1,200 GW of combined solar and wind by 2030. Persistence Market Research
• [New] By 2027, more facilities are expected to invest in smart energy management systems that continuously monitor consumption and optimize building performance. BMA
• [New] Growth in battery energy storage systems is expected to accelerate alongside expanding renewable generation, with the IEA identifying BESS as the fastest-growing power technology at present. Westpac IQ
• [New] LNG markets continue to support the relative cost competitiveness of thermal coal, while shifting energy security priorities across Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have driven increased coal procurement as a hedge against LNG supply disruption. Westpac IQ
• [New] At no point was there a risk to the wider energy system, but it marks an apparent escalation in the threat posed by Iran to UK infrastructure. The Guardian
• [New] Developing heat network infrastructure will bring significant economic and social benefits to the local communities they serve across the whole of the UK, as well as delivering bill savings to all customers of the energy system. Energy UK
• [New] In January, NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy announced a renewed agreement to develop a lunar surface reactor by 2030, with the work explicitly connected to future Mars missions. New Space Economy
• [New] The federal government's Capacity Investment Scheme has been expanded to a 40 GW target by 2030, alongside the Rewiring the Nation program and state-level Renewable Energy Zone commitments across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia. Fuse Recruitment
• [New] Rising demand for critical battery minerals is expected to remain the primary growth driver, supported by accelerating electric vehicle production and the global transition toward clean energy technologies. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Combining renewables with energy storage and balancing power, like engine power plants, could reduce global system costs by €65 trillion over the next 25 years, compared to a renewables-only pathway. Wartsila

Last updated: 30 August 2026