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 UK's £15 billion Warm Homes Plan marks a pivotal investment in sustainable construction, accelerating the shift toward energy-efficient buildings with solar panels, heat pumps and advanced insulation. Whole Life Carbon
• [New] A bottleneck in hydrogen distribution infrastructure could jeopardise billions of pounds of clean energy investment and slow progress towards net zero. ""
• [New] With the Middle East's focus on diversifying energy portfolios and adopting cleaner refining technologies, investments in hydrogen infrastructure are expected to continue growing. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Leaders endorsed tripling renewables, doubling energy efficiency by 2030 and accelerating just energy transitions. ISS Africa
• [New] By 2050 mineral consumption driven by the energy transition will be close to 28 million metric tonnes. valorinternational
• [New] Among all energy-transition technologies, electrified vehicles alone will be the largest driver of mineral demand growth in the coming decades. valorinternational
• [New] Clean energy - defined broadly to include renewables, electrification technologies, efficiency measures and storage - have the potential to replace three-quarters of existing fossil fuel demand globally. Forbes
• [New] Masdar reached 65 GW of global clean energy capacity as part of its drive toward a 100 GW target by 2030, reflecting the UAE's commitment to renewable energy expansion and decarbonization. Nasser Saidi & Associates
• [New] Data Insight: In the 2025-2026 period, over 60% of Australia's major mines will operate with some form of renewable energy generation on site, aiming for a minimum 30% emissions reduction over five years. Farmonaut
• [New] Inflation is projected to continue easing, with global inflation in 2026 now expected around 2.6%, about 0.3 percentage point lower than previously forecast, reflecting softer labor markets, weaker demand for tradable goods, and falling energy prices. Stock Market Update
• [New] US firm Form Energy started commercial-scale production in 2025 and plans to ramp up in 2026. Vinylone
• [New] The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts the West Texas Intermediate spot price to average $52.21 per barrel in 2026 and $50.36 per barrel in 2027, down from $65.40 in 2025, with quarterly breakdowns showing a gradual decline from $54.93 in Q1 2026 to $51.00 in Q4 2027. GeopoliticsUnplugged Substack
• [New] 2026 will see the hydrogen sector maturing further in identifying sectors and applications where hydrogen has a clear economic benefit over other sources of energy. Ashurst
• [New] European Union hydrogen strategies allocate €470 billion through 2030, while the United States Inflation Reduction Act provides $369 billion in clean energy incentives. Discovery Alert
• [New] Electricity consumption at U.S. data centers is projected to more than double by 2030, straining grids, raising energy costs, and increasing reliance on fossil fuels. Brookings
• [New] Grid-scale energy storage requirements alone are projected to increase battery mineral consumption by 55% through 2030, while defence applications and advanced manufacturing create additional demand layers that compound traditional industrial consumption patterns. Discovery Alert
• [New] Alphabet, Google's parent company, announced last month it will acquire clean energy and data center infrastructure developer Intersect in a $4.75 billion deal expected to close in the first half of this year. ColumbusFreePress.com
• [New] By 2050, electricity demand will have grown by more than 50% in the U.S; energy storage, wind, and solar generation will increase by 300%; and renewables are predicted to exceed 50% of generation capacity in Western U.S., New York, and Southeast. FABTECH
• [New] The EV charging industry in 2026 will be defined by AI-driven energy management, ultra-fast charging, V2G, network interoperability, multi-fuel hubs, robotic charging, smart fleet load balancing, cybersecurity, and predictive maintenance. EV Charging Trends 2026: Ultra-Fast Charging, V2G, AI E
• [New] The International Energy Agency expects global electricity demand to keep rising strongly in the coming years, reflecting the pull of electrification across industry, buildings, transport, and data infrastructure. InvestmentMarkets
• [New] The International Energy Agency, for instance, projects global data-center electricity demand will more than double by 2030. 2026 Preview: Abundance and Volatility | Paradigm Press
• [New] US data center energy demand could increase from 211 TWh in 2023 to over 800 TWh in 2028, representing 2.8% growth annually. UK - EN - Institutional

Last updated: 23 January 2026