CSR And Renewable Energy

Amid all the economic & geopolitical uncertainty, global energy investment is set to rise this year to $3.3 trillion. China is by far the world's single largest investor in energy, spending almost as much as the US & EU combined. Read more in the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s new report → https://iea.li/4kVvhkF Around $2.2 trillion is set to be invested collectively in renewables, nuclear, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency & electrification in 2025. This is twice as much as the $1.1 trillion going to oil, gas & coal. Explore IEA's World Energy Investment → https://iea.li/43FIxCN Global upstream oil investment is set to fall for the 1st time since 2020. The 6% drop is driven mainly by a decline in the US shale sector. By contrast, investment in new LNG facilities is on an upward trajectory, with new projects in the US, Qatar, Canada preparing to start up. Today’s investment trends clearly show a new Age of Electricity is drawing nearer. This year, electricity investments are on course to be some 50% higher than the total amount being spent bringing oil, natural gas and coal to market, accounting for over half all energy investment. In a worrying sign for electricity security, #investment in grids is failing to keep pace with spending on power generation & electrification. Maintaining electricity security requires investment in grids to rise towards parity with power generation spending by the early 2030s. Fierce competition is contributing to falling prices for solar PV & batteries – but electricity equipment costs are going up, with transformers & cables in short supply. Meanwhile, higher US steel & aluminium prices are pushing up costs for drilling & large engineering projects. Rapid growth in electricity demand is underpinning continued investment in coal supply, mainly in China and India. In 2024, China started construction on nearly 100 GW of new coal-fired power plants, pushing global approvals of coal-fired plants to their highest level since 2015. Investment in biofuels, biogases & low-emissions hydrogen is set to rise to a record high in 2025. But projects are facing headwinds given an uncertain policy environment and a number have been cancelled or delayed. Read the IEA's World Energy Investment 2025, freely available in full on our site → https://iea.li/43FIxCN And to learn more, join our Chief Energy Economist Tim Gould, lead report author Cecilia Tam & me for the LIVE launch event from 11:00 CEST → https://iea.li/4jup9yA

✋ Read the new report, Fostering a Just Energy Transition: A Framework for Policy Design by International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) HIghlights: ⚖️ A just energy transition is not automatic Clean energy alone does not guarantee fairness. Without deliberate policy choices, existing social and economic inequalities risk being reproduced—or worsened. 🌍 Justice is both an outcome and a process A just transition requires not only fair distribution of benefits and burdens, but also inclusive, transparent decision-making and accountability throughout the transition. 🧭 No single definition—but clear principles What “just” means varies by context, but core principles recur: equity, participation, recognition of affected groups, and prevention and repair of harm. 👥 Put people at the centre Workers, low-income households, Indigenous Peoples and marginalised communities must be meaningfully engaged—not consulted as an afterthought. 🔄 Think across systems, places and time Justice spans geographies (local to global), the entire energy life cycle, and generations—today’s decisions shape tomorrow’s opportunities and risks. 🛠️ Policy portfolios matter There is no silver bullet. Just outcomes emerge from coordinated policies across energy, labour, finance, social protection, governance and industrial development. 🚨 Delay is itself unjust Slowing action deepens climate, economic and social harms. Speed and equity must advance together. 💬 In your context, what’s the hardest trade-off in making the energy transition truly just—and who should decide how it’s resolved? #JustTransition #EnergyTransition #ClimateJustice #EnergyPolicy #RenewableEnergy #Equity #Sustainability

💰 $2.4 trillion was invested globally in the energy transition in 2024. This is no longer a sustainability narrative. It is a core business and capital allocation story. Investment is scaling where returns are bankable: 1️⃣ Electric vehicles: $763B (+33%) 2️⃣ Solar PV: $554B (+49%) 3️⃣ Battery storage: +73% — the fastest-growing segment 4️⃣ Power grids: $359B (+14%) — enabling electrification at scale At the same time, capital is becoming more selective. Wind investment declined despite strong fundamentals — not because the technology failed, but because permitting risk, weather variability, and financing costs were not adequately managed. 📌 This is where business performance is now decided. As energy systems become more weather-dependent, climate, weather and water intelligence directly affect: ▪ asset productivity and lifetime value ▪ grid reliability and congestion costs ▪ project bankability and cost of capital ▪ insurance, downtime, and revenue volatility Through the World Meteorological Organization’s global network of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, trusted data standards, WMO provides the authoritative climate and weather intelligence that underpins: ✔ more accurate resource assessment for renewables ✔ better forecasting for grids, storage, and EV charging ✔ reduced operational risk from extreme events ✔ stronger investment confidence in emerging markets In a $2.4 trillion market, better intelligence is a growth multiplier. Data: Climate Policy Institute and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Renewable energy projects can harm Indigenous lands when built without community consent, repeating colonial patterns through wind, solar, and hydro developments that disrupt ecosystems and cultural relationships ⚡🌱. A real energy transition must honor Indigenous sovereignty, centering community-led clean power that protects land and water 🌊✨. When Indigenous communities generate their own renewable energy, benefits stay local through true energy sovereignty rather than corporate profit. A just energy future depends on Indigenous leadership, ecological respect, and solutions rooted in cultural knowledge and lived experience 🌍💛. —Based on themes from Growing Papaya Trees: Nurturing Indigenous Roots During Climate Displacement by Dr. Jessica Hernandez (2026). Earth Daughters

