Solar Scale, Grid Bottlenecks & EV Momentum
Electricity systems are expanding fast — but infrastructure, flexibility, and charging networks are racing to keep up. From record solar additions in the United States to coal declines in China and accelerating EV adoption globally, the energy transition is increasingly defined by scale, speed, and the ability of grids and networks to adapt.
☀️ Solar Set to Overtake Coal in the U.S.
Solar is now the dominant source of new U.S. power capacity and is on track to surpass coal in total installed capacity before the end of 2026. Around 70 GW of new solar capacity is scheduled to come online in 2026–2027 — a 49% increase over end-2025 levels. The rapid expansion underscores how quickly utility-scale solar is reshaping the U.S. generation mix.
⚡ Grid Bottlenecks Threaten the Next Phase of Growth
As electricity demand accelerates, grid expansion and system flexibility are becoming critical constraints. Thousands of gigawatts of generation projects are currently stalled in interconnection queues worldwide. Grid-enhancing technologies, faster permitting, and regulatory reform could unlock vast amounts of capacity already waiting to connect — making transmission the next frontier of the transition.
🚗 EVs Dominate New Car Sales in Leading Markets
Electric vehicles now account for the overwhelming majority of new car sales in several countries. Norway leads at 97%, followed by Nepal (73%), Denmark (69%), Sweden (61%), and Iceland (57%). China stands at 53%, while Singapore and Belgium also make the top ten. The data highlights how EV adoption is increasingly mainstream in advanced markets — and expanding rapidly beyond them.
📉 Coal Use Declines Across Most of China
Coal utilisation is falling across much of China. In 26 of 31 provinces with available data, coal use declined between 2023 and 2025. Provinces that invested heavily in coal flexibility retrofits saw even sharper drops, suggesting that grid modernisation and renewable integration are beginning to materially reduce coal dependence in many regions.
🔌 EV Charger Density Becomes a Competitive Advantage
As EV adoption rises, charging infrastructure is becoming a decisive factor. The Netherlands leads globally in charger density, with just five EVs per public charger, while China stands out for the rapid rollout of fast chargers, which now make up nearly half of its public network. Countries that scale charging infrastructure efficiently can reduce range anxiety, accelerate EV uptake, and ease pressure on urban transport systems.