The Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA) and Mission Possible Partnership (MPP) announced that clean industry is entering a new phase of momentum, with 1,001 commercial-scale projects now recorded across all stages of development.

This marks strong growth across multiple sectors and regions despite ongoing geopolitical headwinds.

New data published in MPP’s Global Project Tracker, supported by the ITA, reveals 144 commercial-scale projects worldwide have now reached final investment decision (FID).

Of these, 82 are operational and 62 have secured funding, spanning the most energy-intensive sectors: aluminium, cement, chemicals, fuels for aviation and shipping, and steel. 

A global opportunity wide open for the taking

The Global Project Tracker data identifies clean industrial plants in development or operational across 70 countries, representing nearly $2 trillion in remaining investment potential.

The ‘new industrial sunbelt’, a region rich in renewable energy resources spanning Latin America, Australia, Africa and Asia, claims the largest share of this opportunity, with India now home to the world’s third-largest clean industry pipeline and Brazil not far behind.

As clean industry continues to gain momentum, the coming months are set to be even more transformational, with 70 projects identified beyond China as poised for financing and representing a combined value of $140 billion.

More than a third of these projects are located in emerging economies from Brazil to Namibia, where realising this opportunity could rapidly unlock significant benefits for sustainable economic growth, supply chain resilience and job creation.

The Global Project Tracker data illustrates the massive investment potential for clean industry to grow economies, but also notes that this potential is dependent on stronger demand-side policy.

The ITA has worked with partners across the value chain to test new approaches, support project developers and improve investment conditions, helping more projects move toward their goal of FID.

In Brazil, Acelen Renewables are harnessing the potential of Brazil’s existing deforested and degraded land to build the first ‘seed to fuel’ large-scale project turning macaúba into jet fuel for global markets, while providing new opportunities to local communities.

Elsewhere, Hydro Alunorte, is the world’s largest alumina refinery outside of China, and is implementing a multi-phase strategy of electrification and biomass integration while maintaining its market competitiveness.

In India, with its healthy pipeline of 47 projects in development, the benefits of energy security and resilience to external shocks are matched by the job creation and inward investment opportunities.

China is racing ahead

China is moving rapidly to claim an early strategic advantage, with 12 projects reaching FID in the past year and 54 confirmed overall, surpassing any other region.

This speed is driven by an unprecedented renewable energy build-out and proactive industrial policy.

Most of these projects span the methanol, ammonia and aviation sectors to meet domestic and international clean fuel demand.

 However, current supplies will only meet a small fraction of what will be needed for global trade and travel.

In south-west China, the first production line of the China Hongqiao Group’s aluminium facility began operating in July of this year.

 Powered by 4 GW of solar energy, it is expected to match the total aluminium output of North American by 2026.

Meanwhile, the world’s first commercial-scale green ammonia plant became operational this summer at Envision Energy’s Green Hydrogen Park in Chifeng, China.

Clear routes to stronger, cleaner growth now visible

Clean fuel markets are scaling fast. In aviation, the EU’s sustainable aviation fuel mandate came into force this year, while emerging national standards across Asia and the UK are expanding market demand.

In shipping, the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) target of 5 per cent clean fuel uptake by 2030 has spurred a wave of new ammonia and methanol projects from Singapore to Brazil, projects expected to accelerate once the IMO finalises its net-zero framework.

Progress in the ammonia and methanol industries are especially significant, as both are expected to drive down the cost of clean hydrogen production.

As prices fall, clean fertiliser could soon undercut conventional ‘grey’ production – a shift with major implications for food and energy security in import-dependent countries such as India and Brazil.

These same investments are also laying the groundwork for a broader clean hydrogen economy that will underpin industrial competitiveness worldwide.

However, while existing and anticipated policies are driving demand in fuels, it remains limited in other sectors.

In cement, deep decarbonisation remains challenging, but affordable solutions such as calcined clay are already cutting emissions by up to 70 per cent, and at lower cost than traditional technology.

Reducing clinker import dependence and lowering construction costs strengthens economic resilience, allowing emerging markets to build faster and cleaner.

Leading developers based in Europe and North Africa, including Ecocem, Vicat and CBI, report strong demand from the construction industry.

Faustine Delasalle, Mission Possible Partnership CEO and Executive Director of Industrial Transition Accelerator: “It’s taken nearly a decade to reach this point. With a record number of operational and under construction plants across all sectors, clean industry is no longer a vision for the future, it is a burgeoning opportunity we can speed up today. Building on the leadership of many companies around the world, governments and investors have a unique opportunity to turn today’s plans into plants, which together will make up tomorrow’s global clean industrial economy. Those who demonstrate strategic foresight and unwavering commitment to the clean industrial transition stand to reap its benefits.”