Global Scans · Construction · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: 65 per cent of global construction growth for the next decade will happen in emerging markets. Smart cities, sustainable construction, greater urbanization and pre-fabricated buildings will all play their part in future construction growth.

• [New] Construction spending on commercial fusion plants will reach $73.1bn per year by 2040, more than three times the $20bn worth of electricity it expects them to generate by then. Electricity Info
• [New] America aims to deploy 35 GW of new nuclear capacity by 2035 - a target requiring an unprecedented construction acceleration. Energy Projects Conference 2026
• [New] Abu Dhabi, which left OPEC in May to pursue an ambitious growth strategy, is now accelerating construction of a second pipeline to double export capacity via Fujairah by 2027. MarineLink
• [New] To comply with all existing directives by 2040, the investment shortfall is estimated at €82 billion per year, half of which is concentrated in a few sectors: construction (€18 billion), vehicles and batteries (€ 10-12 billion), and electronic and textile waste. Institut Jacques Delors
• [New] 'Zero-emission' will become the standard for new buildings owned by public bodies from 2028 and for all new buildings from 2030. Energy
• [New] For non-residential buildings, such as offices, schools or hospitals, minimum energy performance standards will trigger the renovation of the 16% worst-performing buildings by 2030 and of the 26% worst-performing buildings by 2033. Energy
• [New] EU countries are developing their own national building renovation plans to transform residential and non-residential buildings, both public and private, by 2050. Energy
• [New] With half of the buildings that will exist in 2050 still yet to be built or renovated, the choices made today will shape emissions, energy use and quality of life for generations. UNEP - UN Environment Programme
• [New] As a new technology, artificial intelligence in construction will approach RUB 4.5 billion by 2026. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Extreme droughts in East and Southeast Asia have limited purified water availability for semiconductor fabrication and copper ore processing in key South American mining regions, exposing vulnerabilities throughout high-tech supply chains. GOV.UK
• [New] Starting in 2028, property owners with buildings larger than 50,000 square feet will have to track and report their emissions for the previous year. ecoRI News
• [New] The NYPA is soliciting requests for qualifications in building a 1 GW nuclear power plant with construction starting no later than 2032 to qualify for federal tax credits. National Conference of State Legislatures
• [New] New York Gov. Kathy Hochul took two steps toward deploying new commercial nuclear reactors announcing solicitations for workforce training and for a developer to start construction of at least one new reactor by 2032. National Conference of State Legislatures
• [New] The construction of a USD 10 Billion green hydrogen project in Mexico will commence in 2026, with operations expected to begin in 2028. IMARC Group
• [New] Some data centers that are currently under construction will use more energy than large cities. CNet
• [New] While most carriers continue to maintain a firm $5M maximum line, greater competition in tower construction has created opportunities to broaden coverage without a corresponding increase in overall program cost. Wholesale & Specialty Insurance | CRC Group
• Set to finish construction in 2027, the Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak, is expected to be the first reactor to successfully generate electricity from fusion in human history. / China BGR
• A large portion of planned 2027 data center capacity has not yet started construction. / USA Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• Construction on a $10bn green hydrogen project in Mexico is set to begin in 2026, with operations scheduled to start in 2028. FuelCellChina, the Leading Information Hub of Hydrogen
• Simultaneously investing in new public housing construction and renewal and repairs of existing buildings could bring $102 billion in economic and social value to the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Future of Good
• Rio Bravo Pipeline Project: A 138-mile pipeline originating in Texas with a capacity of up to 4.5 Bcf/d, which will deliver feedgas to NextDecade's under construction Rio Grande LNG export terminal. EIA - Energy Information Administration
• Private housing output, the largest construction subsector, is forecast to fall by 7% in 2026 and remain flat in 2027. Construction News

Last updated: 24 June 2026