• Commentary

        • 25 Mar 2026

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

        …tight margins, volatile energy prices and intensifying global competition, reducing energy waste is not only a cost-saving measure, but also a way to protect productivity, manage risk and strengthen their 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…

        • Commentary

        • 06 Mar 2026

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

        …the first generation of already-installed LEDs is approaching end-of-life, creating an opportunity for the next phase of LED adoption – one that is focused on higher performance, longer lifetimes and smarter systems. Global LED adoption is moving at three speeds The global shift to LEDs has been strongly supported by government policies. Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) – which now cover about 110 countries – and labelling schemes have been key drivers. Energy efficiency obligation schemes, such as white certificates and renovation programs, have also helped stimulate LED adoption. In addition, international agreements such as the Minamata Convention on Mercury…

        • Commentary

        • 13 Mar 2026

        Why the growth of energy service companies is uneven globally

        …driving project values from about USD 5.9 billion in the early 2010s to over USD 22 billion in 2024. Growth has been sustained by progressively tighter energy 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…

        • Commentary

        • 09 Jun 2026

        The energy crisis creates even stronger impetus for EU electrification

        …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 can be cheaper to operate than conventional fuel-based technologies even when electricity costs more per unit of energy…

        • 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

        • 23 Jun 2026

        How accelerating electrification could strengthen energy security in Southeast Asia

        …For example, around 30% of energy consumed in Brunei Darussalam and Viet Nam is electricity, up from less than 20% in the mid-2000s. Some segments of the economy are also seeing rapid growth in electrification: in 2025, EV sales in the region more than doubled year-over-year and accounted for nearly 20% of all car sales – higher than the sales share in a number of advanced economies.Even so, there remains significant potential to further expand electrification across Southeast Asia’s industry, transport and buildings sectors – supporting more secure, affordable and sustainable energy systems across the region. Several of…

        • Commentary

        • 19 Jun 2026

        Delivering on the EU’s electrification ambitions

        …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 in a series examining the case for electrification in the EU. The previous instalment looked at the cost-competitiveness of electric technologies under 2025 price conditions. This commentary explores where new electricity consumption is expected to emerge across end-use sectors in order to reach the 32% target, and some of the challenges and opportunities that come with it.Over the past decade, electricity demand has grown almost twice as fast as energy demand globally…

        • Commentary

        • 19 Jan 2026

        7 certainties about energy for this age of uncertainty

        ED commentary The energy sector, like many others, is contending with a blizzard of uncertainties, complicating the work of policymakers, business leaders and investors.Geopolitical twists and turns are straining long-established relationships and upending deeply held assumptions. The World Uncertainty Index, devised by economists from the IMF and Stanford University, has hit unprecedented levels in recent months.But in this time of flux, there are still some important trends that we can identify with some confidence. Here are seven that can help us keep our bearings: The world has entered the age of electricity Oil and gas will still…

        • Commentary

        • 08 Jun 2026

        International collaboration continues to power innovation in energy technologies

        …in supporting governments’ ambitions to achieve a secure, sustainable and affordable energy future. The meeting will also welcome the Mission Innovation (MI) Missions Directors to discuss opportunities for collaboration, with the IEA set to host the MI Secretariat at its headquarters starting this year. Amid the current crisis and beyond, energy innovation plays a major role in advancing global energy security The energy sector is an innovation powerhouse. Globally, one in ten patents is related to energy – ahead of patents for chemicals, pharmaceuticals or transport. This reflects rapidly advancing technology development across multiple fields – such as battery technologies, which ac...

        • Commentary

        • 15 Jun 2026

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

        …cover crops, agro-industrial by-products and organic municipal solid waste. The IEA estimates Ukraine’s biogas and biomethane production potential, using only waste and residues, at roughly 11.6 billion cubic meters equivalent (bcme) per year, making it the European leader in terms of available feedstock.  Ukraine’s biomethane sector benefits from another advantage in addition to feedstock availability: well-developed domestic gas infrastructure. The country’s extensive gas network connects in the West and South to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania via Moldova, with a combined exit capacity of around 140 bcm of natural gas per year. Ukraine…

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