Can investments predict the future? Not exactly — but they’re among the most reliable indicators of the shape of tomorrow. When capital flows change direction, innovation and technology follow.
Energy-related investments are a prime example. They power more than just grids: they shape the technologies, efficiencies, and infrastructures that define the energy system of tomorrow. That’s why tracking where the money flows is pretty revealing.
The International Energy Agency’s investment report serves as a barometer for these shifts. One trend is holding strong even in turbulent times: investment in clean technologies continues to grow. It now amounts to twice the investment in fossil fuels, reaching a new high of $2.2 trillion.
And there’s another, more subtle change. More than half of global energy investment now goes into the power sector and electrification. With over 30% growth in just ten years, electricity is more than just a piece of the energy system — it’s the foundation.
This change shows the strength of new demand drivers. AI and data centres, heating, cooling, and electrification of transport and industrial processes are already contributing to a steep rise in electricity use. Solar and wind account for 98% of the growth in investment in electricity generation over the past decade.
In short: the market fundamentals are strong. Which is why global investment in power generation has remained high, despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties. With the right framework conditions and long-term investment certainty, we can sustain momentum and further develop our energy system.
