The report is structured into six chapters covering the current status of the global clean energy transition, vulnerabilities, mineral and material needs for the transition, policy priorities to address supply chain risks, industrial electrification, and assessing the techno-economic feasibility of advanced clean energy technologies.

Clean energy and technology supply chains

With the goal of advancing net zero transitions, strengthening energy security, and competing in the new global energy economy, countries around the world are expanding their clean energy technology manufacturing. The report identifies six critical aspects of a sustainable, secure, and resilient supply chain: adequate, reliable, and uninterrupted supply of inputs, diversity in market, suppliers, and technologies, quick response to sudden market shocks on prices or demand, resilience, stable and affordable prices, and effective interconnection with other supply chains.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues

One of the main goals of the report is to provide policy recommendations for addressing critical ESG issues associated with clean energy technology manufacturing. Some of these ESG issues addressed in the report include environmental pollutant emissions, effective use of natural resources, greenhouse gas emissions, social impacts, transparency, and fair trade.

Recommendations

The report sets out a set of policy recommendations for governments, businesses, investors, and citizens around the world. Some of these recommendations are:

• Develop competitiveness strategies for clean energy technology manufacturing by identifying and fostering domestic competitive advantages, reducing permitting times, mobilising investment and financing for key supply chain elements, developing workforce skills in anticipation of future needs, and carrying out comprehensive risk assessments of supply chains.
• Enhance supply chain knowledge and decision-making by creating circularity roadmaps, adopting product stewardship policies, establishing clean technology standards and traceability, and using public procurement to create demand.
• Improve infrastructure by deploying adequate charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, prioritising and coordinating the rollout of enabling infrastructure, developing integrated and interdisciplinary infrastructure planning, and leveraging infrastructural investment opportunities to enhance supply chain security.
• Develop workforce skills such as creating remanufacturing and second-life application programmes, attracting and supporting a skilled workforce for the clean energy transition, and improving end-of-life energy-related waste management.
• Shift towards sustainable energy technology flows by enhancing resource efficiency by increasing material reuse, recyclability, and recycling rates and establishing international sectoral agreements or clubs.
• Increase investment in technology research and development, adopt renewable energy technologies, and enhance the performance of non-renewable energy sources in the energy mix.