Oct. 1, 2025
By George Richardson
Our monthly energy transition wrap-up: a succinct snapshot of the global landscape sharing articles on market shifts, sector sentiment, and emerging trends, with additional features from industry leaders.
September 2025 - Nothing But Net Zero Download
In this month's edition:
September underscored both record-breaking momentum and geopolitical pressures shaping the transition. Global investment in renewables hit an all-time high, with BloombergNEF reporting $386 billion deployed - a 63% surge in Europe even as US flows declined. Brussels doubled down with a €300bn programme to drive renewable abundance through 2027, while also signalling interest in securing critical minerals. The debate reflects growing anxiety over resource security and the risk of OPEC-style manipulation in metals markets.
In the Middle East, transformation is advancing across established and emerging fronts. The waste-to-energy market is projected to reach $2.5bn by 2033, backed by Masdar and others.
Hong Kong’s Templewater joined private capital eyeing EV and storage opportunities, positioning the GCC as a hub for clean infrastructure finance. The Global Renewables Alliance and RE100 urged Korea to accelerate its transition and assert regional leadership, while China’s influence across Southeast Asia highlighted the dual challenge of scaling clean power and containing pollution.
Corporate action continued to counter political headwinds. Mars launched a strategy to cut emissions 10% by 2030, while the UK advanced its Great British Energy platform as a pillar of domestic clean power. Yet scepticism persists, with Trump dismissing climate change at the UN as the “greatest con job.” The next phase will hinge on how governments and markets navigate this critical moment.