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] The energy sector will see significant investment in 2026-27, both in domestic renewables capacity and in supporting greater production and export capacity in the natural gas sector. CNBC
• [New] As the world shifts towards low-carbon energy, the demand for AI-powered tools that predict market trends, balance transactions instantly, and optimize energy from networks to smart devices is expected to grow rapidly. Scientific Research Publishing
• [New] WETO is working to enable the nascent U.S. offshore wind industry by funding projects aimed at the development of planning, construction, and integration practices, which will ensure offshore wind energy is deployed in a cost-effective manner with minimal risk to the electrical grid. Energy.gov
• [New] Looking ahead, respondents overwhelmingly expect geopolitical rivalry and insufficient infrastructure investment to define risks to the energy system through the end of the decade. / Iran Atlantic Council
• [New] Global demand for critical minerals could triple by 2030 as EV adoption ramps up, renewable energy expands, and digital infrastructure continues to scale. GlobeNewswire
• [New] The total installed capacity of nuclear power plants worldwide is expected to increase by 2.6 times by 2050 compared to 2024 levels, marking one of the most significant structural shifts in the global energy system. AzerNews.az
• [New] Well-documented AI use cases have the potential to save over 13 exajoules of energy by 2035, equivalent to 3% of global final energy consumption, if barriers to wider uptake are overcome. IEA
• [New] Global economic activity is currently threatened by higher prices for energy commodities and other raw materials following the March escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, which is also undermining consumer and business confidence. Ministry of Finance CR
• [New] Major cloud service providers including Google, operating on 100% renewable energy, and Microsoft, pursuing carbon-negative commitments by 2030, establish market precedents motivating enterprise clients to prioritize sustainable colocation providers. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The long-term policy objective remains even more ambitious: China's 15th Five-Year Plan underscores nuclear energy as a linchpin of energy security, decarbonization, and industrial competitiveness, with official pledges to triple reactor capacity by 2050. FifthRow - Autonomous AI Apps for Research, Strategy, C
• [New] Attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 35% of global seaborne crude oil trade, have triggered the largest oil supply shock on record, with an initial reduction in global oil supply of about 10 million barrels per day. World Bank
• [New] Paul Chapman writes that escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly risks linked to Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, are reintroducing volatility into global energy markets. Transport Intelligence
• [New] Cameco recently signed a nine-year agreement to supply $2.6 billion worth of uranium to India's Department of Atomic Energy between 2027 and 2035, as India moves to grow its nuclear capacity. play 103.7 | Harvard Media
• [New] In a world of rising electricity demand and strategic risk, nuclear energy is becoming harder to overlook. Atlantic Council
• [New] Market Size & Forecast: The Directed Energy Weapons Market size is projected to reach USD 4.7 billion in 2026 and is anticipated to have a value of USD 12.9 billion in 2035. Dimension Market Research
• [New] The 2026 Iran war, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has led to what the International Energy Agency characterized as the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. Technocracy News
• [New] Australia will continue working with international partners to help secure the supplies we need - including diesel, petrol and fertiliser - and ensure Australia is prioritised as a reliable energy partner. CP24
• [New] Geopolitical Instability Is Reshaping Energy Transitions Recent geopolitical disruptions, particularly conflicts affecting global energy markets, are complicating decarbonization strategies. ResourceWise

Last updated: 01 May 2026