Those who follow the energy transition seem perpetually pitched between elation and despair. For every fragment of positive news — surging Chinese EV sales; record-low prices for solar panels and batteries — there is a dollop of misery, be it a botched climate conference, or still-resilient investment in oil and gas.
And yet some of the most important climate developments in 2024 have barely made the headlines. We looked at three negative overlooked stories yesterday. Here are three positive trends you might have missed that may play out in more visible ways during 2025.
The past year has been a brutal one for the Chinese companies that dominate the solar industry. A rush to build new production lines has sent capacity well ahead of current demand, forcing down prices and driving almost every player deep into the red. The six companies that dominate the sector will lose about 15 billion Chinese yuan ($2.1 billion) this year, based on the median of analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.
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