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] As Singapore prepares to take on the ASEAN chairmanship in 2027, it will continue working closely with ASEAN member states to strengthen regional cooperation, including on energy. ST
• [New] The appointment of a full minister to helm energy and industry could give energy issues greater weight and allow Singapore to pursue the long-term goals more consistently. ST
• [New] Singapore aims to import about 6 GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035 - about one-third of Singapore's energy demand. CNA
• [New] Researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have discovered that an ultra-thin version of a common material displays an electrical property that could make it a game-changer in the push toward energy-efficient microelectronic devices. AZOM
• [New] Reports this week that a new deal is being negotiated to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway, and thereby facilitate more energy exports, could help keep Treasury yields stable / lower while easing pressure on headline inflation in the months ahead. / Iran investing.com
• [New] Hopes for an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz have eased concerns over energy-driven inflation, while markets have lowered expectations for a Fed rate hike in September. investing.com
• [New] Moving the current average global efficiency rate of coal-fired power plants from 37.5% to 47.5% by deploying more advanced technology could cut 2 gigatons of CO2 emissions while allowing affordable energy for economic development and poverty reduction. Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
• [New] The International Energy Agency forecasted a record global oil surplus of 4.0 million bpd for 2026. Barchart.com
• [New] The IRENA's World Energy Transitions Outlook calls for a tripling of annual renewable power capacity additions from around 300 gigawatts to 1000 GW on average until 2030 globally. INTERNATIONAL DAYS
• [New] The more than 8,800-pound piece of space junk will hit the moon at around 5,400 miles per hour and with similar energy to three tons of TNT. Scientific American
• [New] The European Commission has postponed fines on oil and gas companies for methane emissions until 2030, citing concern over energy supplies and prices. Chemistry World
• [New] A partnership with Microsoft, using Microsoft Discovery, is supporting the development of machine learning models that predict and optimize chemical processes, including identifying materials for energy storage and the design of microbes with specific functions. AZOM
• [New] If SMR technology delivers at scale by the early 2030s, the long-term AI energy trajectory becomes sustainable. AI Business Weekly
• [New] Microsoft signed a $16 billion, 20-year deal to restart Three Mile Island Unit 1 - renamed the Christopher M. Crane Clean Energy Center - for 835 MW of nuclear power targeting 2028 operation, to secure carbon-free baseload power for its AI data centers per Zylos AI's energy research. AI Business Weekly
• [New] Data center electricity demand could rise 160% by 2030 per Zylos AIa scale that requires every available clean energy source simultaneously, not a choice between nuclear and renewables. AI Business Weekly
• [New] The European Commission expects to roll out regulations requiring data center operators to meet minimum WUE performance standards per Zylos AI's energy research. AI Business Weekly
• [New] Bloom Energy holds virtually every primary-load SOFC contract in the visible order book, a concentration that presents supply chain risk if demand accelerates faster than one manufacturer's production capacity. Rystad Energy
• [New] Energy demand from datacenters will more than double by 2030 to about 945 terawatt-hours, more than the energy consumption of Japan. The Guardian
• [New] Annual investment in nuclear energy needs to triple to USD 250 billion a year to meet projections of a more than tripling of capacity by 2050. World Nuclear News
• [New] Global disruption exposed the risk of relying on distant suppliers for critical components, particularly in defence, energy, electronics, and transport. Novo Executive Search and Selection
• Fastest-growing Application: The offshore segment is forecasted to grow the fastest through 2033, owing to expanding renewable energy projects, port development, and demand for specialized marine foundation solutions. Persistence Market Research
• New York State has expanded its energy storage ambitions, with the Public Service Commission approving a roadmap to deploy 6,000 MW of storage by 2030. Office of the New York City Comptroller Mark Levine
• Expanding distributed solar and storage across New York could generate approximately $1 billion in annual avoided energy costs by 2035, including $481 million in downstate benefits. Office of the New York City Comptroller Mark Levine

Last updated: 10 August 2026