Global Scans · Energy · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: By 2025 solar energy will be the cheapest energy option globally. In 2040, oil and natural gas are expected to make up nearly 60 percent of global supplies, while nuclear and renewables will be approaching 25 percent. Improvements in energy efficiency in lighting and home appliances are expected to continue to push residential electricity use lower. The burning of coal will fall out of favor. Transportation energy consumption will be rising in correlation to growth in automated vehicles in the coming years.

• [New] Installed U.S. power capacity is forecast to grow 57% by 2050, with three eras: rapid solar energy growth (2025-2035), coal replacement (2035-2040) and steady nuclear expansion (2040-2050). Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Ev
• [New] Utilities around the world pledged $1 trillion in grid and renewable energy investments by 2030. The Verge
• [New] Renewable energy installations will peak in 2028 but remain competitive as tax credits phase out, thanks to strong PPA demand and low costs. / USA Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Ev
• [New] Added battery storage and demand-response resources mitigate shortfall risks in Texas, as in California and other states that have added significant new energy storage capacity over the past five years and introduced regulatory incentives to flex demand. Forbes
• [New] Mexico will add 19,954 MW of renewable energy and 5,000 MW of energy storage by 2030. Strategic Energy Europe
• [New] The IEA Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE Scenario) translates the 1.5 °C goal into a global pathway for the energy sector. IEA
• [New] Over 80% of the 2030 emissions reduction goal could be achieved at low cost, with measures in the energy sector offering 72% of the overall mitigation potential, followed by waste and agriculture. Euronews
• [New] U.S. energy needs will grow by as much as 20%, largely driven by data centers, artificial intelligence, and increased manufacturing. The Pew Charitable Trusts
• [New] To reach the EU's decarbonization goals, electricity's share in final energy demand must rise from around 23% today to approximately 32% by 2030 and nearly double to reach 50% by 2040. Passle
• [New] Fastest-Growing Subsegment: Energy Storage Systems (ESS) - Utility-scale ESS equipment will expand at a 14.2% CAGR during 2026-2034, propelled by grid resiliency goals, renewables integration, and utility procurement frameworks. Straits Research
• [New] Geopolitical shifts, reindustrialization efforts, and the imperative for resilient supply chains and resource security (including energy for AI) will make economic security a dominant investment theme in 2026, creating new opportunities for active investors. Goldman Sachs Asset Management
• [New] Federal and state policies, including the EPA's 2024 baseline targeting a 28-40% emissions reduction by 2030, California's Title 24 energy code, and tax incentives, have catalyzed US$ 70 Billion in M&A, exemplified by Blackstone's A$ 24 Billion (US$ 15.6 Billion) AirTrunk deal. Persistence Market Research
• [New] At international level, the EU has been instrumental in spear-heading the global pledge to double the rate of energy efficiency improvements worldwide, from about 2% to over 4% by 2030 - along with tripling the world's installed capacity of renewable energy sources. Energy
• [New] EU countries are working towards an ambitious energy efficiency target of reducing final energy consumption by at least 11.7% by 2030, compared to the 2020 projections for energy use in 2030. Energy
• [New] Digital technologies could reduce global carbon emissions by 15% through solutions in energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and transportation. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] Canada's nuclear investment led to the construction of the first four small modular reactors (SMRs) among the G7 countries - a historic advancement in nuclear energy that could produce enough energy to power 1.2 million Canadian homes. TechTarget
• [New] A cutting-edge consortium project called Understanding large and cOmplex Power sYstems will enable researchers to build the world's largest research cluster for real-time energy system studies. TU Delft
• [New] Meta, Google, and Microsoft all have 2030 carbon-negative or net-zero commitments, but they are also racing to build the biggest AI models that require the most energy-hungry infrastructure. The Tech Buzz
• [New] Renewable energy installations are expected to peak in 2028 but remain competitive, supported by ongoing demand for power purchase agreements and low costs. / USA Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Ev
• [New] The retirement of coal and the rise of new technologies will reshape regional generation mixes and drive innovation in grid reliability and energy sustainability. / USA Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Ev
• [New] Brent remains down nearly 15% YTD as rising global production continues to weigh on prices, even as geopolitical disruptions and sanctions on Russian energy firms offer intermittent support. MUFG Research
• [New] With less than five years remaining until 2030, and despite some global setbacks, decarbonization has become an irreversible international trend, driven by the rapid expansion of renewable energy and the strong commitment of citizens. Japan Climate Initiative
• [New] Energy systems around the world are contending with the impacts of climate change today, underscoring the urgent need to build greater resilience to rising weather-related risks, as well as to cyberattacks and other malicious activity. IEA

Last updated: 21 November 2025