Robbie Andrew

Steady increases in China's solar PV capacity.

Total electricity consumption in China grew 1.2% in September 2026. But if you take out the high-growth EV charging and internet data services sectors, then growth was only 0.2%.

We chose to show tonnes of coal when representing this issue of the coal shortage in our Snapshot. Another way is the count of plants with "critically" low stocks. But this somewhat exaggerates, since a plant falling over the threshold into this category might actually be fine.

The key point here is that the long-used measure is defined according to an assumption that a plant should have enough coal for 20 days at 85% operation (PLF), but 85% is very unusual these days, with plants running on average around 65%.

We have to wait another ~10 days for all EU countries' reporting via ACEA, but I've got you covered. Using countries making up >80% of the market and a simple assumption of the rest, it looks like sales of BEVs in the EU reached 30% last month, and 23% so far this year.

The combined LNG exports of Qatar and UAE in 2025 amounted to 110 bcm (p46), but total global natural gas production in 2025 was 4182 bcm (p64). So closure of the Strait of Hormuz reduced global supply by less than 3%.

Moreover, other LNG suppliers increased production offsetting 77% of the loss of supply from the Persian Gulf.

📢In the latest edition of our India Snapshot, we look at El Niño and its effects on the Indian monsoon, power generation and demand, and health. There is a reasonably strong link between El Niño years and weaker monsoons, and we saw that this year with less rainfall, particularly in June.

We invite you to read the full Snapshot here, written with @shivmit.bsky.social and Sourangsu Chowdhury of @cicero.oslo.no: www.ecpulse.in/snapshots/oc...

📢In the latest edition of our India Snapshot, we look at El Niño and its effects on the Indian monsoon, power generation and demand, and health. There is a reasonably strong link between El Niño years and weaker monsoons, and we saw that this year with less rainfall, particularly in June.

At the same time, coal plants were under strain as physical stocks have dropped significantly in 2026, reaching their lowest since 2023 after several years of improvements. During the pre-monsoon season, Coal India dispatched only as much coal as in 2025, despite this year being much warmer.

📢In the latest edition of our India Snapshot, we look at El Niño and its effects on the Indian monsoon, power generation and demand, and health. There is a reasonably strong link between El Niño years and weaker monsoons, and we saw that this year with less rainfall, particularly in June.

Lower monsoon rainfall also means clearer skies, which in turn means higher temperatures. While power demand normally peaks in the pre-monsoon season, 2026 saw high demand peaks throughout May-September, unlike the low demand seen in wet 2025.

Passenger car sales in China are down 21% this year through September, but look at that growing gap: new-energy vehicles (BEV+PHEV) are down only 12%, and since the end of March only 7.5%, as Chinese buyers increasingly avoid cars without plugs. robbieandrew.github.io/china

Here's what you need to know. Sales of full-electric (BEV) passenger cars are down less than 5% so far this year, compared to much larger declines in both full-ICE (down >30%) and PHEV (down >25%) cars.

Passenger car sales in China are down 21% this year through September, but look at that growing gap: new-energy vehicles (BEV+PHEV) are down only 12%, and since the end of March only 7.5%, as Chinese buyers increasingly avoid cars without plugs. robbieandrew.github.io/china

How's your country's passenger car transition going?