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] Citi forecasts CATL's sales will grow 31% in 2026, with energy storage batteries jumping 45% and EV batteries rising 27%. youth4planet
• [New] By 2030, electric vehicles are no longer forecast to be an emerging alternative powertrain, but rather the default direction of the global automotive industry, reshaping manufacturing, energy systems, and consumer expectations. heycar
• [New] While energy storage retains eligibility for IRC Section 48 E through 2032, solar and wind projects now face significantly tighter timelines. Novogradac
• [New] Global renewable energy capacity is expected to more than double by 2030. WPHM
• [New] Western dependency on Chinese battery materials is recognised as a profound strategic and commercial risk, especially for AI, defence, and energy independence, which is likely to trigger further tariff actions and legislative moves. Wartsila.com
• [New] With the right federal policies, the hydropower industry has the potential to create jobs in every state, building a 21st century clean energy infrastructure. / USA National Hydropower Association
• [New] Following the NREL Marine Energy in the United States: An Overview of Opportunities, the NHA MEC developed a U.S. Marine Energy Commercialization Strategy calling for domestic marine energy deployment targets of at least 50 MW by 2025, 500 MW by 2030, and 1 GW by 2035. National Hydropower Association
• [New] The International Energy Agency today set out a range of demand-side actions that governments, businesses and households can take to alleviate the economic impacts on consumers of the disruptions to oil markets stemming from the war in the Middle East. IEA
• [New] Combined with nuclear energy, the share of low-emissions sources is forecast to reach 84% by 2030. IEA
• [New] Low-emissions energy sources - renewables, led by solar, and nuclear - will see their share in global electricity generation rise to 50% through 2030, up from 42% in 2025. IEA
• [New] In 2026-2030, more than 400 GW of net renewable energy capacity is projected to be added, with 70% coming from solar PV alone. IEA
• [New] SPARC is designed to prove net energy generation and is expected to reach first plasma by the end of 2026. Whalesbook
• [New] LONGi Green Energy and Jinko Solar have announced plans to substitute silver with copper in photovoltaic cells, with mass production expected in Q2 2026. CSFX Research
• [New] Energy Storage: The Megapack business is on track to represent 20% of Tesla's total profit by 2027, providing a stable counter-cyclical hedge to auto sales. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] Two connected clusters in South-West Wales will target energy security and materials security, including scaling offshore wind, hydrogen and critical materials processing. National Technology News
• [New] As hydrogen continues to play a growing role in the energy mix, a Hydrogen Hub on the show floor will also feature innovative sessions exploring green hydrogen production, state-of-the-art storage technologies and practical strategies to strengthen the UK's hydrogen economy. Yahoo News UK
• [New] Global electricity consumption from data centers is projected to double from 460 TWh in 2022 to more than 1,000 TWh by 2026, highlighting the urgent need for energy-efficient data center technologies. P&S Intelligence
• [New] With growing production and EoL supply of LFP, solely using EoL LFP EV batteries in second use applications is sufficient to meet the annual stationary energy storage demand in California by 2050. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The long-duration energy storage landscape in 2026 is characterised by technology pluralism - no single solution dominates across all use cases, and the optimal portfolio depends on discharge duration requirements, geographic constraints, risk tolerance, and time horizon. PatSnap
• [New] Several countries pledge to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, a commitment reflected in national strategies that emphasize solar, wind, and grid integration, creating clear pathways for electrolyzer expansion. MarkNtel Advisors
• [New] China aims to increase non-fossil fuel energy usage to 30% of its total energy mix by 2035. J.P. MORGAN
• [New] Nearly four in five investors rate the sector as an attractive investment opportunity over the next five to ten years, making it the most attractive infrastructure segment ahead of Energy & Environment, Social, and Transport & Logistics. S-RM

Last updated: 05 April 2026