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What Next for the Global Car Industry
An Energy Technology Perspectives Special Report The global car industry has operated under relatively stable conditions for decades. The world’s largest car manufacturers are based in the European Union, Korea, Japan and the United States, and – more recently – in China, and the car industry is a major contributor to the economy in these countries. The strength of many of these car makers is built on decades at the forefront of technological innovation around the internal combustion engine (ICE), as well as highly integrated and optimised supply chains that allow for vehicles and their components to be produced at low…
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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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Northwest European Hydrogen Monitor 2025
Northwest Europe is at the forefront of low-emissions hydrogen development. This region accounts for around 40% of Europe’s total hydrogen demand, and it has vast and untapped renewable energy and carbon storage potential in the North Sea. It also has a well-developed, interconnected gas network that could be partially repurposed to facilitate the transmission and distribution of low-emissions hydrogen from production sites to demand centres.The development of the low-emissions hydrogen market in Northwest Europe could gradually scale up in the short- to medium-term. Northwest European countries now have ambition to develop up to…
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Affordability
…the energy savings of efficiency measures can be initially lower than expected. In India, time-saving appliance ownership, such as of washing machines or refrigerators, is associated with a 15% increase of employment among women and an increased school attendance by older children.As people gain access to electricity, they acquire new equipment, often starting with light bulbs, followed by televisions, and finally fans, particularly in hot locations. As available power increases and electricity becomes more reliable, refrigerators are installed as well. For many products, such as refrigerators, highly efficient models use less than half of the energy of inefficient…
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Financing the Modernisation of Power Systems Beyond Coal
…s role in system adequacy, reliability and energy security, complicates efforts to accelerate coal transitions. Recent volatility in international gas markets has reinforced the short‑term economic and security value of existing coal assets, adding complexity to national transition strategies. The region’s young coal fleet also implies substantial long‑term emissions if plants continue operating at current utilisation rates.Against this backdrop, new approaches are being explored to support coal transitions while maintaining secure and reliable power systems. This report examines the potential role of transition credits as a market‑based instrument to support coal transitions in Southeast Asia. It analyses the scale…
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Jobs
…of energy sector jobs than in areas with lower unemployment. Meanwhile, other energy sector jobs are more prevalent in areas with lower unemployment rates. Energy efficiency investments also contribute to enhance the quality of jobs in other industries. Firms that invest in energy efficiency can significantly improve the quality of the working environment, with efficient lighting that provides increased visual comfort, or efficient ventilation systems that enhance air quality. By freeing up businesses’ spending through reduced energy bills, energy efficiency helps minimise cost pressures and supports employers in safeguarding jobs. Need more information? IEA (2020), World Energy Outlook Special Report…
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Policy options to accelerate distributed solar PV in Ukraine
…generation capacity, contributing to system resilience and overall energy security. The move towards a greater level of decentralisation in power generation can also support Ukraine in meeting its long-term decarbonisation goals, as set out in the 2030 National Energy and Climate Plan and the 2050 Energy Strategy. This report explores the current policy landscape for distributed solar PV in Ukraine and outlines three potential policy options to accelerate the deployment of this technology. It focuses on expanding the capacity of distributed solar PV to achieve the modelled results from IEA report Empowering Ukraine through a Decentralised Energy System, which…
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Gas Market Report, Q2-2026
This edition of the IEA's quarterly Gas Market Report provides a comprehensive review of developments during the 2025/26 heating season and a special spotlight on the effects of the war in the Middle East on international gas markets. Amid the major supply shock caused by the disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on regional energy infrastructure, it examines the conflict’s implications for gas supply and demand at both the regional and global levels. The report also analyses the consequences for storage, shipping and prices – providing critical insights on evolving market trends.The loss of nearly…
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The Implications of Oil and Gas Field Decline Rates
…and, by extension, for market balances.The International Energy Agency (IEA) has long examined this issue, and a detailed understanding of decline rates is at the heart of IEA modelling and analysis, underpinning the insights provided by the scenarios in the World Energy Outlook.This new report – based on analysis of the production records of around 15 000 oil and gas fields around the world – explores the implications of accelerating decline rates, growing reliance on unconventional resources, and evolving project development patterns for the global oil and gas supply landscape, for energy security and for investment. It also provides regional insights…
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Health
…energy retrofits led to a 81% reduction in self-reported illness among households. Meanwhile, the evaluation of the Warm Up New Zealand Programme concluded that 90% of all benefits are health-related, with hospital admissions for respiratory conditions dropping by 43%, saving the country over USD 1 billion in health costs. In Ireland, in an analysis of the Warmth and Wellbeing Scheme, participants report that the improved efficiency of their homes reduced the number of doctor visits by 50% and lowered hospital admissions by 40%.In addition to physical health, energy efficiency can also lead to improvements to mental health…
