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The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) provides recommendations for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) $10.75 million funding opportunity for Innovative Research and Training for Subsurface Energy Production. CATF argues that to move beyond regions with shallow heat, funding must target the primary hurdles of drilling deeper than 7km and completing wells in temperatures exceeding 400°C. The document highlights the need for advanced digital twin capabilities and system-wide modeling to reduce development risk, noting that current data for extreme environments is insufficient. It emphasizes that public-private partnerships are essential to share the high cost and risk of exploratory drilling and to develop a skilled workforce. Specifically, CATF recommends that the DOE award projects focusing on either well field development at temperatures >400°C in shallow heat regions or drilling to 200°C at depths >7km.

The report identifies a 'planning gap' in deregulated U.S. power markets where short-term wholesale price signals and Clean Electricity Standards (CES) fail to incentivize long-lead time, capital-intensive technologies like nuclear, geothermal, and long-duration energy storage. To address this, the authors propose a 'hybrid market' approach called state-led planning, which consists of three core components: system needs assessments, technology development roadmaps, and state-led procurement. This framework allows states to provide the long-term revenue certainty required by investors while maintaining the operational efficiencies of competitive wholesale markets. The report highlights Illinois's Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act as a primary example of this approach in practice and discusses the role of FERC Order 1920 in improving regional transmission planning.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) proposes several amendments to Poland's draft Heating Transformation Strategy to 2040. Key recommendations include a more nuanced approach to nuclear heating—distinguishing between large plants, SMRs for cogeneration, and heat-only SMRs—and the removal of renewable hydrogen as a general heating solution due to inefficiency. CATF also advocates for enhanced risk-sharing mechanisms for geothermal energy, specifically 'Super Hot Rock Energy', and the legal and financial inclusion of energy communities and social ownership models to increase local acceptance and efficiency.

Natural Justice critiques the draft National Energy Policy (NEP) 2025 for Kenya, highlighting a contradiction between its clean energy goals and its proposal to continue oil, coal, and nuclear development. The organization argues that these fossil-fuel and nuclear pathways risk creating stranded assets and undermine climate commitments. Key recommendations include the adoption of a dedicated Just Energy Transition chapter, the mandatory use of Community Development Agreements (CDAs), and the alignment of land acquisition practices with World Bank standards. Natural Justice specifically urges the removal of nuclear energy and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the policy in favor of geothermal, solar, and wind alternatives.

The report argues that the primary barriers to subsea power cable deployment in ASEAN are institutional rather than technical. It identifies gaps in regional planning, cost allocation, and maritime coordination, suggesting a phased approach to strengthen governance. Key recommendations include operationalising the ASEAN Power Grid Generation and Transmission Planning (AGTP) function, exploring cross-border cost allocation (CBCA) frameworks, and deepening the role of the Submarine Cable Working Group to manage the complexities of shared maritime spaces.

The report analyzes Tunisia's economic and social outlook, contrasting a 'Current Path' of moderate growth with a 'Combined scenario' that predicts significant improvements in GDP, poverty, and inequality by 2043. It argues that current gains are insufficient to meet Vision Tunisie 2035 and Agenda 2063 goals without strategic reforms. Key recommendations include diversifying energy sources, integrating climate resilience into planning, and expanding manufacturing and agricultural productivity to overcome constraints like high youth unemployment and energy deficits.

The report analyzes Djibouti's development path to 2043, comparing a 'Current Path' baseline with sectoral and combined scenarios. While the Current Path shows steady growth, it falls short of Vision 2035 targets. A 'Combined scenario' of coordinated reforms in governance, finance, and trade could accelerate GDP growth to 8.9% and triple per capita income. The analysis emphasizes that Djibouti's primary constraints are not infrastructure gaps, but rather the efficiency and inclusiveness of its growth model, which remains heavily dependent on port logistics and external debt.

The report proposes a tripartite contracting model for Europe, where a state-backed intermediary connects clean energy suppliers and industrial consumers. This mechanism aims to solve structural barriers in bilateral Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), such as creditworthiness requirements for SMEs and the mismatch between variable renewable generation and industrial baseload demand. By pooling diverse technologies—including renewables, storage, and clean firm capacity—the intermediary can offer 24/7 clean power products and absorb counterparty risk. The document outlines an implementation roadmap involving the European Commission and Member States, emphasizing the need for harmonized Guarantees of Origin, improved two-sided Contracts for Difference (CfDs) design, and integrated grid planning.

The report outlines a framework for federal agencies to optimize the delivery of energy incentives through three core principles: strategic planning, resource management, and communications. It suggests that agencies narrow their priorities, delegate decision-making, and involve industry early in program design to accelerate the commercialization of energy technologies. Specific recommendations include streamlining the application process for grants and loans, tailoring community benefit models to local needs, and providing transparent, phased guidance for tax credits to increase investor certainty.

An analysis of 393 environmental and energy bills introduced in the first quarter of 2026 reveals that 45% were bipartisan. Bipartisan bills showed a higher rate of legislative advancement (22%) compared to non-bipartisan bills (15%). The highest level of consensus was found in oceans and biodiversity, where approximately 67% of bills were bipartisan. Other areas of strong cooperation include disaster management, wildfires, and permitting reform. The report notes that successful bipartisan legislation often focuses on concrete economic impacts or specific, narrow scopes and typically avoids using the terminology of climate change. In contrast, energy bills were less bipartisan, with Republicans focusing on deregulation and Democrats on clean energy tax credits, although specific technologies like geothermal, hydropower, nuclear, and waste-to-energy maintain bipartisan support.

