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Global energy trends: Renewables growth and AI demand

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2026-09-11 08:31 UTC → 2026-09-14 09:55 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Global energy investment reached $3.3 trillion in 2026, with $2.2 trillion directed toward clean energy. While renewables are expanding, coal spending rose to $180 billion, largely due to China. In the U.S., renewable electricity supplied 30.0% of generation in early 2026, but the rapid development of artificial intelligence and data centers has slowed the phase-out of coal-fired plants to ensure stable power. Data centers could account for over 10% of U.S. electricity consumption by 2030, contributing to a projected global demand surge of over 3% between late 2026 and mid-2027. India is navigating a complex transition toward its 2070 net-zero goal. By late August 2026, India surpassed 300 GW of installed non-fossil fuel capacity. However, while non-fossil sources account for 50% of installed capacity, they contribute only about 29% of electricity generation due to ~~intermittency, exacerbating the ‘duck curve’ and leading to solar curtailment.~~ intermittency. To address this, India’s energy storage requirements are projected to increase nearly eightfold to approximately 411 GWh by fiscal year ~~2032, requiring investments exceeding Rs 4 lakh crore.~~ 2032. Battery deployment ~~in India saw~~ is surging globally, with over 1.5 terawatt-hours placed into service last year, a ~~dramatic surge~~ tenfold increase since 2020. China remains dominant, having driven lithium-ion prices down by 93% since 2010, while the U.S. and EU implement incentives to bolster domestic manufacturing. In the U.S., utility-scale battery capacity reached nearly 52 GW by late June 2026, with an additional 54 GW on order through 2028. In India, battery capacity reached 8.2 GWh in the first half of 2026, ~~reaching 8.2 GWh—an~~ an 84-fold increase over the same period in 2025. Globally, battery deployment for EVs and grid storage grew tenfold since 2020, with China maintaining dominance through low costs. To ensure grid stability, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has proposed making co-located energy previous year. Standalone storage ~~mandatory~~ accounted for ~~new ground-mounted solar and onshore wind projects commissioned after July 1, 2027, starting~~ nearly 98% of quarterly additions in India, with Rajasthan holding a ~~minimum two-hour~~ 36% share of cumulative capacity. However, a gap persists between storage ~~duration.~~ tenders and actual auctions due to volatile battery prices.

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