From Denmark’s floating wind farms to Singapore’s AI-driven traffic management systems, learn how the world is gearing up for the future
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As the world becomes ever faster and global populations continue to soar (at least for now), the infrastructure that supports our planet must adapt to keep up with such demands. Whether it be increasing the speed at which transport can flit between cities – such as Japan’s upcoming train that can zip between Osaka and Tokyo in just 67 minutes – or creating innovative ways to power the world, such as Denmark’s floating wind farms, developments continue to scale up.
According to PwC, global capital project and infrastructure spending is set to reach more than $9 trillion in 2025 – a vast increase from $4 trillion back in 2012 – demonstrating the large-scale boom in building across the planet.
So, what ambitious projects have nations already completed? And which are still in the works? Let’s get stuck into the various ways that countries have been striving toward a better, well-developed future…
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Turning green
Many countries across the world are increasingly eyeing up green infrastructure. It’s no wonder, considering energy demands are soaring due to a range of factors – from urbanisation to economic development and population growth. Rather than nations leaning on planet-polluting fossil fuels, several projects are instead looking toward harvesting energy in much cleaner ways.
By 2030, more than $10 trillion will be invested in green energy projects worldwide – and already, there is a country clearly taking the lead for its renewable energy capacity: China. With a staggering 1300 GW capacity, it takes top spot by a mile, followed by United States (450 GW), India (180 GW), Brazil (165 GW), Germany (145 GW) and the United Kingdom (80 GW).
One of the largest green projects China has embarked upon is the Three Gorges Dam, the largest hydroelectric plant in the world that has reduced the country’s reliance on coal. However, the project has stirred controversy for the fact it caused the displacement of millions who lived in the area it is now situated in.
Some notable green energy projects include Denmark’s current project to build floating wind farms, where it will be constructing the first artificial energy island in the North Sea. This will be large enough to house a small village of engineers and power 10 million homes across Europe.
Additionally, this month, the island nations of Palau, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands have also made significant strides in green energy, with a large-scale solar panel project being set up across the Pacific Islands. It’s estimated the new installation will reduce carbon emissions by around 800 metric tons each year.
Another innovative example of green infrastructure is Morocco’s Noor Solar Complex, spanning more than 6,000 acres across the Sahara Desert. The unique feature of complex is its use of concentrated solar power, meaning it stores energy in molten salt, enabling it to continue generating power even after the sun has set.
Becoming ‘smarter’
The urban hubs of cities are some of the fastest developing regions in the world. By 2050, estimates suggest nearly 70 per cent of the world’s population will live in one – so creating efficient infrastructure within them is vital if they are to function efficiently. The cities that do this well are known as ‘smart cities’ – dubbed as such for having strong technology-based tools allowing them to achieve a more sustainable future.
According to the IMD’s 2024 Smart City Index, Zurich in Switzerland comes out on top, ranking as the number one smart city in the world.
For Zurich, then, some of the infrastructure it possesses which makes it rank so highly include its circular management of waste – carried out through schemes such as repair advice and services, a warehouse for reusable goods and a centrally located recycling plant for citizens – as well as its investment in healthcare and efficient use of energy.
Other examples of smart infrastructure across the world include Singapore’s AI-driven traffic management system, which uses real-time data from traffic cameras and sensors across roads. In doing so, this system has enabled rush-hour delays to be reduced by 20 per cent, a welcomed decrease by citizens considering the country has experienced a huge uptick in its daily travel demand: from 9 million journeys in 2017 to 16 million in 2022.
Saudi Arabia is also working on a project to build an entire city known as ‘The Line’, named as such for its intended design in a straight linear path. Expected to be fully complete in 100 years, the city will be home to 300,000 people – although its official website says it will eventually accommodate nine million people – and be entirely car-free and AI-powered. Every amenity will be within a five-minute walk or a ride on an underground hyperloop.
Diving deeper
By 2100, estimates suggest nearly one billion people could live in either underground or submerged cities, driven by a combination of rising sea levels, land shortages and more energy-efficient living spaces.
One potential project that has shown how a submerged city might look is Japan’s Ocean Spiral, a concept for a $26 billion underwater city that could eventually be home to 5,000 people.
The main portion of the city would exist in a huge sphere known as the ‘Blue Garden’, while a 3-4km spiral underneath it would connect the city to the ‘Earth Factory’ on the seabed floor, where power could be generated via ocean thermal energy conversion. There are no concrete plans to build Ocean Spiral yet, but if construction plans did move forward, it would sit 16,400 feet below sea level off the coast of Tokyo.
However, there are some major considerations to think about when building underwater cities. Not only would it be logistically challenging, but construction would need to also consider factors like building structures close enough to the surface for inhabitants to receive adequate sunlight and vitamin D.
