Global investment in clean fuels will need to quadruple by 2030 to meet global clean fuel ambitions, according to a new World Economic Forum (WEF) report. Highlighting the potential of the sector to stimulate job growth and diversify energy supply, the report sets out policy, business, and financing measures that can turn global goals into credible, economically viable projects.
Clean fuels – mainly liquid or gaseous fuels, ranging from biofuels to hydrogen derivatives and lower-carbon fossil fuels – are emerging as a key component of the energy transition, offering countries a way to strengthen energy security, support industrial and rural jobs, and cut emissions in transport and industry.
With liquid and gaseous fuels providing 56 percent of global energy today, the new World Economic Forum (WEF) report, “Fuelling the Future: How Business, Finance and Policy can Accelerate the Clean Fuels Market“, developed in collaboration with Bain & Company and released on January 15, 2026, shows how clean fuel investment can build on and strengthen existing systems and infrastructure, and unlock sustainable economic growth.
A newly launched Digital Playbook accompanies the report, providing practical case studies and examples to help accelerate implementation.
Clean fuels represent an important pathway to advancing sustainability while continuing to supply the energy required by the global economic system. Our new research shows that the clean fuels industry can build on existing infrastructure to deliver durable environmental benefits alongside economic value, said Roberto Bocca, Head of the Centre for Energy and Materials, World Economic Forum.
While clean fuels currently make up just over 1 percent of global clean energy investment, ambition is growing, reflected in initiatives such as the “Belém 4x” pledge, through which more than 25 countries committed at COP30 to quadruple production and use by 2035.
The report notes that achieving this ambition will require coordinated action across policy, finance, and industry to bring forward a larger pipeline of viable projects that deliver returns to investors and long-term value to national economies.
Over the last few years, the question among business leaders in the industry has evolved from should we invest, to how and when. We find that those who succeed in generating value are rethinking how to approach projects, focusing on customers, embracing flexibility and partnerships, and mitigating investment risk, said Cate Hight, partner in the Energy and Natural Resource practice at Bain & Company.
Need to better align supply and demand
Despite growing interest, many clean fuel projects still struggle to advance due to high upfront costs, uncertain demand, fragmented value chains, and uneven regional policy environments.
Addressing these barriers will require predictable, performance-based policies, well-designed public-private risk-sharing mechanisms, and closer collaboration across value chains to better align supply and demand.
These approaches will be essential to help more projects reach the investment stage and to build a stable pipeline of commercially viable, regionally tailored opportunities.
The report’s analysis draws on detailed technical and economic modelling, expert consultations, and contributions from more than 30 organizations participating in the World Economic Forum’s Future of Clean Fuels initiative.
A broad definition of clean fuels is considered, encompassing liquid biofuels, biogases, lower-carbon fossil fuels, synthetic fuels, and other hydrogen derivatives.
The report includes case studies covering diverse fuel types and across various regions – Latin America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, demonstrating how projects have addressed policy, financing, and technology challenges.
This work forms part of the Forum’s broader efforts to mobilize demand and scale solutions through platforms including the Future of Clean Fuels initiative, the First Movers Coalition, Airports of Tomorrow, and the Transitioning Industrial Clusters initiative.
