Our Scans · Green Tech · Weekly Summary

• [New] Equinix and CyrusOne have announced plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, indicating that their data center facilities will be powered by carbon-free, renewable energy. Arizton Advisory & Intelligence
• [New] Findings from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory emphasize that balancing highly renewable power sectors will require scaling grid-scale and distributed diurnal energy storage capacity up to 200 gigawatts by mid-century. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The U.S. federal EV tax credit provides up to USD7,500 for qualifying new plug-in electric vehicles through 2032. Polaris
• [New] The IRA expanded and extended the investment tax credit for renewable energy to 30%, sometimes more, of installation costs all the way through 2032 before gradually phasing out. Spotlight PA
• [New] Countries capable of combining: renewable energy, nuclear power, smart grids, AI-based optimization systems, energy storage, semiconductor infrastructure and advanced cooling technologies will gain a decisive advantage in the emerging global order. Global Panorama
• [New] Microsoft is reconsidering aspects of its 2030 clean-energy targets due to soaring AI-related electricity demand. Global Panorama
• [New] Bangladesh will need to draw on hydropower from Bhutan and Nepal, as well as India's renewable potential, to meet its target of 30% renewable energy by 2040. ORF Middle East
• [New] Greenpeace has criticised the EU's response to the energy crisis triggered by the war on Iran as riddled with deep structural incoherence - warning that European governments have prioritised short-term fossil fuel subsidies over the clean energy transition. Euronews
• [New] Annual spending on electric vehicles will reach approximately US$ 2.2 trillion by 2035, while a further US$ 524 billion will be required for charging infrastructure between now and 2035. Green Building Africa
• [New] Launching the AI Environmental Transparency Initiative: Force major artificial intelligence companies to disclose the carbon, water, and land footprints of their operations, mandating that all data centers run on 100% renewable energy by 2030. Insights IAS
• [New] Countries rich in renewable potential are being locked out of the clean energy revolution, the UN chief maintained, pointing to African countries which receive only 2% of global clean energy investment even though they possess 60% of the world's best solar resources. UN News
• [New] Indonesia has ambitious energy goals, including adding almost 43 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2034. UN News
• [New] In Germany, the new Energy Efficiency Act provides that new data centers must use at least 10% of their generated waste heat, a threshold that will be gradually increased to reach 20% by the end of 2028. Jones Day
• [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] U.S. electricity demand hit record levels in 2025, with more growth expected in 2026 as the use of electric vehicles and energy-intensive artificial intelligence spreads. KUOW Public Radio
• Lithium-ion battery recycling, hydrometallurgical processing for battery-grade output production, direct recycling cathode active material recovery, and second-life battery systems before final recycling represent the highest-growth investment vectors through 2034. IMARC Group
• American Battery Technology Company has demonstrated direct recycling at pilot scale, with commercial-scale deployments expected by 2027-2028. IMARC Group
• The UK and Australia will work together on priority areas such as Australia's Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve, mobilization of finance, research and development and recycling collaboration. GOV.UK
• The United Nations has launched an AI Environmental Transparency Initiative calling on AI companies to disclose the carbon, water, and land-use impacts of their data centers and transition to renewable energy by 2030. MarketingProfs
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on AI companies to disclose the full environmental cost of their data centers and to power all data centers with renewable energy by 2030. Educational Technology and Change Journal
• Electric vehicles are expected to account for more than a quarter of all cars sold worldwide in 2026, marking a major increase from just 9% five years ago. Electric Cars Report
• The rapid expansion of electric vehicles is expected to have a significant impact on global road fuel consumption. Electric Cars Report

Last updated: 08 July 2026