By Marta Koblanska, 14 October 2025, 19:00 Poland’s, Photo: Solar elipse, thanks to wynpnt, Pixabay
What factors are hindering the growth of renewable energy sources, and what drives their adoption? The IEA emphasizes the importance of flexibility in this context.
Energy sources may be more or less efficient. That means a different caloric value of a certain amount of energy feeding a dedicated operation. For instance, when we want a lorry to drive, its fuel has to be adequately enriched. A small car can go on a less productive one. The same is true with industrial facilities, power-generating plants, heat, or the economy as such. At the same time, there are fewer energy sources and more advanced ones; however, this does not imply that all sources seen as more sophisticated represent the same value in terms of a real stake in economic growth. The latter one, at least for now, if fairly shared, can be the only way to keep inequalities at a decent level.
When we analyze the economic structure of the so-called modern countries, we can see variations in their energy mix compared to emerging economies and developing countries. Usually, they vary in the type of energy they acquire/use as well as their dedicated, let’s say, intended use. That may be an outcome of costs linked to the energy production, the access to technologies enabling its generation and processing, or the distribution network, along with taxes imposed on all or selected commitments/channels.
This is why the feasibility of investments can vary in a context of either the policy chosen by a country or the advancement. However, one constant remains: the value and efficiency of energy that we aim to generate and utilize to enhance the overall performance of various sectors, such as industry, services, transportation, or the economy as a whole. According to some recognized experts, there is no inherently better or worse type of energy; rather, the issue lies in how energy is addressed and utilized.
The International Energy Agency recently lowered its forecast for the growth of renewables in the US market by 50 percent. The reason for this is the tax policy implemented by the country. At the same time, the agency has reduced its expectations for China. This decision could lead to the use of more efficient energy sources in both markets. However, China has a significant share of renewable energy production, particularly in photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy, thanks to its favorable climate and large land area. A key question to consider is whether China is exporting its surplus of renewable energy, especially since the rare earth metals used in the production and processing of wind turbines are largely concentrated in this country.
In the case of the US, the lower, let’s say, absorption of the renewables may imply a shift toward both traditional energy sources ( openly introduced by the US president) as well as technology and efficiency at the same time, creating potential bottlenecks for countries substantially relying on this destination of import. Simplifying, the US economy would like to secure the best valued energy for itself, demanding from others credible payments in the case of sharing.
According to the IEA forecast, globally, the share of renewables in the transport sector is to increase from 4% today to 6% in 2030. The increase in demand will be driven mainly by renewable electricity for EVs in China and Europe, with biofuels adding growth in Brazil, Indonesia, India, and other key markets. Renewables’ share of energy used globally to provide heat for buildings and industry is set to increase from 14% to 18% over the forecast period, in line with the IEA forecast.
Interestingly: – Solar PV is on course to account for some 80% of the increase in the world’s renewable capacity over the next five years. In addition to growth in established markets, solar is set to surge in economies such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and several Southeast Asian countries, says Fatih Birol, the IEA chief.
Why? Because its share in electricity generation rises and thus in grids’ systems, at the same time imposing on policy makers the need to pay attention to supply chain security and grid integration challenges. Grids in Europe, for now, are mainly directed east-west, but also west-east, with a limited capacity. The necessity to connect Poland’s pipe system with NATO one has been emphasized for a long time, and recently, the preliminary deal has been signed. Now the question, in light of the US priorities, could be, not even about the price (that can be affordable although tough to pay short-term, nevertheless, in the long-term may offset costs), but about the value/efficiency of the energy gained within the system.
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