• Commentary

        • 21 Apr 2026

        How governments can best support consumers during this energy crisis

        …relief, such as fuel price caps or tax cuts, and through demand-side measures aimed at reducing energy use. Designing these measures well is critical, and international experience offers useful lessons. While easy to deploy, 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…

        • Commentary

        • 19 Jan 2026

        7 certainties about energy for this age of uncertainty

        …global economy – such as AI, data centres and high-tech manufacturing – and is increasing its share of major sectors like road transport and heating through technologies such as EVs and heat pumps. Already today, more than half of the investment going into the global energy sector each year is going to electricity. Renewables will keep growing Despite some headwinds, in many countries around the world, renewables are meeting much if not all of the rising demand for electricity, often because they are the most competitive option. Solar is leading the way, as the countries that are increasingly driving energy demand…

        • Commentary

        • 02 Mar 2026

        Copper prices have hit record highs, but smelters face mounting strategic pressures

        …The unprecedented price levels have been driven by some important short-term developments, including supply disruptions at several major mines and a build-up of US copper inventories due to tariff uncertainty. But they have also been underpinned by some underlying factors, such as challenges in developing new copper mines and the anticipation of strong demand growth from electrification and artificial intelligence (AI). Lower interest rates, a softer dollar, a broader investor shift into physical assets and significant financial speculation have also amplified upward pressure on prices.The confluence of forces shaping today’s copper market – strong structural demand growth…

        • Commentary

        • 27 Jan 2026

        Designing an effective strategic stockpiling system for critical minerals

        …2025, these risks became a reality, marking a major turning point for global economic security. The rare earths export controls announced by China in October 2025 posed major national and economic security risks across the world, with potentially severe impacts for a range of strategic sectors including energy, automotive, defence, aerospace, AI and semiconductors. Earlier export controls introduced in April had already resulted in some automotive factories around the world being forced to cut utilisation rates or even temporarily shut down.Beyond rare earths, export controls have also been imposed on a range of strategic minerals including gallium, germanium, graphite…

        • Commentary

        • 19 Jun 2026

        Delivering on the EU’s electrification ambitions

        …an Industrial Development Bank to mobilise EUR 100 billion, of which a first EUR 1 billion auction has started. As low- and medium-temperature heat accounts for only around one-third of the EU’s total industrial energy demand, policy support is also emerging for the electrification of higher-temperature processes: 9 of the 15 projects which won funding in the first round of Germany’s Carbon Contracts for Difference Auction aim to use electricity to supply heat at temperatures above 150⁰C.In buildings, reaching the economy-wide target would see the electrification rate increase to 43%, up from 37...

        • Commentary

        • 22 Jun 2026

        How global oil supplies have readjusted to help fill the huge gap left by the Strait of Hormuz shock

        …agreement last week between the United States and Iran, which aims to reopen the Strait and provide the foundation for a lasting peace, is a crucial breakthrough on this front, with signs of exports already increasing since the deal was agreed.The supply disruptions and price spikes to date have prompted a wide range of responses by oil producers, refiners and consumers to adapt to the radically changed market conditions. Many consumers have scaled back their energy use and governments have taken steps to shelter households and businesses from the impacts, especially in the Asia-Pacific region where the effects…

        • Commentary

        • 04 Feb 2026

        Canada is set to play a leading role in supplying the world with responsibly produced critical minerals

        …only part of the critical minerals value chain within their jurisdictions. Access to low-emissions energy sources such as hydro and nuclear power can also serve as a competitive advantage in the development of its critical minerals sector.Canada’s slate of existing and announced projects could enhance its role as a major global supplier of nickel, lithium, graphite, cobalt and rare earth elements. Mining of copper, cobalt, lithium, nickel and graphite is already widespread across several provinces and territories, with 56 active projects in 2024 – and Canada already covers, or aims to cover, multiple stages of the supply chain domestically…

        • Commentary

        • 03 Jun 2026

        India’s electricity demand grows at night: Managing rising cooling demand

        India cooling commentary As India’s cooling demand surges alongside solar power capacity, ensuring sufficient nighttime power capacity is key Power consumption in India is on the rise amid economic and population growth, as well as the growing use of air conditioning as more households purchase units and temperatures increase. Since 2019, the country’s electricity demand has increased by 5% per year. While electricity supply has kept pace, solar PV has accounted for two-thirds of power capacity additions in India since 2019. Against this backdrop, ensuring adequate power generation capacity during periods of peak demand is emerging as…

        • Event

        • 16 Apr 2026

        Key Questions on Energy and AI

        Background information Following the publication of the IEA’s landmark Energy and AI report in 2025, this new report examines how the energy and AI nexus has evolved amid surging investment in data centres and rapid advances in model capabilities. Drawing on fresh datasets and analysis, it explores where electricity demand is rising, how quickly grids and supply chains can respond, and what these shifts mean for energy affordability, security and sustainability.The report is structured as a set of questions and related analysis.

        • Event

        • 01 Jun 2026

        • 16:00

        Key Questions on Energy and AI Webinar

        …and AI, examines how the energy and AI nexus has evolved amid surging investment in data centres and rapid advances in model capabilities. Drawing on fresh datasets and analysis, it explores where electricity demand is rising, how quickly grids and supply chains can respond, and what these shifts mean for energy security, affordability and sustainability.In this webinar for stakeholders, IEA Director of Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks Laura Cozzi and the report's lead authors will present its key findings (slides available here), after which they will hold a panel discussion with executives from government and the technology and energy…

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