• Commentary

        • 13 Mar 2026

        Why the growth of energy service companies is uneven globally

        …efficiency and emissions reduction requirements, alongside formal support for energy performance contracting.In the United States, which already had one of the most well-established ESCO markets, the Energy Act of 2020 accelerated market growth by requiring federal agencies to implement at least half of identified efficiency measures through performance contracting. This created stable public sector demand for ESCO services and nearly doubled the market compared with pre-2020 levels.Investment levels in Europe meanwhile experienced a modest contraction in 2024, remaining close to pre-2020 levels. However, some countries are showing renewed dynamism. In Poland, more than 130 energy…

        • Commentary

        • 06 Mar 2026

        The next wave of LED lighting: Smarter, circular and more efficient

        …overall lighting electricity demand. In 2024, around 8% of global electricity demand – or about 2 200 terawatt hours (TWh) – was attributed to lighting in buildings and outdoor applications, excluding industry and agriculture. These figures reflect the latest available data and define the scope of the analysis presented in this commentary.  Estimates from industry and experts place global electricity consumption for lighting, including industrial lighting, between 2 500 and 3 500 TWh in recent years.Over the past two decades, lighting has seen major efficiency gains thanks to the rapid uptake of the light-emitting diode (LED). A typical halogen lamp…

        • Commentary

        • 22 Mar 2026

        Wired for water: How electrification is transforming desalination

        …the northeast, and the number of people facing water stress today equals the country’s total population in the early 2000s.The Middle East and North Africa, home to 490 million people in 2024, faces extreme water stress. Around 75% of the population lived in water-stressed areas in 2000, and despite slightly faster population growth in relatively less stressed zones – such as northern Morocco, northeast Algeria and the Tigris valley – more than 70% remain exposed to high or extreme stress today. Countries have several levers to address water stress: improving agricultural efficiency, expanding water reuse and rainwater harvesting, and…

        • Commentary

        • 23 Jan 2026

        Investment in next-generation geothermal is surging. Policies are key to further growth

        …s Future of Geothermal Energy report, published in late 2024, estimated that with continued technology improvements and reductions in project costs, next-generation geothermal could meet up to 15% of global electricity demand growth to 2050. Geothermal technology families Next-generation geothermal technology remains at an early stage of development. In general, geothermal projects remain among the most capital-intensive in the energy sector, with drilling and well costs often representing up to 80% of total costs. Yet the past year has seen notable progress. Once considered prohibitively expensive, next-generation projects are now demonstrating measurable efficiency gains and more…

        • Commentary

        • 25 Mar 2026

        Businesses see competitive value of energy efficiency, but smaller firms struggle to access solutions

        …position in global markets. Yet not all firms have the same capacity to quickly improve their energy efficiency.New analysis of the 2025 IEA Industrial Competitiveness Survey – which covered 1 000 companies across 14 countries – shows that business leaders view energy efficiency as closely linked to their competitive performance. But the survey also highlights a persistent divide: while large companies are often well positioned to capture these benefits, many that are small and medium-sized face barriers that limit their ability to invest in efficiency and compete on the same terms. Energy efficiency drives competitiveness across all sectors, with select industries…

        • Commentary

        • 21 Apr 2026

        How governments can best support consumers during this energy crisis

        …untargeted energy bill support primarily benefits higher-income households and puts pressure on public finances When prices rise sharply, governments often first turn to broad-based price support measures that can provide immediate relief to consumers. This is already happening, with several countries in Asia and Europe temporarily capping fuel prices or reducing energy taxes.However, while untargeted support measures can be implemented relatively quickly, they present two major challenges. First, universally lowering the price of fuel when supply is tight sends the wrong market signal, weakening incentives to reduce energy use and improve efficiency in the context of the…

        • Commentary

        • 19 Jun 2026

        Delivering on the EU’s electrification ambitions

        …Electrification is a key pillar of the EU’s energy security, industrial competitiveness, and climate strategy. Today, imported fuels account for around 60% of the EU’s total energy demand and cost the bloc EUR 380 billion in 2024. The risks associated with the EU’s reliance on fuel imports have been highlighted by recent market disruptions linked to the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict in the Middle East, bringing renewed attention to the EU’s target of increasing electrification from 24% today to 32% of energy consumption by 2030.This commentary is the second…

        • Commentary

        • 09 Jun 2026

        The energy crisis creates even stronger impetus for EU electrification

        …sectors), source less than one quarter of their energy consumption from electricity. Today, around two-thirds of end-use energy consumption relies on fossil fuels, of which the EU imports more than 80%.This commentary is the first in a series examining the case for electrification in the EU, identifying cost competitiveness and areas where targeted policies could catalyse change. Fuel price ratios determine electrification competitiveness To make electrification cost-competitive, electricity prices need to fall below a threshold ratio relative to the price of fossil fuels. Because most electrification options are several times more efficient than conventional alternatives, they…

        • Commentary

        • 10 Feb 2026

        What it would take to unlock the next phase of hydrogen growth

        Can hydrogen scale up successfully Global hydrogen demand reached 100 Mt in 2024, mainly from refineries, the production of chemicals and the iron and steel sector. Demand grew by almost 2% from 2023, in line with overall energy demand growth. This consumption was almost completely met with hydrogen produced from unabated fossil fuels, using 290 billion cubic metres of natural gas and 90 million tonnes of coal equivalent. However, alternative technologies that can produce low-emissions hydrogen have attracted a lot of interest from governments given their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diversify energy supply, particularly in countries that have a…

        • Commentary

        • 23 Jun 2026

        How accelerating electrification could strengthen energy security in Southeast Asia

        …s rising energy demand while mitigating these energy security risks. Efficient electric technologies, such as electric motors, heat pumps and electric vehicles, can deliver the same services while consuming less energy than fossil fuel-based alternatives. Shifting final energy consumption towards electricity generated from domestic and low-emissions sources can also reduce dependence on imported fuels, strengthen system resilience and reduce emissions.Electrification is already shaping energy trends across Southeast Asia, with electricity accounting for 23% of final energy consumption today – higher than the global average. Some countries have even higher shares. For example, around 30% of energy consumed in…

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