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Sodium-ion battery momentum grows, but challenges remain
…CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, released its second-generation sodium-ion batteries and has confirmed plans for their commercial-scale deployment across multiple sectors starting in 2026. BYD, the second largest producer, began construction of its first sodium-ion battery plant in January 2024, targeting applications in electric vehicles, grid-scale storage and industry. Hina, a smaller Chinese battery manufacturer and the first to power an electric vehicle using sodium‑ion batteries, also released an advanced sodium‑ion battery designed for electric cars last year.These investments are driven primarily by the goals of improving battery performance in cold climates…
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Copper prices have hit record highs, but smelters face mounting strategic pressures
copper Copper markets enter uncharted territory as structural and short-term pressures converge Copper prices have surged to record highs this year, briefly exceeding USD 14 500 per tonne (intraday) in January 2026, having only passed USD 12 000 per tonne for the first time in December 2025. The unprecedented price levels have been driven by some important short-term developments, including supply disruptions at several major mines and a build-up of US copper inventories due to tariff uncertainty. But they have also been underpinned by some underlying factors, such as challenges in developing new copper mines and the…
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Energy crisis threatens world’s most vulnerable as cooking fuel shortages grow
The Energy Crisis hits the Homefront: A growing shortage of cooking fuels The Middle East crisis has highlighted the energy security risks for a fundamental need: the ability to cook a meal The conflict in the Middle East has triggered a global energy crisis of unprecedented magnitude. The daily volumes of oil lost to global markets in March 2026 surpassed the peak supply losses of the two major oil shocks of the 1970s combined.Previous energy crises affected economies and societies in profound ways, often forcing households to ration fuel for their cars and heating for their homes. The 2026…
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How global oil supplies have readjusted to help fill the huge gap left by the Strait of Hormuz shock
commentary Stock drawdowns, alternative routes and suppliers, and agile refiners have all contributed during the crisis, avoiding far more severe impacts on demand Global energy markets have been contending with their largest supply disruption in history resulting from the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for oil and gas shipments to reach global markets. The cumulative oil supply losses from producers in the Middle East now exceed 1.3 billion barrels, with flows through the Strait of Hormuz falling from around 20 million barrels per day prior to the conflict to an average of 2.7…
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India’s electricity demand grows at night: Managing rising cooling demand
India cooling commentary As India’s cooling demand surges alongside solar power capacity, ensuring sufficient nighttime power capacity is key Power consumption in India is on the rise amid economic and population growth, as well as the growing use of air conditioning as more households purchase units and temperatures increase. Since 2019, the country’s electricity demand has increased by 5% per year. While electricity supply has kept pace, solar PV has accounted for two-thirds of power capacity additions in India since 2019. Against this backdrop, ensuring adequate power generation capacity during periods of peak demand is emerging as…
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Renske Schuitmaker
Former Energy and Transport Analyst.
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Electricity 2026 Supply
…largest year-on-year increase, at 620 TWh, compared to 450 TWh in 2024. Solar PV generation is expected to overtake wind and nuclear by 2026 and hydropower by 2029.Low-emissions energy sources – renewables, led by solar, and nuclear – will see their share in global electricity generation rise to 50% through 2030, up from 42% in 2025. Strong growth in renewables and a steady rise in both nuclear and gas output in many regions will displace global coal-fired generation in our forecast. Coal use in the power sector is expected to shift to a declining trajectory, with its share of…
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Renewables 2025 Executive summary
…regulatory and market changes since October 2024. The forecast for the United States is revised down by almost 50%. This reflects several policy changes, including the earlier phase out of federal tax credits, new import restrictions, the suspension of new offshore wind leasing and restricting the permitting of onshore wind and solar PV projects on federal land. China’s shift from fixed tariffs to auctions is impacting project economics and lowering growth expectations. Nonetheless, China continues to account for nearly 60% of global renewable capacity growth and is on track to reach its recently announced 2035 wind and solar target…
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World Energy Investment 2025 China
…seen a precipitous rise in clean energy investment, particularly in renewables. In 2024 China’s clean energy investment was more than USD 625 billion, almost doubling since 2015. China also achieved its 2030 wind and solar capacity target in 2024, six years ahead of schedule. While renewable installations are set to continue, investment growth is expected to slow in 2025 and, in the case of solar PV, even to fall back slightly.China’s evolving macroeconomic priorities have long shaped its approach to energy investment. While China met its 5% GDP growth target in 2024, the economy faced mounting pressures from weak…
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Global Hydrogen Review 2026 Africa
Hydrogen use in Africa reached 3.1 Mt in 2024, about 3% of the global total. Hydrogen production accounted for about 6% of the region’s gas demand and 2% of regional CO2 emissions. Hydrogen use is concentrated in 6 countries (out of 54), with Egypt representing nearly half, followed by Algeria (20%), Nigeria (17%), South Africa (5%), Libya (5%) and Equatorial Guinea (3%). Ammonia production accounted for nearly three-quarters of hydrogen demand.Today, only 6 kt of low-emissions hydrogen are produced in Africa, exclusively from renewables. The hydrogen project pipeline to 2030 has 31 projects, which could allow increasing…
