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Building Envelopes
Stronger efficiency is the first and best policy to bring down energy bills
Variations in energy efficiency exist both within and among countries. For example, in some European countries with similar climates it can take twice as much energy to heat the same floor area or within one country the energy consumed between the most efficient and least efficient homes for a given size can vary by a factor of up to three.
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Coal
Global coal demand to remain on a plateau in 2025 and 2026
Despite unusual trends across several major markets in the first half of 2025, global coal demand is likely to remain broadly unchanged to 2027 as underlying structural drivers of the world’s coal use remain stable.
Global coal demand increased to a new all-time high in 2024 of around 8.8 billion tonnes, up 1.5% from 2023, as rising consumption in China, India, Indonesia and other emerging economies more than offset declines in advanced economies in Europe, North America and northeast Asia. However, several of those…
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Heat Pumps
…overview of the status of heat pumps in buildings, industry and district heating in China, and examines potential to further accelerate deployment. Heat pumps can play an important role towards meeting China’s goal of CO2 emissions peaking before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060.
Heat pumps are a proven way to provide secure and sustainable heating
Heat pumps, powered by low-emissions electricity, are the central technology in the global transition to secure and sustainable heating. The Future of Heat Pumps, a special report in the IEA’s World Energy Outlook series, provides an outlook for heat pumps…
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Energy Efficiency
11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency
The International Energy Agency’s 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency is being co-hosted by IEA Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol and Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson on 29 and 30 June 2026. Hydro-Québec, a recognised leader in energy efficiency, will also help drive industry engagement at the event.
The 11th edition of the IEA’s landmark event comes at a pivotal moment. Many governments around the world are focused on stronger action on energy efficiency as a key policy priority in order to ensure…
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Hydrogen
Low-emissions hydrogen projects are set to grow strongly despite wave of cancellations and persistent challenges
Worldwide hydrogen demand increased to almost 100 million tonnes in 2024, up 2% from 2023 and in line with overall energy demand growth. The vast majority of this was met by hydrogen produced from fossil fuels without measures in place to capture associated emissions. Sectors that have traditionally used hydrogen, such as oil refining and industry, remained the biggest consumers.
The uptake of low-emissions hydrogen is not yet meeting the expectations set by industry and governments in recent years, especially in light of…
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Nuclear Power
…nearly 420 active nuclear reactors is set to reach a record high in 2025 as Japan restarts production, maintenance works are completed in France, and new reactors begin commercial operations in various markets, including China, Europe, India and Korea. Meanwhile, more than 60 nuclear reactors are currently under construction – representing over 70 gigawatts (GW) of capacity – and governments’ interest in nuclear power is at its highest level since the oil crisis in the 1970s, reflecting efforts to bolster energy security, accelerate clean energy transitions and meet rising demand for electricity. Over 40 countries now have plans to expand its use.
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Electrolysers
Country and regional highlights
Progress is spread across different continents, from China, which leads on installed capacity, to the European Union, which have adopted important policies, and other regions like India and the Middle East moving forward with a small number of large-scale projects
Technology deployment
Global installed electrolyser capacity reached 1.4 GW at the end of 2023, almost double the one at the end of 2022
Technology manufacturing
Innovation
Policy
Investment
Acknowledgements
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Natural Gas
…to undergo major changes by the end of this decade. The unfolding coming wave of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity is set to rebalance the global gas market, enhance energy supply security and improve the affordability of natural gas.
About 300 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year of LNG export capacity – a record – is set to be added by 2030, primarily supported by liquefaction capacity additions in the United States and Qatar. This expansion could translate to a net LNG supply increase of 250 bcm a year, which could drive prices lower and spur higher demand, according to forecasts.
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Space Cooling
Country and regional highlights
Updated energy efficiency standards and new policies target emissions associated with space cooling
CO2 emissions
Progress on efficiency and power decarbonisation have not been sufficient to curb emissions growth from rising space cooling demand
Energy
In 2022 energy consumption for space cooling further increased by more than 5% from 2021
Activity
More than half of floor area additions to 2030 will occur in areas of the world with a high need for space cooling
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Lighting
Country and regional highlights
Prominent progress in increasing standards and labels for lighting
CO2 emissions
CO2 emissions by lighting increased marginally in 2022, despite increased uptake of efficient lamps
Energy
Increased energy demand for service lighting more than offset a drop in residential lighting in 2022
Activity
Increasing building space and population is driving additional demand for lighting
Technology deployment
LED is now the leading lighting technology in homes