One of the things that frustrates me around energy projects in Australia is that social impact considerations are often viewed through the narrow lens of community engagement & social licence objectives. Proper social impact assessment is not that. This informative primer has recently been published around human rights in the Danish solar sector. It highlights human rights considerations across the supply chain & spanning various impacted stakeholders, including communities and workers. I found heaps of information helpful in this & generally applicabile outside of the Danish context. - there are some good resource links at the back (p.51) including tools around mapping of critical minerals supply chain risks - human rights risks in community engagement are discussed specifically too, such as inequity & discrimination, lack of effective grievance mechanisms at an operational level and procedural justice. Most of all, I think it's a good reminder in our local context to push the bar up a bit more for improved social impact considerations as part of project development and approvals, and stop leaning on "social licence". Source: Human rights and solar energy: A primer for the Danish solar energy sector, Danish Insitute for Human Rights Centre Authors Anne Line Sigsgaard Berg, Daniela Busleiman, Gabriela Factor, Noah Mardirossian (Danish Institute for Human Rights) and Sarah Dieckmann (Ethical Trade Denmark).

Entrepreneurs don’t see trash. They see untapped opportunity. I’ve matched businesses for over a decade. But some of the biggest breakthroughs I’ve seen didn’t come from the boardroom. They came from the rubbish bin. 🗑️ Over coffee with an environmental partner in China, I learned how waste plastic is now being refined into clean fuel — Imagine turning everyday waste — plastics, food scraps, and more — into clean, renewable fuel. Converting trash into energy tackles two huge challenges at once: ✅ Fighting pollution and overflowing landfills ✅ Creating sustainable, carbon-friendly energy sources The numbers speak for themselves too: 📍 1 ton of mixed plastic → 500–700L of fuel 📍 Up to 400 RMB (USD56) profit per ton 📍 1.2 tons of CO₂ emissions avoided All powered by smart sorting, catalytic cracking, and AI-driven logistics. Now imagine this tech paired with Southeast Asia’s abundant agri-waste streams This isn’t just about tech. It’s about a new economy — regenerative, cross-border, and inclusive. 💡 New jobs 💡 New infrastructure 💡 New value chains From my experience, here’s what I’ve learned: ▶️ The future belongs to those who see value where others see waste. ▶️ Trust is built by helping others see what’s possible in their own backyard. ▶️ The best partnerships aren’t flashy — they’re sustainable by design. Entrepreneurs don't talk about hype. They take action by connecting the right pieces — and start building the future, one discarded item at a time.

This is EMA's reply to two Straits Times Forum writers on solar in Singapore. The reply explains why the solar export tariff can be different depending on who you buy electricity from, even though the conceptual designs of the schemes are the same. It also addresses whether we should mandate solar on landed properties in Singapore. "We thank Forum writers Lim Jia Yi (Make solar panels a must for newly built or purchased landed property, Jan 7) and Gerard Tan Boon Heng (Encourage private properties to generate solar power, Jan 8) for their letters. Solar power is currently the most viable form of renewable energy that can be deployed in Singapore. The Energy Market Authority is thus working with other government agencies to maximise solar power deployment including on rooftops, reservoirs and commercial buildings. Singapore’s solar deployment has grown significantly, with installed capacity increasing by about 10 times in the last seven years. Home owners who have installed solar panels enjoy cost savings by offsetting their electricity consumption and selling excess electricity generated to the grid. As noted by Mr Tan, the rate households receive for electricity sold to the grid depends on who they choose to purchase electricity from. Under the Simplified Credit Treatment Scheme, households which buy electricity from SP Group will be paid at the prevailing regulated tariff rate less the grid charge, which comprises electricity infrastructure maintenance and electricity transportation costs incurred by SP Group. Under the Enhanced Central Intermediary Scheme, households which buy electricity from electricity retailers will be paid at the prevailing half-hourly wholesale electricity price, which does not include the grid charge. Wholesale electricity prices vary depending on demand and supply conditions. In 2024, the average monthly Uniform Singapore Energy Price, which is a key component of wholesale electricity prices, ranged from a low of $105/MWh recorded in August, to a high of $288/MWh recorded in April. Home owners who have installed solar power will have to consider the characteristics of the two schemes, to decide which they prefer to be on. We note Ms Lim’s suggestion to mandate the installation of solar panels for all private landed homes. However, we are mindful to respect the personal choice of home owners, as well as to consider the suitability of different houses for solar installations. Due to the decline in costs of solar panels, the payback period for a residential solar power system has improved to as short as five years. There are therefore sufficient economic incentives for home owners to make their own decisions to install solar power. We will continue to support solar adoption across all sectors in Singapore. Toh Wee Khiang Director, Hydrogen and Sustainable Energies Office Energy Market Authority" https://lnkd.in/gSQcvdwE

