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] Japan has launched the world's second osmotic power plant in Fukuoka, showcasing a new renewable energy technology that could complement solar, wind, and hydropower in its decarbonization strategy. oilprice.com
• [New] Battery Growth: The International Energy Agency projects that VRFB installations could triple by 2030, creating a new, sustained demand center for vanadium. AlloyIndex
• [New] Opportunities lie in AI and automation infrastructure (chipmakers like NVIDIA, data center REITs like Equinix), the accelerating energy transition (battery metals, grid infrastructure), and healthcare innovation (biotech, personalized medicine). BPAS
• [New] The circular economy has the potential to cut up to 39% of global emissions related to materials, thanks to reduced extraction and the reconfiguration of energy-intensive production cycles. Faistgroup.com
• [New] Data center energy use is projected to double or triple by 2028. CNN
• [New] AI datacenter energy consumption is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 44.7%, reaching 146.2 Terawatt hours by 2027 with AI workloads consuming a growing portion of total datacenter electricity use. IDC: The premier global market intelligence company
• [New] As demand for artificial intelligence grows, the energy used by the many data centers powering it is predicted to hit 150 GW by 2030, almost all of which becomes heat that is ultimately wasted. Chemistry World
• [New] The share of fossil fuels in the global energy mix has been around 80% for decades and is projected to reduce to 75% by 2030 according to the IEA World Energy Outlook. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] By 2030, EU countries are required to either achieve a share of 29% of renewable energy in transport, or to reduce the emissions intensity of transport fuels by 14.5%, as well as a combined sub-target for renewable hydrogen and advanced biofuels of 5.5%. Energy
• [New] Halfway through the final decade of actions towards the 2030 SDGs, progress towards ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services is off-track. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The UAE aims to generate 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050, as outlined in the UAE Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050. SpringerLink
• [New] Oman has set ambitious targets to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with a significant focus on green hydrogen production as a key driver for expanding solar and wind energy utilization. SpringerLink
• [New] Whether green hydrogen becomes a pillar of the global energy system or fades into a niche solution will depend on what happens in the next few years. Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Ev
• [New] New Mexico State University is the co-investigator for Carrizo Four Corners, the 1,500-megawatt pumped storage project that could provide 70 hours of energy storage, far more than the several hours of storage provided by the largest lithium-ion batteries. Circle of Blue
• [New] National Grid Ventures announced it will install the first commercially-deployed, 100% hydrogen-fueled linear generator in the world at its Northport Power Plant, supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the Long Island Power Authority. HydrogenWire
• [New] The Department of Energy projects U.S. demand for HALEU will surge in the next decade. Amarillo Tribune
• [New] Global investment in clean energy technologies and infrastructure is expected to hit $2.5 trillion in 2025 and grow. TradingView
• The Department of Energy has assisted Kairos Power with overcoming technical, operational, and regulatory challenges as a participant in the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, and DOE will continue to help accelerate the next American nuclear renaissance. Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Ev
• Dramatic reductions in industrial CO2 emissions will be needed to achieve net-zero emissions from the energy sector by 2050. MIT Climate Portal
• The urgent need to address climate change, the targets outlined in the European Green Deal, economic incentives, and a growing global consciousness of environmental sustainability, have led energy-intensive companies to commit to becoming Net Zero by 2050. WRA
• The US Department of Energy intends to offer funding opportunities totaling $1 billion to advance and scale mining, processing, and manufacturing technologies across key stages of the critical minerals and materials supply chains. Global Player
• Amazon's partnership with X-Energy could lead to the generation of up to 960 MW of electricity by 2039, enough to power approximately 770,000 homes. Power Technology
• Off-grid solar home systems could provide reliable electricity in rural SSA, and according to the International Energy Agency, nearly two-thirds of new connections in Africa are expected from stand-alone and mini-grid systems, aiming for universal access by 2030 (IEA 2023, 2024). PubMed Central (PMC)

Last updated: 07 September 2025