• Commentary

        • 23 Jun 2026

        How accelerating electrification could strengthen energy security in Southeast Asia

        …energy demand has risen by around 40%, while electricity demand has grown even faster – twice as fast as overall energy use. Although renewables have increased significantly over the past decade, fossil fuels have continued to dominate, meeting over 70% of energy demand growth across this period, with oil accounting for nearly half of total energy consumption.Rapid energy demand growth and continued dependence on fossil fuels brings greater exposure to energy security risks. The region is increasingly reliant on imported fuels, deepening its exposure to price volatility and supply disruptions. The current energy crisis linked to the Middle East conflict…

        • Commentary

        • 15 Jun 2026

        From farms to fuel: Ukraine’s biomethane opportunity for energy security and European decarbonisation

        …emissions gas. Home to the largest agricultural land area in Europe, Ukraine has the resource potential to become one of the continent’s leading biomethane producers, supplying both its domestic market and the EU via an already existing pipeline infrastructure.The first exports of biomethane come at a critical moment. Repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have exposed the vulnerabilities of centralised energy supply. Although biomethane relies on the same gas distribution and transmission infrastructure as natural gas, its production is inherently more decentralised than domestic natural gas extraction, reducing exposure to disruptions affecting individual production sites. Biogas and…

        • Commentary

        • 21 Apr 2026

        How governments can best support consumers during this energy crisis

        …gas and a range of energy-related commodities.As concerns over supply security have grown, prices have risen across several parts of the energy system, increasing pressure on household budgets, public finances and economic activity more broadly. In response, many governments have announced emergency measures to protect consumers from higher energy costs. The IEA has supported these efforts by launching its largest-ever release of emergency oil stocks, publishing a menu of demand-side measures that governments, businesses and households can take to shelter consumers from price pressures, and tracking the actions being taken through its new Energy Crisis Policy Response Tracker.So…

        • Commentary

        • 13 May 2026

        Energy crisis threatens world’s most vulnerable as cooking fuel shortages grow

        The Energy Crisis hits the Homefront: A growing shortage of cooking fuels The Middle East crisis has highlighted the energy security risks for a fundamental need: the ability to cook a meal The conflict in the Middle East has triggered a global energy crisis of unprecedented magnitude. The daily volumes of oil lost to global markets in March 2026 surpassed the peak supply losses of the two major oil shocks of the 1970s combined.Previous energy crises affected economies and societies in profound ways, often forcing households to ration fuel for their cars and heating for their homes. The 2026…

        • Commentary

        • 09 Jun 2026

        The energy crisis creates even stronger impetus for EU electrification

        draft title Electrification is central to meeting the European Union’s goals on energy security, competitiveness, affordability, and emissions reductions. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has highlighted the risks of over-dependence on imported fuels and concentrated supply routes, making the case for electrification even stronger.In the EU, around 70% of electricity generation is already supplied from domestic, low-emissions sources. And yet end-users (industry, buildings and transport 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…

        • Commentary

        • 13 Mar 2026

        Why the growth of energy service companies is uneven globally

        …past five years Energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective tools for enhancing energy security, reducing household energy bills and supporting countries’ efforts to reduce emissions. Energy service companies (ESCOs) – firms that develop and implement energy efficiency projects typically financed through verified energy savings – are playing a growing role in delivering energy efficiency improvements across buildings, industry and transport infrastructure worldwide. By integrating project development, financing and performance guarantees, ESCOs can offer a proven way to reduce upfront investment barriers and shift technical and performance risks away from consumers.As highlighted in the IEA’s Energy Efficiency 2025…

        • Commentary

        • 19 Jan 2026

        7 certainties about energy for this age of uncertainty

        …such as next-generation geothermal energy. Nuclear power is making a comeback After a series of setbacks in the 2010s, nuclear is on the rise again, generating more electricity than ever before last year. Today, more than 70 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity is under construction, one of the highest levels in the past 30 years. Soaring electricity demand from data centres means tech companies are also turning to nuclear, attracted by its promise of low-emissions, round-the-clock power supply. Energy security risks are multiplying, especially for critical minerals Traditional hazards affecting the security of oil and gas…

        • Commentary

        • 08 Jun 2026

        International collaboration continues to power innovation in energy technologies

        …strengthen the energy security and sustainability, this coordination has accelerated progress and shed new light on the implications of innovative technologies around the world.An understanding that energy technology innovation can play a key role in reducing the likelihood and severity of energy shocks led to the establishment of the IEA’s Technology Collaboration Programme shortly after the Agency’s launch in 1974. And today, the motivation behind this work is just as strong.The IEA’s Technology Collaboration Programmes (TCPs) are unique international networks of independent groups that collaborate to advance the research, development and commercialisation of energy technologies…

        • 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

        • 06 Mar 2026

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

        …Meanwhile, LEDs sold today average close to 100 lm/W – with some premium and professional LEDs exceeding 200 lm/W. Supported by strong policies and innovation, LEDs have become one of the biggest energy efficiency success stories of recent years, with long lifetimes and falling costs helping them dominate global markets. The efficiency gains have contributed to improved energy security, reduced energy bills and avoided higher emissions.Yet the global LED transformation is not over, and a second wave of deployment is now taking shape. Uptake remains uneven across regions, while demand for brighter spaces and illuminated infrastructure continues to…

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