Our Scans · (LF.7) 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] Orbital facilities could tap into abundant solar energy and avoid many of the environmental challenges faced on Earth. ScienceDaily
• [New] Electrifying the world - with electric vehicles, electric heating and cooling, and modernised heavy industry - could be the next biggest step towards phasing out fossil fuels, replacing the 80% of global energy that still comes from hydrocarbons. The Guardian
• [New] Britain's electricity network will require up to £240bn of upgrades to support clean power targets, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has admitted. Electricity Info
• [New] The approximately 500 TWh of energy and 560 billion liters of water consumed by data centers in 2025 is expected to double by 2030. Travers Smith
• [New] Energy used to power artificial intelligence could jump to 3% of global electricity demand by 2030, guzzling as much water as the 1.3 billion people in sub-Saharan Africa consume in one year to meet their domestic water needs. Live Science
• [New] Canada has the strong potential to grow its manufacturing base for renewable energy technologies, batteries and battery components, and other strategic applications, underpinned by its abundant low-emissions power and critical mineral resources. IEA
• [New] China is working toward a major nuclear fusion milestone that will put it leagues ahead in the global race to unlock the 'holy grail' of clean energy. Electricity Info
• [New] Renewable-energy-based hydrogen deployment is not expected to scale up until roughly 2035, and hydrogen-related energy infrastructure is expected to have multi-decade lifespans. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Mining lithium from the earth has proven to be very taxing from an energy and environmental standpoint, so pulling lithium directly from saltwater could be a very important future route. Futurity
• [New] The International Energy Agency's World Energy Investment 2026 report has highlighted mounting concerns about a structural copper supply deficit, with some analysis pointing to a potential shortfall of up to 30% by 2035 driven by electrification and AI data-centre demand. Kalkine
• [New] Copper sits at the center of the energy transition narrative, with analysts and international agencies warning of a potential structural supply deficit within a decade. Kalkine
• [New] For India and Southeast Asian countries, the year-round availability of the NSR will increase overall energy resilience by creating an alternative route that will dampen price surges during the frequent Middle East crises. Global Security Review
• [New] In cooperation with the EIB Group, the Commission will step up support to private investments in the next generation of clean energy technologies including, among others, long-duration energy storage, floating wind, floating solar, ocean energy (wave and tidal), and airborne wind energy. Energy
• [New] In the area of nuclear energy, the Commission and the EIB will address financing challenges associated with small modular reactors (SMRs) due to higher technology and deployment risks, in line with the SMR strategy. Energy
• [New] Energy efficiency financing will be strengthened, notably through increasing the capacity of the InvestEU Sustainability Guarantee product, managed by the European Investment Fund. Energy
• [New] Optimism is rising that we are inching closer to a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but even with a deal, global energy prices will likely remain elevated until at least early 2027. investing.com
• [New] Data center energy and water use are expected to double by 2030. ASLA
• [New] The danger of a third world war manifests when global superpowers deploy heavy naval assets to secure energy routes. chapters
• [New] As ongoing global political conflicts, particularly between the US, Israel, and Iran, continue to disrupt global oil markets, driving prices higher and threatening Asia's energy security, Asia's heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels is acutely exposed to economic risks. Fossil Fuel Treaty
• [New] Energy costs are projected to stay elevated or climb further into July as strategies for reducing inventories come under scrutiny. IndexBox Inc.
• [New] Energy inflation is projected to peak at 12.5% in the third quarter of 2026, to fall sharply in 2027 owing to lower energy commodity prices and negative base effects, and to rise again in 2028 with the introduction of ETS2. European Central Bank
• [New] Airbus and Renault have a joint R&D agreement targeting roughly double current energy densities to enable hybrid and electric medium-haul aircraft by the 2030s. New Atlas
• [New] Kuantyrov highlighted opportunities in renewable energy, citing Kazakhstan's wind and solar potential and ongoing efforts to develop a green hydrogen industry. The Astana Times

Last updated: 22 June 2026