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Policy report
Jun 2026
Scaling Up Demand Flexibility
From peak management to efficient system operation This report has been developed as part of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Digital Demand-Driven Electricity Networks (3DEN) initiative to examine the growing importance of demand flexibility in electricity systems amid rising demand, increased renewable energy integration and the electrification of power systems. Case studies in chronological order to examine the changing role of demand flexibility over time from South Africa (2025), Thailand (2030) and Ireland (2035) demonstrate how demand flexibility improves reliability, reduces costs, supports renewables integration and manages network constraints. To realise these benefits, the report emphasises the role for…
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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…
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Report
May 2018
Status of Power System Transformation 2018: Summary for Policy Makers
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…
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Fuel report
Dec 2021
Climate Impacts on South and Southeast Asian Hydropower
Hydropower accounts for 14.5% of total electricity generation in South and Southeast Asia, with a total hydropower installed capacity of 117 GW. The installed hydropower capacity is expected to grow further in order to meet the region’s growing electricity demand and electricity export opportunities, and to maximise the merits of a cost-effective and flexible low-carbon power source. However, climate change poses an increasing challenge to South and Southeast Asian hydropower with rising temperatures, extreme rainfall patterns, melting glaciers, and increasing occurrence of extreme weather events.This report aims to support South and Southeast Asian hydropower in…
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Report
Feb 2009
Coal Mine Methane in China: A Budding Asset with the Potential to Bloom
Coal Mine Methane in China: A Budding Asset with the Potential to Bloom An Assessment of Technology, Policy and Financial Issues Relating to coal mine methane in the People's Republic of China, based on interviews conducted at coal mines in Guizhou and Sichuan Provinces.
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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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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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Technology report
Oct 2011
Technology Roadmap - China Wind Energy Development Roadmap 2050
Roadmap Technology Roadmap - China Wind Energy Development Roadmap 2050 Developed by the Energy Resource Institute of China’s National Reform and Development Commission (ERI-NDRC), the China Wind Energy Roadmap is the first national roadmap that has been developed by a country with IEA support, drawing from its global roadmap series. The report shows how the People's Republic of China, already the world’s largest wind market, could reach 1 000 gigawatts of wind power by the middle of the century, an achievement that would reduce CO2 emissions by 1.5 gigatonnes per year, or roughly equivalent to the…
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Report
Jul 2006
China's Power Sector Reforms: Where to next?
China's Power Sector Reforms: Where to next? In 2005, China added the equivalent of all the power plants in Norway and Sweden to its electricity generating capacity - and its remarkable demand growth shows no sign of abating. But how can the government best assure affordable and environmentally sustainable electricity supply in the future? Assessing the current state of electricity regulation in China, this report draws on experience elsewhere to explore how better to develop and communicate strategy, how to moderate growth in demand through increased efficiency, how to integrate environmental goals into planning and operation, how to ensure sufficient…
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Report
Mar 2024
Clean Energy Transitions Programme 2023
Annual report 2023 The Clean Energy Transitions Programme (CETP) is the IEA’s flagship initiative for accelerating progress toward a global net zero energy system. Launched at the 2017 IEA Ministerial to leverage the Agency’s expertise, insights and influence, the programme has provided world-class analysis, technical assistance and capacity building to support the most ambitious reorientation of the world’s energy systems this century. The CETP’s work is structured across three pillars of activity, with a particular focus on emerging markets and developing economies. The first of these focuses on supporting emerging and developing countries to establish…