Ask Your Advisor: What powers growth after oil?

For decades, oil has fueled economic growth. What will power the next chapter?

The global energy system has been undergoing one of its most significant transformations in over a century, as oil and fossil fuels are being reshaped by technology, sustainability goals, and structural shifts in how energy is produced and consumed.

This transition is increasingly becoming visible in everyday life: you can see more wind turbines in the landscape, electric vehicles in the streets, solar panels on rooftops, and hear the word “sustainable” more often.

Against this backdrop, the world is not simply moving away from fossil fuels but navigating both legacy energy vulnerabilities and transition toward a more diversified energy future.

Bundle of energy

The term you may have heard is clean energy. Clean energy is often associated with solar and wind. Today, however, it represents a much broader transformation. The new energy economy spans not only in power generation, but also storage, electrification, grid modernization, and efficiency technologies.

Leading this shift are companies across the value chain: NextEra Energy and Iberdrola in renewable and broader low-carbon power generation (including some nuclear exposure), National Grid in transmission infrastructure, CATL in EV batteries, and Kingspan and Nexans in energy-efficient materials and grid systems.

Together, they show that the transition is not driven by a single technology, but by an integrated ecosystem of solutions. This expansion is not just structural; it is increasingly reflected in the financial growth of these companies.

As AI, data centers, electric vehicles, and digital infrastructure continue to expand, global energy consumption is set to rise further, with no signs of slowing. Recent geopolitical risks, such as tensions around key oil transit routes like the Strait of Hormuz, highlight the vulnerability of traditional energy systems, reinforcing the urgency of building a more diversified and resilient energy mix.

This creates a powerful intersection: accelerating demand alongside a structural reinvention of supply. Together, these forces point to a long-term redefinition of the sector, one that extends beyond short-term cycles. While volatility is inevitable, the overall direction of change is becoming increasingly clear.

The energy transition is already in motion, reshaping the global landscape in real time. The future of energy will look fundamentally different from its past, and the opportunity lies in positioning ahead of that shift, rather than reacting after it.

The clean energy space is dynamic and fast-moving, with leadership continually evolving as new companies emerge and existing players experience changes in growth momentum.

As such, for investors seeking to participate, investing through a fund is an effective approach, as it provides access to professional management of the portfolio, enabling it to continuously adjust toward emerging leaders and opportunities with strong long-term potential. 

One such fund is the Metro Clean Energy Equity Feeder Fund, which offers investors a way to participate in this transformation through a diversified and professionally managed way. This fund is primarily invested in the BlackRock Global Funds (BGF) – Sustainable Energy Fund Class D2. Its portfolio is anchored by leading companies at the forefront of clean energy innovation.

If you are a Metrobank client, you may reach out to your wealth advisor for more info. If you wish to start your wealth journey with us, you may go to any Metrobank branch. 

To learn more, you may also read: What are UITFs?

MARIEL LOPEZ is an Investment Counselor at Metrobank with experience in Trust Banking. She holds an AB Political Economy degree from the University of Asia & the Pacific (UA&P), an MBA from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, and has completed the Registered Financial Planner (RFP) program. Outside of finance, she enjoys reading, teaches barre, and competes in Hyrox.