The European Commission has awarded €2.9 billion from the EU Innovation Fund to 61 major net-zero projects across 18 Member States, supporting the large-scale rollout of carbon capture, clean fuels, renewable hydrogen, and industrial decarbonisation.

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers could soon face a new “pay-per-mile” tax under plans being developed by UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The proposed charge—expected to be set at around 3 pence per mile from 2028—aims to recover £1.8 billion in lost fuel duty revenue by 2031 as electric cars replace petrol and diesel models.

Offshore wind targets are set to triple global capacity by 2030, while new research confirms EVs turn cleaner than gas cars within just three years. Elon Musk hails China’s solar dominance, Sam Altman predicts an AI glut ahead, and new data visualize how much control China holds over the world’s critical minerals.

From Europe’s lagging industrial electrification policies to China’s surging EV wave and the reshaping of global nuclear capacity, the week’s developments highlight how uneven the world’s energy transition remains. While Asia drives battery and solar innovation, Western frameworks are struggling to keep pace with the scale of transformation required.

The UK’s mission to fully decarbonise its electricity system by 2030 is under fresh scrutiny after the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) called for a major reset. In a new paper, Cheaper Power 2030, Net Zero 2050, the institute argues the government should focus less on speed and more on making energy affordable, secure, and abundant.

Northern Ireland’s transition to cleaner energy is lagging far behind schedule, according to a new report by the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO), which warns that key goals in the region’s Energy Strategy are unlikely to be met without major changes in oversight and delivery.

Clean energy investment is accelerating, and innovation is driving rapid change across the power sector. The EU continues its push toward renewables while the U.S. prepares to launch its first liquid-fueled reactor. China’s latest solid-state battery progress and new global investment trends highlight how technology and policy are reshaping the world’s energy future.

Executives from Octopus Energy, E.ON UK, and EDF Energy have warned MPs that household electricity bills could rise by around 20% over the next four to five years — even if wholesale gas prices collapse — as rising network, subsidy, and system costs keep prices high.

Renewables are reshaping global energy flows. The IEA says more than 100 nations have reduced fossil-fuel imports thanks to clean power, while EU solar generation has already surpassed its 2024 total. At the same time, Volkswagen hit record EV sales, even as solar and wind manufacturers face rising market pressures.

Clean energy growth is reshaping the global power system — from California’s rapid shift away from gas, to China’s solar cost revolution, Spain’s success in cutting gas-linked electricity prices, and the race for next-generation batteries. At the same time, new research challenges old assumptions about how much clean energy is really needed to replace fossil fuels.

Reform UK’s surprise surge in the polls has shaken British politics. A Find Out Now survey released October 1st put Nigel Farage’s party on 35%, well ahead of Labour on 19%, just days after Keir Starmer’s conference speech in Liverpool. While most headlines focused on Labour’s clash with Reform over immigration and inequality, the deeper policy divide on energy is becoming just as central — and may shape the direction of Britain’s economy for years to come.