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Flagship report
Jul 2023
A Vision for Clean Cooking Access for All
…poorest regions of the world, still lack access to clean cooking facilities, with major ramifications for public health, local environments and socio-economic development. Inhaling hazardous smoke from traditional stoves and open fires causes millions of premature deaths annually, disproportionately affecting women and children. The arduous task of collecting firewood also hinders educational and employment opportunities and strains natural resources – compounding costs for vulnerable populations.The International Energy Agency (IEA) and the African Development Bank Group have joined forces to address this critical issue in a special report, A Vision for Clean Cooking Access for All. While covering global trends…
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Country report
Sep 2012
Partner Country Series - Gas Pricing: China’s Challenges and IEA Experience
Partner Country Series - Gas Pricing: China’s Challenges and IEA Experience In line with its aim to meet growing energy demand while shifting away from coal, the People's Republic of China set an ambitious goal of doubling its use of natural gas from 2011 levels by 2015. Prospects as of 2012 were good for significant new supplies – both domestic and imported, conventional and unconventional – to come online in the medium term, but notable challenges remained, particularly concerning gas pricing and the institutional and regulatory landscape. While China’s circumstances are, in many respects unique, some current issues are similar…
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Fuel report
Oct 2018
Energy Efficiency 2018
Analysis and outlooks to 2040 Energy efficiency can bring significant economic, social and environmental benefits. But while energy efficiency is improving around the world, its positive impact on global energy use is overwhelmed by rising economic activity across all sectors. Efficiency can enable economic growth, reduce emissions and improve energy security. The right efficiency policies could enable the world to achieve more than 40% of the emissions cuts needed to reach its climate goals without new technology. Energy Efficiency 2018 looks at why efficiency’s massive potential remains untapped, and through the new Efficient World Scenario explores what would happen if countries maximized…
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Country report
Dec 2025
China’s Official Energy Finance in Emerging and Developing Economies
Evolving institutions, instruments and implications for clean energy transitions Global energy investment exceeded USD 3.3 trillion in 2025, but capital flows remain uneven. Emerging market and developing economies (EMDE) outside China attracted just 27% of total energy investment and 18% of clean energy spending, despite accounting for nearly two-thirds of the global population and the bulk of future demand. Addressing this imbalance requires mobilising more capital from diverse sources into EMDE energy systems.China continues to play a central role in global energy investment flows because of its large domestic investments and its large external capital spending on energy. Since…
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Country report
Aug 2023
Implementing Clean Energy Transitions
Focus on road transport in emerging economies This report assesses the impact of the road transport sector on energy demand, CO2 emissions and air pollution in several selected major emerging economies over the coming decades under several IEA modelling scenarios. Most notably the Announced Pledges Scenario (APS) aims to show to what extent announced ambitions and targets, including the most recent ones, are on the path to deliver emissions reductions required to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.Bringing about a road transport decarbonisation pathway in line with the APS in the selected major emerging economies - Brazil, People’s Republic…
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Country report
Jul 2016
Partner Country Series - Boosting the Power Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa
Lack of energy access and frequent electricity shortages are major impediments to economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa. The region needs increased investment in the power sector. Chinese-built power projects and financial support from the People's Republic of China are contributing to power sector development, extending energy access and facilitating economic growth. This report analyses China’s engagement in the sub-Saharan Africa power sector, including the key drivers underlying Chinese investments. An overview of Chinese projects (generation, transmission and distribution) during the 2010-20 period is provided in this first-ever consolidated effort to map them. The…
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Technology report
Jun 2020
Global EV Outlook 2020
Entering the decade of electric drive? The Global EV Outlook is an annual publication that identifies and discusses recent developments in electric mobility across the globe. It is developed with the support of the members of the Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI). Combining historical analysis with projections to 2030, the report examines key areas of interest such as electric vehicle and charging infrastructure deployment, ownership cost, energy use, carbon dioxide emissions and battery material demand.
This edition features case studies on transit bus electrification in Kolkata (India), Shenzhen (China), Santiago (Chile) and Helsinki (Finland). The report includes policy recommendations that incorporate…
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Report
Aug 2021
Evolving Energy Service Companies in China
Evolving Energy Service Companies in China Energy service companies (ESCOs) deliver energy efficiency projects that are financed through the resulting energy cost savings. ESCOs can thus unlock energy efficiency action by addressing barriers related to funding and technical expertise. Despite their potential, many governments still struggle to stimulate development of a market for ESCOs. Evolving Energy Service Companies in People’s Republic of China, (“China” hereafter) provides an overview of how China has built the world’s largest and fastest growing ESCO market over the past decades. This report highlights how the government’s strategic measures to set up key…
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Report
Apr 2009
Cleaner Coal in China
Cleaner Coal in China China’s coal, mined locally and available at a relatively low cost, has brought enormous benefits to energy consumers in China and to those outside the country who enjoy the products of its coal-based economy. Yet from another perspective, China’s coal use has a high cost. Despite progress, health and safety in the thousands of small coal mines lag far behind the standards achieved in China’s modern, large mines. Environmental degradation is a real and pressing problem at all stages of coal production, supply and use. Adding to these burdens, emissions of carbon…
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Technology report
May 2018
Status of Power System Transformation 2018
Across the world, change is accelerating in power systems driven by the advent of low-cost, abundant wind and solar energy, the rise of distributed energy resources and increasing digitalisation. These factors are leading to a structural shift in the way power systems are best planned and operated. In particular, they call for increased flexibility of power systems. Power system flexibility encompasses all relevant characteristics of a power system that facilitates the reliable and cost-effective management of variability and uncertainty in both supply and demand.
A lack of system flexibility can reduce the resilience of power systems, or lead…