Strait of Hormuz disruption fuels clean tech surge, US energy resilience

Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the US‑Iran conflict have tightened global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, prompting governments worldwide to adopt emergency measures. The shortage has accelerated a clean‑energy boom, with Chinese exports of solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles rising 47 % in value during March‑June 2026 compared with the previous year.

Large green‑industry projects have also been launched: UK‑listed Atome secured a $665 million investment for a natural‑gas‑free ammonia fertiliser plant in Paraguay, and Swedish firm Stegra obtained $1.65 billion to build a hydrogen‑based steel mill in Sweden, both backed by strong policy support such as the EU carbon price and financing from multilateral institutions.

In contrast, the United States has largely avoided supply shocks thanks to decades of investment in its energy infrastructure. Record oil production reached 13.6 million barrels per day in 2025 and is forecast to rise, while natural‑gas output hit a new high of 107.7 billion cubic feet per day. Robust refining capacity, the world’s largest pipeline network and strategic petroleum reserves have further insulated the U.S. market from the disruptions affecting Europe, Asia and Australia.