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Dear Reader, The renewed confrontation between the US and Iran has pushed oil markets back into familiar territory. After a month of easing following a fragile ceasefire, Brent crude climbed to more than $86 a barrel on July 17, from about $71 on July 1; WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude rose to more than $81 a barrel, from $68. How long the rally will last is uncertain. But the recent geopolitical shocks have strengthened the economic case for clean energy.   This is the second major energy shock in less than five years. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine left Europe particularly vulnerable to soaring energy prices, the European Commission unveiled the REPowerEU Plan in 2022 to end the bloc's dependence on Russian fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to clean energy. The Commission says that renewables now account for more than 47 per cent of the EU's electricity generation. The latest conflict reinforces the same lesson for Europe, Asia and Africa, all of which remain exposed to disruptions in energy supplies. As hotter weather, the prospect of a strong El Niño and the rapid expansion of AI data centres push electricity demand ever higher, renewables are, in many markets, simply the fastest and cheapest way to add new generating capacity, regardless of climate goals. In March, the first full month after the Iran conflict began, Chinese solar exports doubled to reach a record high, according to think-tank Ember. Though India was among the 50 countries that set all-time records for imports of Chinese solar panels in March, the government is trying to avoid swapping one dependency for another. In its latest move, the Ministry of Heavy Industries plans to expand policy support for battery recycling and advanced chemistry cells, signalling a broader effort to reduce reliance on imported battery materials. Your feedback and ideas help shape our work. So do write to us  here. Thank you Snigdha Das         TOP STORIES     What BluSmart got wrong—and right Companies that follow BluSmart must get their financial and governance structures right   Uttara Kannada's evergreen forests remain under relentless assault in the name of clean energy Decades of hydropower and new ‘green’ projects like Sharavathi Pumped Storage project in Karnataka’s Western Ghats are eroding protected habitats, disrupting rivers and intensifying conflicts over land and livelihoods   India adds record 29 GW solar, wind in first half of 2026 Rooftop solar doubles, Gujarat largest contributor to solar installations   US-Israel war on Iran could trigger debt, inflation and remittance shocks across Global South, warns report Drawing parallels with the Russia-Ukraine war, the report warns Gulf tensions could fuel inflation, deepen debt and disrupt remittance flows in the developing world   Most sulphur dioxide around Delhi comes from coal plants exempted from pollution rules: CREA SO2 is a major precursor to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is associated with respiratory diseases, cardiovascular illnesses, stroke and premature deaths   Government plans wider policy support for battery recycling, advanced chemistry cells Proposed policy support significant as battery recycling is expected to become an important source of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite over the coming decade   Food crops to remain backbone of global biofuel production through 2035, OECD-FAO report finds Biofuels made form cellulosic feedstocks that don't compete with food sources to not see substantial increase in production share   Fields of fuel Though fuel crops are displacing food crops across India, progress on sustainable ethanol, produced from agricultural waste, has been slow   ऊर्जा से संबंधित लेख हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें 👈       SIMPLY PUT!           Click here for more stories related to energy             Reports           Pledge Under Pressure Download     Fuelling the Biofuel Future: Review of State-Level Bioenergy Policies in India Download           Compressed Biogas (CBG): A National Blueprint for Upscaling Policy and Practice Download     For more energy related reports Click here                     Advertise with us     For institutional and CSR advertisements or advertorial placements in Down To Earth  (print and website), please contact: Jyoti Ghosh at jghosh@cseindia.org           Can't see images? View in browser