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The Value of Demand Flexibility
Benefits beyond balancing This policy brief, developed under the International Energy Agency’s Digital Demand-Driven Electricity Networks (3DEN) Initiative, examines the value of demand flexibility as a core component of modern electricity systems, with a strong emphasis on its role in improving energy efficiency. As electricity demand grows and power systems become more electrified, decentralised and renewable-rich, managing when and how electricity is used is increasingly as important as expanding supply.The brief sets out a clear framework for understanding demand flexibility and highlights its contribution to an efficiency-first approach to power system planning and operation. By…
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Indicators Handbook for Just and Inclusive Energy Transitions
Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions: Designing for Fairness The Indicators Handbook is based on the voluntary G20 Principles for Just and Inclusive Transitions, endorsed by G20 leaders in November 2024. The principles, which reflect varying perspectives, contexts and experiences, form a framework for approaching transitions that maximises benefits and mitigates the risk of unintended consequences. Designed as a technical resource, the Indicators Handbook provides guidance for governments and other stakeholders on identifying relevant indicators as a first step towards tracking policy design and implementation in line with the G20 Principles for Just and Inclusive Transitions. The Handbook…
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Breakthrough Agenda Report 2026
Strengthening international collaboration to accelerate delivery Breakthrough Agenda Report 2026 Since its launch at COP 26, the Breakthrough Agenda has served as a framework for strengthening international collaboration across major emitting sectors. Participating countries have endorsed shared “Breakthrough” goals to make clean technologies and sustainable practices more affordable, accessible and attractive than their alternatives by 2030 across the power, road transport, hydrogen, steel, cement and buildings sectors.The Breakthrough Agenda establishes an annual cycle to track progress towards these goals, identify where stronger or more co‑ordinated international action is needed, and support collective efforts to accelerate deployment. Central to this process…
- Executive summary
- Hydrogen
- Road transport
- Steel
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+ 3 pages
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Global Methane Tracker 2025
…global warming and improving air quality. The energy sector – including oil, natural gas, coal and bioenergy – accounts for more than 35% of methane emissions from human activity and has some of the best opportunities to cut these emissions. The annually updated Global Methane Tracker is an essential tool for raising awareness about methane emissions across the energy sector and the opportunities to bring them down.The Tracker presents our latest sector-wide emissions estimates – based on the most recent data from satellites and measurement campaigns – and discusses different abatement options along with their associated costs. This 2025 update adds several…
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Scaling Up Transition Finance
…to cut global emissions, especially in areas where clean technologies are not yet commercially available or cost-competitive. This is where transition finance comes in: it can help emissions-intensive countries, companies and sectors shift over time towards sustainable practices that are aligned with long-term climate and development goals.In this new report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) provides analyses to map the landscape for transition finance, explains why it matters, and highlights approaches that could move the debate forward.The report also examines the role of transition finance in the steel and cement, critical minerals, and the natural…
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Demand- and Supply-Side Measures for the Industry Transition
Policy brief As governments look to scale up lead markets for near-zero and low-emissions steel and cement, targeted policy measures can help overcome commercialisation barriers, capture emerging market opportunities and support broader government objectives. This policy brief explores a variety of possible policy instruments to stimulate demand and supply of such industrial materials, providing options that governments could adopt and adapt as part of their industrial policy framework – tailored to their unique circumstances to enhance effectiveness – along with practical next steps towards implementation.
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Electricity Market Design
Building on strengths, addressing gaps Electricity markets play a central role in balancing supply and demand, guiding operational decisions and shaping investment outcomes. As systems change with higher shares of variable generation, greater decentralisation and evolving patterns of electricity use, the ability of market designs to deliver secure and affordable electricity has never been more critical. If market arrangements do not keep pace with these developments, the functioning of electricity systems could become more uncertain and more costly.This report provides a cross-regional assessment of how wholesale electricity markets and their complementary policy mechanisms are performing today. We find…
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Energy System Resilience
…Association country, on energy system resilience, publishing a 10-point plan ahead of the 2024-2025 winter, along with a 2025-2026 update and a roadmap for decentralising Ukraine's power system. This has provided Ukraine with critical assistance, while also offering invaluable real-world lessons that can inform resilience planning for IEA Member countries and beyond. Industry from Europe and other regions is already collaborating with the Ukrainian private sector and learning from practices forged under extreme conditions as they provide support. This report distils key lessons from Ukraine's experience that can inform energy system resilience efforts worldwide.
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Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency
As energy efficiency continues to gain attention as a key resource for economic and social development across all economies, understanding its real value is increasingly important. The multiple benefits approach seeks to expand the perspective of energy efficiency beyond the traditional measure of energy savings by identifying and measuring its impacts in full bloom.
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Coal Mid-Year Update 2025
Coal’s role in the global energy system today remains significant. Over the past decade, the world’s demand for coal has stayed relatively stable, apart from a temporary drop during the Covid-19 pandemic and the rapid rebound that followed. Today, global coal consumption, power generation, production and trade are all at record levels.In many countries, coal continues to be the leading source of electricity generation, helping to meet growing energy needs. These trends carry major implications for energy security, affordability and sustainability, especially as coal remains the single largest contributor to energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. While…
