The energy trilemma (clean, stable, abundant) has been reordered. Previously, 'clean' was the top priority. Now, driven by massive demand and geopolitical instability, the market and policymakers prioritize securing 'more' energy that is 'stable,' even if it means delaying decarbonization goals.

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Base's core thesis is that the shift to solar and battery storage is inevitable not because of ESG trends, but because it represents the lowest marginal cost to add power to the grid. This economic argument is more fundamental and compelling than climate narratives alone.

Traditional energy models incorrectly started with climate supply targets. A more accurate approach models fundamental demand drivers first (population, GDP), revealing a massive, underestimated need for all energy types to meet future growth, challenging supply-centric narratives.

Contrary to the renewables-focused narrative, the massive, stable energy needs of AI data centers are increasing reliance on natural gas. Underinvestment in grid infrastructure makes gas a critical balancing fuel, now expected to meet a fifth of the world's new power demand (excluding China).

The massive energy requirements for AI data centers are causing electricity prices to rise, creating public resentment. To counter this, governments are increasingly investing in nuclear power as a clean, stable energy source, viewing it as critical infrastructure to win the global AI race without alienating consumers.

Despite the narrative of a transition to clean energy, renewables like wind and solar are supplementing, not replacing, traditional sources. Hydrocarbons' share of global energy has barely decreased, challenging the feasibility of net-zero goals and highlighting the sheer scale of global energy demand.

The political challenge of climate action has fundamentally changed. Renewables like solar and wind are no longer expensive sacrifices but the cheapest energy sources available. This aligns short-term economic incentives with long-term environmental goals, making the transition politically and financially viable.

For decades, electricity consumption was flat. Now, the massive energy demands of AI data centers are making clean, reliable, baseload power like nuclear an essential component of the energy grid, not just an option.

Regional stability is an economic necessity for oil-rich nations. Peace allows them to accelerate monetization of their finite oil reserves and reinvest the capital into diversified, future-proof economies like AI and tourism before alternative energy devalues their primary asset.

Europe faces a critical conflict between its ambitious net-zero targets and its economic health. High energy costs and a heavy regulatory burden, designed without market realities in mind, are causing companies to close facilities or move investment to the U.S., forcing a difficult reassessment.

Temasek views the energy transition not as a binary switch from brown to green, but as a gradual progression through many intermediate shades. This pragmatic approach justifies investing in transitional fuels like LNG and advanced technologies like nuclear fusion, acknowledging the need for energy security and affordability.

Energy Sector Priorities Quietly Flipped from "Clean First" to "More and Stable First" | RiffOn