Too much of what is written about energy is negative, even despairing. Too much space is taken up by those predicting gloom, seeking subsidies or looking for incredible global agreements. There is a place for rational optimism and it is a pleasure to find that case presented so clearly and objectively in a new paper from the Grantham Institute.

The work from the independent academic body based at London’s Imperial College describes the transition of the market over the next two decades by focusing on two areas — the advance of solar power through the deployment of photovoltaics and the growth of electric vehicles.

This is not an advocacy document or wishful thinking but a well-sourced projection based on what is already happening. It deserves to be read by everyone working in the energy sector, by policy makers and perhaps most urgently by investors. Its conclusions really do qualify for inclusion in the overused category of “breaking news”.