Report: Middle powers’ alliances drive clean energy cooperation

Clean energy cooperation across borders depends increasingly on flexible alliances among middle powers rather than broad multilateral frameworks alone, according to a report. The political economy assessment examines how 16 strategic economies manage the global clean power transition during multipolar geopolitical fragmentation.

Middle Powers Face Internal Policy Friction in Energy Transitions

The report groups ten strategically important middle powers alongside six systemic spotlight nations to evaluate their transition readiness. Australia targets renewable super-power status alongside critical mineral scaling. However, its export revenues from coal and liquefied natural gas create internal policy friction that slows transition momentum. Germany expands its renewables share rapidly. Phasing out fossil fuels by 2045 requires the country to accelerate grid flexibility and transport electrification.

Indonesia ties its clean energy deployment directly to domestic industrialization. Coal remains central to its current power generation mix and economic transformation plans. Japan prioritizes industrial resilience and energy security over rapid decarbonization. Grid constraints and regulatory barriers continue to limit conventional wind and solar expansion in the country.

Nigeria combines distributed renewables with a fragile, gas-dependent grid. Oil and gas remain core components of its national economic security. Poland advances power system diversification despite deep coal dependencies, an ageing grid, and heavy parallel investments in gas infrastructure. South Africa uses market reform and private sector participation to drive renewable deployment. Yet coal remains deeply entrenched, and expanded gas infrastructure risks fossil lock-in.

South Korea frames decarbonization around industrial competitiveness and energy security. Structural reliance on heavy industries demands a managed, pragmatic transition pace. Türkiye pursues a 2053 net-zero target alongside energy security goals. Renewable expansion moves forward alongside sustained fossil fuel consumption. The United Kingdom scales renewables, grids and storage after exiting coal. It now faces the operational challenge of breaking complete gas dependence across its power system.

Systemic Spotlights Across Global Markets

Six additional countries shape the geopolitical situation of clean power delivery. Brazil maintains a largely clean power grid while expanding oil extraction in parallel. China scales clean technology manufacturing and renewables at enormous scale. Coal remains central to its immediate energy security framework, while grid bottlenecks limit renewable displacement.

Ethiopia builds upon an almost fully renewable clean power system. Low electricity access rates, affordability pressures, and widespread biomass use constrain delivery. India accelerates renewable manufacturing to meet soaring electricity demand. Continued coal expansion and storage shortages threaten long-term fossil lock-in. Mexico links renewable growth to nearshoring industrialization. Centralized state power models and gas dependence constrain private clean energy investment. The Philippines records rapid solar expansion due to high power prices and imported fuel exposure. Entrenched coal contracts and grid bottlenecks slow the displacement of legacy fossil generation.

Priorities for Practical Delivery Partnerships

Bilateral, regional, and sectoral coalitions can deliver a cooperation dividend. Nations pooling complementary assets achieve transition goals faster and at lower costs than isolated actors. The report outlines four primary areas for joint action. Countries must place clean energy security at the center of international diplomacy.

Partnerships must support complementary pathways away from fossil fuels toward electrification. Governments need to mobilize finance through practical delivery frameworks. Nations should utilize clean energy trade partnerships and regional infrastructure projects to diversify supply chains. Cross-border coalitions focused on grid reinforcement and supply chain resilience offer a pragmatic path forward.