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Markets and investment

Global energy investment totalled more than USD 1.9 trillion in 2021, with the power and end-user sectors attracting more investment than traditional fuel production

Energy markets focus on the trade and supply of electricity, gas and liquid fuels. They consist of three main elements: generation or production, transmission and distribution, and supply. Once electricity is generated or gas and oil is produced, it is sold on the wholesale market to suppliers, who sell it on to consumers and arrange for its delivery. It is distributed to homes and businesses through transmission and distribution systems. Depending on a country’s government policy, these elements of energy markets may be nationalised or privatised. Energy markets are closely regulated to ensure secure access to energy at fair prices, since energy is a necessity for sustained economic output and human welfare. Energy markets in the UK are privatised and regulated by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), which is responsible for protecting the interest of consumers by promoting fair competition. UK energy markets have recently experienced significant changes due to diversification of electricity generation through the rise of renewable energy sources, as well as the addition of many new suppliers.

Around the world, investments in the energy system are shifting, with increasing funds flowing into renewables, grid flexibility mechanisms, and low carbon transport. An appropriate policy and regulatory environment is required for continued investment towards a low carbon economy while maintaining energy security. The low carbon transition often requires the government to drive and guide private spending since investments in low carbon energy infrastructure are often capital-intensive and require long-term returns. There is growing need for new market structures to be defined and existing ones to play different roles in order to encourage low carbon investments across all sectors of energy, while also keeping the energy system stable and conventional sources flowing. Increased interconnection is also an option for moving towards more sustainable and cost-effective energy systems; integration of national energy systems through cross-border infrastructure can redefine investment agendas.

Learn more about markets and investment by reading our Energy Insights.

For the latest news and articles on energy pricing read New Energy World.

View upcoming finanace and investment consultations and policies on our Policy Milestones Calendar.

What's new?

UK government rules out move to zonal pricing for electricity market

16/07/2025
While zonal pricing would have split Great Britain into multiple regions to reflect local generation and transmission costs, concerns from renewable o...

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Google places its bets on a fusion-powered future

09/07/2025
The deal follows an earlier investment in 2021 in CFS – founded in 2018 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as a spin-out from the Massachusetts Institute of...

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Energy access is improving, but progress towards 2030 targets requires ‘greater collective effort’, says new report

09/07/2025
Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2025 highlights the role of distributed renewable energy (a combination of mini-grid and off-grid solar sys...

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Four timely new reports offer both optimism and concern about the pace of the energy transition

02/07/2025
  WEF Energy Transition Index accelerates – but UK ranks 16thThe World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2025 Energy Transition Index (ETI) shows an an...

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Oil supply growth outpaces demand as fossil fuel phaseout could fall short ahead of COP30

02/07/2025
With intensifying geopolitical strains and heightened uncertainty about global economic prospects, oil markets are undergoing structural changes as th...

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Events and training

Economics of the Oil and Gas Industry - October 2025

13/10/2025
A 2-day introduction to the economics of the oil and gas industry. This course is suitable for students who are new to the oil and gas industry.

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Introduction to LNG - October 2025

20/10/2025
This 2-day training course provides an introduction to the LNG chain. Suitable for students who are new to the LNG sector and/or those with a non-tech...

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Technical guidance publications

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