EV Growth, Microreactors & the Carbon Footprint of 36 Giants
From electric vehicles taking off in emerging markets to new microreactor experiments in the U.S., this week’s energy stories reveal how technology, policy, and power systems are shifting fast. China continues to set the pace on solar, a new AI model draws inspiration from energy principles, and a striking report shows that just 36 companies are behind half of fossil fuel and cement CO₂ emissions. Here’s what you need to know.
⚡ EVs Surge in Emerging Markets Thanks to Cheaper Chinese Models
The adoption of electric vehicles is booming in emerging markets. Affordable Chinese battery EVs have driven prices down dramatically, reaching parity in Thailand and dropping fast in Brazil and other regions. Rising imports are reshaping local auto markets and speeding up electrification where it once lagged
⚛️ U.S. to Begin First Microreactor Tests in New DOME Facility
The Department of Energy has selected Westinghouse and Radiant to begin testing their advanced microreactor designs at the new DOME test bed at Idaho National Laboratory. These will be the world’s first fueled microreactor experiments in such a facility, aiming to fast-track deployment of compact, reliable nuclear power to meet rising energy demand. Initial testing could begin as soon as spring 2026.
☀️ China’s Solar Growth Outpaces Its Power Demand in 2025
China added 120 TWh of solar generation in the first five months of 2025—enough to meet 86% of the country’s electricity demand growth. So far this year, China is covering its rising consumption entirely with clean energy sources, setting a standout example among BRICS nations.
🤖 New AI Model Mimics Energy Principles to Improve Itself
A new paper proposes Energy-Based Transformers (EBTs)—a novel AI architecture that iteratively refines its own predictions by minimizing a learned “energy” function. Unlike diffusion models, which work backward from noise, EBTs start with a candidate and adjust it until no better outcome can be found. This “energy minimization” approach could offer a scalable path for more adaptable, thinking machines.
🌍 36 Companies Responsible for Half of CO₂ from Fossil Fuels and Cement
A Carbon Majors Project report finds that just 36 companies accounted for 50% of global fossil fuel and cement emissions in 2023. Saudi Aramco alone would rank as the world’s fourth-largest polluter if it were a country.
Public giants like ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, TotalEnergies, and BP made up 5% of the total, underscoring the central role of a few powerful players in the climate crisis.