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] Clear policy signals and sustained implementation are fundamental to diversifying national energy mixes, increasing renewable energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports and bolstering macroeconomic resilience against global supply chain disruptions. IEA
• [New] The U.S. Department of Energy opened a new funding opportunity offering $2.5 million in direct project support and $1 million in technical assistance to support microgrid development in remote and isolated regions, including tribal communities. Tribal Business News
• [New] The DC government has committed to implementing a once-in-four-generations energy transition from fossil fuels to clean energy to make DC net-zero by 2045. Sierra Club
• [New] Offshore wind power is essential for the UK's energy security and CO2 reduction targets, with the previous government setting a target of 50 GW of offshore wind power by 2030. Innovate UK Business Connect
• [New] The U.S. Energy Information Administration has indicated that the Strait of Hormuz is assumed to remain effectively closed in the near term, with pre-conflict traffic levels not expected to resume until early 2027, leading to significant global inventory draws. tradingkey.com
• [New] The installation of renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, and BESS, is projected to stay strong at least through the end of the year. ArentFox Schiff
• [New] Despite the destabilising effect of the Middle East conflict, global energy investment is expected to reach $3.4 trillion in 2026, up 5% from 2025. MarineLink
• [New] Already granted European strategic status, the Rovina Valley Project is expected to unlock much needed investment and job creation in Hunedoara County and will deliver critical minerals necessary for Europe's green energy transition. GlobeNewswire
• [New] Forge Nano is investing between $300 and $330 million, subsidized by a $100 million grant from the Department of Energy, to build a 3 GWh per year advanced battery plant in Morrisville, NC, that will leverage Samsung SDI's manufacturing expertise and supply chain pricing. AZOM
• [New] The exponential rise in AI workloads and hyperscale data center expansion is intensifying global power demand, creating a high-value opportunity for small modular reactors as low-carbon, reliable energy sources. Persistence Market Research
• [New] China and India lead deployments under long-term nuclear energy missions targeting 100 GW capacity by 2047. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Recent global energy shocks have made one thing clear: countries with strong renewable energy capacity are better positioned to withstand economic and supply disruptions. World Health Organization: WHO
• [New] Launching the AI Environmental Transparency Initiative: Force major artificial intelligence companies to disclose the carbon, water, and land footprints of their operations, mandating that all data centers run on 100% renewable energy by 2030. Insights IAS
• [New] Electrifying the world - with electric vehicles, electric heating and cooling, and modernised heavy industry - could be the next biggest step towards phasing out fossil fuels, replacing the 80% of global energy that still comes from hydrocarbons. The Guardian
• [New] The EIA's Annual Energy Outlook 2026 projects electricity consumption will continue growing through 2050 at a rate of 0.9% to 1.6%, with data center server energy use a major factor. JC Shepard(dot)com
• [New] The UK's depleted offshore fields could theoretically store over 3,500 TWh of energy, enough to cover projected electricity demand for around seven years. Electricity Info
• [New] As nations pursue ambitious decarbonization targets and energy resilience strategies, distributed energy generation is expected to become an increasingly important pillar of the global energy ecosystem. The AI Journal
• [New] Energy prices will peak sharply in 2026, pushing both oil and gas costs significantly higher and feeding directly into inflation and reduced purchasing power. European Banking Authority
• [New] The euro area's headline inflation is expected to rise from 2.1% in 2025 to 3.0%, while for the EU it will rise from 2.5% to 3.1% in 2026, largely driven by energy prices. European Banking Authority
• [New] Higher energy costs are acting as a drag on real incomes and demand and contribute to a moderation in GDP growth expectations for 2026, which are now expected to slow to 0.9% for the EA and 1.1% for the EU. European Banking Authority
• [New] As 2026 unfolds, some of the most compelling US energy opportunities are expected to emerge at the intersection of traditional energy sectors, rewarding investors capable of underwriting operational and structural complexity across integrated platforms. PwC

Last updated: 03 July 2026