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] Last year the Commission published the 8th PINC report on nuclear investment needs, which showed that nuclear energy will require significant investments, of €241 billion until 2050, both for lifetime extensions of existing reactors and the construction of new large-scale reactors. Energy
• [New] Virtually all net new electrical generating capacity in 2026 will be provided by solar, wind, and batteries according to a new forecast released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Environment America
• [New] The Nuclear Scaling Initiative is a collaborative effort of Clean Air Task Force, the EFI Foundation, and the Nuclear Threat Initiative to build a new nuclear energy ecosystem that can quickly and economically scale to 50+ gigawatts of safe and secure nuclear energy globally per year by the 2030s. The Nuclear Threat Initiative
• [New] Electricity demand in the United States is expected to rise significantly over the coming decades, driven by factors including data centers, the growing electrification of industry, and everyday energy needs like heating, cooling, and transportation. The Nuclear Threat Initiative
• [New] Global energy demand is projected to grow by 50% between 2020 and 2050, driven by billions of people in developing countries improving their living standards. Stanford Emerging Technology Review
• [New] Investing in America's energy sector could increase Gross Domestic Product by 0.56% to 1.9% by 2035. Yahoo Finance
• [New] The 20-billion-plus capital-expenditure budget for 2026 will be used to expand AI training capacity, build and scale robotaxi-focused assembly, develop Optimus humanoid robots, and grow energy-storage production such as Megapack. TESMAG
• [New] Tesla says it will invest at least 20 billion dollars in 2026 on a mix of AI, robotics, energy storage, and the manufacturing infrastructure required to support them. TESMAG
• [New] Sustained public investment in clean mobility and renewable energy could help lower crude imports while supporting India's climate commitments. Khaleej Times
• [New] The drive towards energy storage demand is rooted at the center of US foreign policy, driven by critical minerals, which could potentially reshape the lithium value chain. VBKOM
• [New] The IEA's Future of Geothermal Energy report, published in late 2024, estimated that with continued technology improvements and reductions in project costs, next-generation geothermal could meet up to 15% of global electricity demand growth to 2050. IEA
• [New] The European Union is aiming for a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with 12% of its total energy from biomass in 2024, primarily through co-firing in coal plants and dedicated biomass facilities. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Smart grid technology has become a critical enabler of the clean energy transition in 2026, with investment needing to more than double through 2030 to meet net-zero targets. Programming Helper
• [New] Australia will establish a critical minerals reserve prioritizing antimony, gallium, and rare earths by year-end (The Energy). New Energy Industrial Strategy (NEIS) Newsletter
• [New] In 2026, energy efficiency and environmental impact will be non-negotiable elements in the design of IoT products and services. IoT Central
• [New] In 2026, sustainable bond issuance is expected to exceed USD 1 trillion, fueled by higher redemptions, continued investment in the energy transition aligned with 2030 targets, and rising energy demand associated with economy wide-electrification and AI-related infrastructure needs. Natixis - Natixis CIB
• [New] Global energy storage deployment will exceed 100 GW in 2026, driven largely by the need to integrate intermittent renewables with data center-scale loads. The Property Chronicle
• [New] Orbital solar power stations, collecting sunlight unimpeded by atmosphere or night, will beam energy down to Earth via microwaves, providing another source of constant, clean electricity. INAIRSPACE
• [New] AI will manage complex systems like global logistics and energy grids with superhuman efficiency, eliminating waste and optimizing resource allocation. INAIRSPACE
• [New] India has one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sectors due to government programs aiming for 500 GW of potential by 2030. Motilal Oswal
• [New] Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is planning a global renewable energy portfolio of 100 gigawatts by 2030. JD Supra

Last updated: 01 February 2026