The European Commission has issued new guidance to help EU Member States effectively implement the Social Climate Fund (SCF) and complete their Social Climate Plans (SCPs). Starting in 2026 and mobilising over €86bn, the Social Climate Fund has been created to ensure the transition to a greener economy is fair and leaves no one behind, and to support vulnerable households and small businesses in their efforts to switch to cleaner energy and transport.
Category: Energy
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President Xi Jinping announces China’s climate commitments
China will, by 2035, reduce economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 7% to 10% from peak levels, said President Xi Jinping of China at the United Nations Climate Summit on 24 September. China will increase the share of non-fossil fuels used in its energy supply to over 30%; expand the installed capacity of wind and solar power to over six times the 2020 levels; make electric vehicles mainstream; expand the National Carbon Emissions Trading Market to cover major high-emission sectors; and establish a climate adaptive society.
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Electricity demand surges across the Middle East and N Africa
Electricity demand in the Middle East and N Africa tripled between 2000 and 2024 as populations and incomes rose. Based on today’s policy settings, the region’s electricity consumption is projected to rise by another 50% by 2035 – adding the equivalent of the current demand of Germany and Spain combined.
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UK launches principles for navigating grid transformation
As the UK looks to further its move towards net zero, the transformation of its electricity grid is central to delivering clean, secure and affordable energy. The Government Office for Science has published a set of key principles for policymakers to consider when developing policy to strengthen and expand the national electricity grid. The principles support the embedding of social science into the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower.
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Taking Stock 2025: US GHGs unsurprisingly higher
“The first seven months of the second Trump administration and 119th Congress have seen the most abrupt shift in energy and climate policy in recent memory,” says Rhodium Group’s annual independent outlook of the evolution of the US energy system. “After the Biden administration adopted meaningful policies to drive decarbonisation, Congress and the White House are now enacting a policy regime that is openly hostile to wind, solar, and electric vehicles and seeks to promote increased fossil fuel production and use.”
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Largest sand battery in the world launches in Finland
Polar Night Energy has built an industrial-scale sand battery in Pornainen for Loviisan Lämpö’s district heating network. The new sand battery delivers 1MW of thermal power and offers a storage capacity of 100MWh, making it 10 times larger than the Sand Battery launched in Kankaanpää in 2022.
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First wind turbine installed in Poland by Baltic Power
Northland Power, based in Canada, has announced the successful installation of the first turbine at the Baltic Power project which is a 1.1GW offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. Baltic Power is a joint venture between Northland and ORLEN Group and is expected to be Poland’s first operating offshore wind farm.
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An eco-environment monitoring network for sustainable governance
Dawei Zhang has published a paper on China’s three-dimensional monitoring system that covers air, water, terrestrial and marine environments. This outlook first reviews the achievements of China's eco-environmental monitoring network and ongoing technological advancements, then discusses the implications of China's experience for global environmental governance, and finally offers conclusions and recommendations for international collaboration.
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Chestnut Carbon: financing for US afforestation in the voluntary carbon market
Chestnut Carbon, a nature-based carbon removal developer, has announced the successful closing of a landmark non-recourse project finance credit facility of up to $210m – a first-of-its-kind bank financing for a US voluntary carbon removal afforestation project.
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$2.5m for blue carbon project in Sierra Leone
FSD Africa Investments (FSDAi) is investing $2.5m in West Africa Blue’s blue carbon project in Sierra Leone’s Sherbro River Estuary. FSDAi’s investment will contribute to the conservation and restoration of approximately 94,000 hectares of mangrove ecosystems across 11 chiefdoms.
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Clean energy projects – on the map in the UK
A map showing clean energy projects supported by government has been published by the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. It supports the government’s clean energy mission to deliver clean power by 2030 and accelerate progress towards net zero. This map includes projects being supported by the National Wealth Fund and Great British Energy.
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India says it’s leading – not following – the energy transition
Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister, New and Renewable Energy, said that this is not just an energy transition for India; it’s a global reset. Speaking at the inaugural Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association’s Renewable Energy Summit, he said that India is leading the way and has already surpassed 44% non-fossil fuel capacity, achieving its 2030 target five years ahead of schedule.
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Ørsted secures project financing for Taiwan wind farm
Ørsted has reached financial close on a project finance package with 25 banks and five Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) to raise approximately TWD90bn (about DKK20bn) for the 632MW offshore wind farm Greater Changhua 2. This is part of the financing structure for the project, on which Ørsted simultaneously is progressing as planned with an equity divestment expected to be completed once the project is operational. The transaction ensures further progress on both Ørsted’s partnership and divestment programme and its strategic priorities.
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China’s solar and wind projects reach new heights
China is adding solar and wind power at record rates, and the emergence of offshore wind is causing it to cut fossil fuel emissions along its industrial coastline. This is according to a report from ‘Global Energy Monitor’ (GEM). China is building 510 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar and wind capacity, an increase of 57% over the previous year, and three-quarters of all such capacity under construction globally.
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Green light for UK wind after nine-year lull
The UK Government has published its onshore wind strategy as part of mission to become a clean energy superpower. This comes after a nine-year de facto ban. The new strategy sets out over 40 actions to get onshore wind building again across the UK.