📊 EV’s charts of the week #27
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DEPARTMENT OF DECARBONISATION
The way to net zero
The International Energy Agency has been on a roll lately. The organization has come out with a firm and clear statement on reaching net-zero: There is no need for investment in new fossil fuel supply in their pathway to net zero. Via Glen Peters
The proof is in the pudding
Renewable power generation grew at the fastest rate for two decades in 2020. According to the IEA, 278 gigawatts of capacity was added last year, a 45 per cent jump and the largest year-over-year increase since 1999. Via Statista
The missing link?
Shayle Kann tweets, “cheap, clean, abundant, reliable electricity could be the skeleton key to unlock deep decarbonization across a range of heavy-emitting sectors.” Could it be so simple? Via Shayle Kann
Can’t make the chips fast enough
The boom in electric vehicle sales, especially in China, is helping the rise in renewables described above. The challenge now is to make sure we can produce enough chips to power all these EVs. Via FT
DEPARTMENT OF WORK
The hours can kill you
Longer working hours in emerging and developing regions is killing workers. Literally. Via Statista
Making ends meet
The companies with the highest number of payday loan recipients confirm what we might expect about the American labour market. Namely, low hourly wages aren’t enough for these workers to make ends meet. Will the labour shortage result in higher wages and fewer payday loans? Via Priceonomics
In short supply
As we discussed in last week’s edition of the newsletter (EV #322), we are living in a time of shortage. Everything from semiconductors to workers is in short supply. A quick scan of Google Trends reveals some interesting data. Top shortages searched include gas, food, teachers, and labour. Rising shortages searched include coin, chip, meat, food, and Nintendo Switch shortages. Via Google Trends
DEPARTMENT OF CRYPTO
What about the fees?
Gas fees on the Ethereum blockchain continue to be a headache for users and developers looking to build on the blockchain. No wonder alternative blockchains such as Solana are gaining value during the major downturn in cryptocurrencies prices like Bitcoin. Via WSJ
Massive loan volume
Makes sense that gas fees are high given there is more than $18b in outstanding loans on Ethereum now. It's a close race between the main lending platforms Compound ~$7b, Aave ~$6b and MakerDAO ~$5b. Via Dune Analytics
Room to grow
Decentralized exchange trading volume keeps growing. Halfway through May volumes already beat April with $83n traded. In the last 30 days, there was over $100n traded on Ethereum. Via Dune Analytics
AND FINALLY
Look into the camera, please
Sure, we all know how popular facial recognition technology is in China but what about the US? The market is expected to double in the next six years. Via FT
Another view on Africa
If Africa was divided by language instead of colonial borders, it would look something like this. Via Simon Kuestenmacher
What are you afraid of?
This viral chart is quite something. Do you feel like you could defeat geese with your bare hands?Via Catherine Rampell
Endnote
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🤩 Don’t forget to pre-order my first book. Early orders help drive momentum. (As a member of Exponential View, I’m pretty certain you’ll want to read it.) 📚
Thanks so much!
Azeem