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] A Malaysia-based solar energy project in Kelantan under the Large-Scale Solar programme, with an installed capacity of 99.99 MW and an investment of RM197.9 million, is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 2.52 million tonnes over 21 years. Invest Malaysia
• [New] A Malaysia-based solar energy project in Kedah under the LSS5+ programme, with an installed capacity of 99.99 MW (170 MWp) and an investment of RM261.7 million, is expected to generate renewable electricity and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 2.99 million tonnes of CO2e over 21 years. Invest Malaysia
• [New] The ASEAN Centre for Energy projects total primary energy demand in ASEAN to increase by around 60% between 2020 and 2040, with fuel oil maintaining relevance in the near-to-medium term as countries continue developing gas and renewable energy infrastructure. Persistence Market Research
• [New] India's centralised procurement through Convergence Energy Services Limited is standardising charging interface specifications, which will accelerate pantograph system adoption over plug-in alternatives in large depot environments by 2027. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Lithium-ion batteries are expected to dominate the battery type category with 68% share in 2026, supported by superior energy density and proven flight heritage. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Annual investment in electricity grids needs to increase from approximately USD 400 billion today to more than USD 600 billion by 2030 to support secure energy transitions and achieve national climate goals. MarkNtel Advisors
• [New] By 2040, mineral demand from clean-energy technologies is expected to increase between twofold and fourfold. Natixis Investment Managers
• [New] The energy storage segment is projected to register the fastest growth at a CAGR of 9.12% during 2026-2034, supported by rising demand for high-capacity batteries and long-duration space missions. Straits Research
• [New] Most industry forecasts expect floating wind to become a mainstream part of the offshore energy mix within this decade. iPS Powerful People
• [New] The Pentagon's JIATF-401 task force has named five domestic bases slated to receive directed-energy or high-powered microwave counter-drone systems within a 180-day window, with initial operations expected before the end of 2026. TheDefenseWatch.com
• [New] Inflation is expected to continue to rise, peaking above 3% later in 2026, as the UK economy continues to grapple with the backdrop of elevated energy prices and the effective gridlock in the strait of Hormuz. The Guardian
• [New] AI-driven productivity gains in the oil and gas industry will substantially increase global emissions, outweighing any potential gains from clean energy. Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen
• [New] China's 14th Five-Year Plan specifically targets natural gas reaching 15% of the primary energy mix by 2030, requiring substantial investment in distribution network management infrastructure. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Increasing the share of renewables in the power mix is already a stated strategy in both Saudi Arabia, which plans to have 50% of its power mix met by renewables by 2030, and the UAE which has a 50% clean energy target set for 2050. Emirates NBD Research
• [New] Japan's 2030 Strategic Energy Plan targets 24 GW of battery storage capacity to address renewable energy variability, creating a high-growth opportunity for grid-connected storage integration software and communication infrastructure providers. Persistence Market Research
• When compared to an extremely optimistic benchmark projecting reduced environmental impacts of conventional animal agriculture by 2030, cultivated meat produced using renewable energy can reduce the carbon footprint of beef by up to 92%, pork by 44%, and be competitive with chicken. The Good Food Institute
• 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
• 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
• The International Energy Agency forecasted a record global oil surplus of 4.0 million bpd for 2026. Barchart.com
• Africa has become strategically central to the global green transition owing to its vast reserves of critical minerals, significant renewable energy potential, and youthful labour force. Tess
• If SMR technology delivers at scale by the early 2030s, the long-term AI energy trajectory becomes sustainable. AI Business Weekly
• 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

Last updated: 21 August 2026