84% of institutional investors expect their sustainable allocations to grow in the next 2 years 🌍 Sustainable investing is gaining strength. Investors are responding to more consistent performance data and clearer evidence of financial value. The new Sustainable Signals survey shows that 84% plan to increase the share of sustainable assets in their portfolios. Asset owners show the strongest change, supported by a more established track record. Climate risk is now a major driver of investment decisions. More than 75% expect physical climate impacts to affect asset prices within 5 years. This is directing capital toward data and analytics, water infrastructure, and grid upgrades. Energy efficiency and renewable energy remain the top 2 themes. Climate adaptation has moved into the top 3 for the first time, showing a broader focus on preparing assets for climate related disruptions. Investors also highlight practical challenges. Limited data, regulatory uncertainty, and political volatility continue to shape how they allocate capital. Still, more than 80% see sustainability as an essential tool for managing portfolio risk. Together, these trends point to a more structured approach to sustainable investing. One that links financial performance with exposure to climate and policy risks. How quickly do you see adaptation becoming a standard expectation in mainstream investment strategies? #sustainability #sustainable #esg #investment

🌿🌍 Sustainable innovation is coming at the forefront of business discussions lately, and I'd like to share some thoughts. I propose defining sustainable innovation as “a type of innovation process that deliberately integrates environmental and social considerations into the development of new products, services, or business models, with the explicit goal of creating long-term positive impact at both organizational and systemic levels.” Importantly, it should help companies and entire systems function within our planet's boundaries. However, the path to sustainable innovation is fraught with challenges. In my experience, there are four significant hurdles: 1. 🧠 Lack of relevant human capital: Many organizations simply don't have the specialized expertise needed to address complex sustainability challenges. This knowledge gap can severely hamper innovation efforts. 2. 🏗️ Underdeveloped organizational capabilities: Even with the right people, companies often lack the structures, processes, incentives, and cultures necessary to foster sustainable innovation. Developing these capabilities requires significant time and investment. 3. 🔍 Insufficient absorptive capacity: Many firms struggle to identify, assimilate, and apply existing sustainable technologies. This is about having the internal capacity to understand and implement these innovations effectively. 4. 🤝 Dearth of stakeholder-oriented mindsets: For decades, business education has focused on shareholder primacy. Shifting to a more holistic, stakeholder-centric approach is not just a matter of policy change; it requires a fundamental rewiring of how business leaders think and operate. When it comes to measuring sustainable innovation, we're in a period of profound experimentation. 🧪 Companies are actively testing various initiatives, products, and business models in pursuit of sustainability. We're in the early stages of this journey, and failure is an inherent part of the process. This state of flux makes measurement challenging, as there's no established playbook or universal metrics. Given this complexity, we should embrace diverse measurement approaches as we learn from both successes and failures. 📊 Ultimately, we must remember that sustainable innovation isn't just about individual companies or technologies – it's about systemic change. 🔄 This change occurs at multiple levels: individual, organizational, regulatory, governmental, and institutional. The challenge lies in the fact that our systems can only evolve as quickly as their slowest components. As we continue to innovate for sustainability, we must keep this broader context in mind, striving for solutions that can accelerate change across all levels of our global systems. I'm curious to hear your thoughts. What examples have you seen of sustainable innovation that you believe have had positive systemic impacts? Please share your experiences and insights below! 💬 #ESG #Innovation #SustainableInnovation #Climate

I see a growing 📈 number of startups that are accelerating the Hydrogen Economy in the last 2-3 years. Like many of the new markets in climate tech, the challenge of those founders is building their businesses while the market itself is being built. This is complemented by new policy around hydrogen and tax incentives from the European Union 🇪🇺 and the IRA in the US 🇺🇸. One of the major issues I see is that most of those hydrogen ventures are extremely capital intensive 💸 and require long period of times ⏰ to develop and grow - they require patience, resilience and strategic thinking. Founders and investors solid have smart and responsible planning of their usage in the different funding vehicles (asset classes) of the Climate Capital Stack from VC money to Banks and government money 💰. Those companies who will not draft their funding journey from day 1 will go bust 💨 due to the main reason startups end their lives - they will run out of money. This is particularly true due to the decline in funding of hydrogen startups from 1.7 billion USD last year to only 309 million USD this year so far. However , we must be optimistic and invest in a range of technologies to make it work. Here are a few interesting hydrogen businesses spotlighted by good friends and investors in the space on Sifted (Alexandra Bacon ) : 🔹Yair Reem, Extantia - Elcogen , Battolyser Systems , CibusCell Technology . 🔸Christoph W. Frei , Emerald Technology Ventures - Atmonia , EH GROUP , Convion . 🔸Fabio Lancellotti , Aster Capital - Green Hydrogen Tech , HSL Technologies (HySiLabs) , VisionTech Group , Spark Cleantech . #climatetech #cleantech #hydrogeneconomy #cleanfuels #venturecapital #startups #energytransition https://lnkd.in/eyiHFZCS