Global Wind Goals, EV Payback & China’s Grip on Minerals
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.
🌊 Offshore Wind Targets to 2030 and Beyond
With 27 national targets now in place, offshore wind is set to triple capacity by 2030, laying the foundation for sustained growth through the next decade. Targets are driving confidence and long-term investment, even as many countries face delays. The Global Wind Energy Council projects offshore wind will jump from 83 GW in 2024 to 238 GW by 2030 — rapid progress, though short of initial ambitions.
⚡ EVs Overtake Gas Cars on Emissions Within Three Years
A new study from Duke and Northern Arizona University finds EVs offset their higher manufacturing footprint and become cleaner than gas cars after just three years of driving. Over a vehicle’s lifetime, gas cars cause twice the environmental damage. As grids get cleaner, EV benefits will only grow, making electrification a key step toward cutting transport emissions.
☀️ Musk: “China Can Make Enough Solar Panels to Power the U.S. in 18 Months”
Elon Musk says China’s solar production capacity is now large enough to manufacture panels capable of powering the entire U.S. grid in just 18 months. He noted that China’s solar output is roughly two-thirds the total electricity produced by all U.S. sources — a striking sign of its global manufacturing dominance.
🧠 Altman: “AI Glut Is Inevitable”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the world should expect several “AI gluts” as breakthroughs and falling costs collide.
Compute costs have dropped 40x per year per unit of intelligence, and Altman predicts personal AGIs could soon run on laptops. But as with all bubbles, some investors and builders are likely to get burned along the way.
⛏️ How Much Control China Has Over the World’s Critical Minerals
China dominates the production and refining of most of the world’s critical minerals — essential for EVs, semiconductors, and clean energy tech. New data show the concentration of supply chains, with China leading in most materials and Brazil, the DRC, and South Africa controlling others. The visualization from White & Case charts production of 25 key minerals as of late 2024, illustrating China’s central role in global supply chains.