The report argues that reliance on fossil fuels creates unstable government revenues, locks countries into outdated infrastructure, and exposes them to stranded asset risks as global energy systems shift. It categorizes African economies into export-dominant, import-dependent, and dual-role types, noting that no single transition pathway fits all. To mitigate these risks, the document advocates for diversification into manufacturing, agro-processing, digital services, and the domestic processing of transition minerals. It outlines a phased transition timeline from 2026 to beyond 2045, emphasizing that domestic governance reforms must be supported by international cooperation to reduce the 'African premium' on borrowing costs and improve technology access.

Djibouti is a lower-middle-income country at the Horn of Africa's maritime choke point, leveraging its strategic location to aim for a regional hub status under 'Vision Djibouti 2035'. The country faces extreme climate and water stress, with nearly 90% of its land classified as desert. Its governance is structured as a sovereign democratic republic with a decentralised architecture comprising five regional collectivities and the special status of Djibouti City. Historically, the 1994 Peace and National Reconciliation Accord served as a turning point for stability, which is now viewed as a prerequisite for economic transformation and investment.

The report identifies Kenya as a pivotal East African economic powerhouse with the potential for a 685% GDP increase by 2043 under a Combined scenario. It argues that implementing eight sectoral interventions could raise GDP per capita to US$10,950 and reduce extreme poverty from 64.6% in 2019 to 6.4% by 2043. To ensure sustainable and equitable growth, the document recommends strengthening anti-corruption efforts, expanding education and healthcare, investing in modern irrigation, and accelerating the transition to renewable energy through geothermal, solar, and wind projects.

The report concludes that Algeria's potential remains unfulfilled due to a dependency on hydrocarbons, poor agricultural yields, and weak governance. It advocates for a multi-sectoral approach to diversification, including investments in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and the liberalisation of the economy to reduce the state's dominance in business and banking.

As of 2022, 41.5% of Africa's population lacked electricity, with sub-Saharan Africa lagging significantly at 51.5% access. The document argues that traditional grid expansion is too slow and expensive for rural areas, proposing a 'leapfrog' strategy centered on solar-based off-grid and mini-grid solutions. World Bank estimates suggest that providing electricity to 380 million people by 2030 would require over 160,000 mini-grids costing approximately US$ 91 billion. Despite possessing 60% of the world's best solar resources, Africa faces severe financing shortfalls, with clean energy finance growing by only 2.5% in sub-Saharan Africa between 2021 and 2022, compared to over 100% in Latin America. Barriers to deployment include high public debt, regulatory bottlenecks, and shifting geopolitical priorities, such as the end of the US Power Africa initiative.

The report finds that Romania's geothermal potential is largely untapped, contributing only 0.02% to the energy mix and primarily serving district heating and spas. It identifies significant structural barriers, including fragmented permitting, outdated subsurface data, and high early-stage financial risks. The document highlights the potential for the oil and gas industry to accelerate the market by repurposing abandoned wells, which could reduce drilling costs by up to 50%. It recommends streamlining licensing, shifting to energy-based taxation, and introducing risk-sharing mechanisms like drilling insurance to attract investment.

The Dubrovnik Geothermal Declaration, endorsed on 28 April 2026, positions geothermal energy as a strategic asset for the Three Seas Initiative (TSI) region. The signatories commit to doubling geothermal investments by 2030 relative to 2025 baselines and establishing a 'TSI Next 10 GEO' priority pipeline for commissioning between 2032 and 2035. The declaration calls for the creation of a TSI Geothermal Exploration Risk Facility by 2027 and the development of a flagship geothermal pilot by 2029. To support these goals, the document advocates for regulatory harmonization, including fast-track licensing based on Croatia's model and the removal of preferential treatment for fossil gas and unsustainable biomass. It also proposes the 'Geoterm Carpatia' corridor to integrate geothermal energy into regional energy highways linking TEN-E and TEN-T nodes.

The document argues that while the second Trump administration has targeted wind, solar, and electric vehicles, bipartisan support for clean firm energy—including nuclear, geothermal, and carbon capture—remains durable through existing statutory foundations and congressional appropriations.

The report examines the shift in U.S. energy policy from 2020 to 2026, highlighting a conflict between the second Trump administration's efforts to roll back clean energy initiatives and a persistent bipartisan congressional consensus on 'clean firm' energy. While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) significantly curtailed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits and rescinded grant funding, key credits for nuclear, geothermal, and carbon capture remained. The administration has aggressively targeted wind, solar, and electric vehicles through deregulation and the cancellation of billions in obligated funding, while the federal workforce has seen a significant loss of STEM expertise. However, the report notes that annual appropriations processes have partially mitigated the administration's requested spending cuts, and billions in prior clean energy outlays remain in place.

The policy brief outlines seven critical functions that U.S. states perform to advance clean energy and climate goals, emphasizing that state-level action is resilient to federal political swings and provides scalable models for emissions reductions and economic development.