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Ramping up Heat Pumps in Moldova: A Roadmap
…Moldova lacks domestic hydrocarbon resources and imports more than 80% of its primary energy. Heat pump technology offers Moldova an effective means of accelerating the transition in building heating.The recent expansion of Moldova’s solar and wind capacity also means that heat pumps can now play a greater role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and lowering local air pollution. Finally, Moldovan’s 2024 referendum, endorsing the goal of European Union membership, underscores the country’s commitment to European integration. Outlining an effective path to decarbonise energy use is a prerequisite for joining the bloc and heat pumps can play…
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Oil Market Report - March 2026
…Global observed oil stocks were 8 210 mb in January, their highest level since February 2021. The OECD accounted for 50%, Chinese crude stocks 15%, oil on water 25%, with the remainder in other non-OECD countries.Widespread flight cancellations in the Middle East and large-scale disruptions to LPG supplies are expected to curb global oil demand by around 1 mb/d during March and April compared to previous estimates. Higher oil prices and a more precarious outlook for the global economy pose further risks to the forecast. Global oil consumption is now set to increase by 640 kb…
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Energy Efficiency in China’s Buildings Sector
Policy opportunities Over the past two decades, China has made significant strides in energy efficiency, with strong reductions in primary energy intensity across the economy and increased energy services. Much of China’s improvement has come from energy efficiency upgrades in industry and overall economic structural shifts. The buildings sector accounts for approximately 20% of its total final energy consumption and its intensity has decreased at a slower rate. There remains significant potential to unlock further energy savings through technical and policy initiatives in buildings.This report outlines opportunities for actions, targets and timelines that could improve energy efficiency in…
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Designing Energy Efficiency Policies to Enhance Affordability
Examples from G7 countries Energy affordability has emerged as a critical concern in the context of rising global energy prices and growing inequality in energy access. Lower-income households spend a significantly higher share of their income on energy than wealthier households, leaving them exposed to price shocks and especially vulnerable when energy prices increase. Energy efficiency can play a key role in delivering lower energy bills, reducing emissions, and enhancing resilience. However, ensuring that all households benefit requires targeted, inclusive policy design.This issue was a central focus of an IEA workshop held in January 2025 with G7 country…
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Renewables in District Energy
This report examines how renewables can play a larger role in district energy systems, helping to deliver cleaner, more secure and more efficient heating and cooling. District energy networks already supply heat to around 600 million people worldwide, but many systems remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels, exposing consumers and utilities to price volatility, supply risks and high emissions.The report provides a global overview of district energy systems, their fuel mixes, market conditions, governance models and affordability implications. It explores the growing opportunities offered by renewable and recovered heat sources, including bioenergy, geothermal, solar thermal, waste heat, large-scale heat…
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Jobs
…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 - Sustainable Recovery.MICAT (2024), Empirical basis factsheet on Economic impacts – Employment effects.
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Financing Electricity Access in Africa
Access to electricity is a cornerstone for economic development, poverty reduction and social equity. However, almost 600 million people in Africa lack access to electricity today, with progress falling far behind targets set by both African governments and the international community. Reaching universal electricity access will require a rapid scale-up of investment and financing to USD 15 billion per year, enabling the expansion of generation capacity, grid networks and decentralised solutions while ensuring that progress remains inclusive and sustainable.In a new flagship report, Financing Electricity Access in Africa, the International Energy Agency (IEA) undertakes its authoritative energy analysis…
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Advancing Methane Emissions Reductions by National Oil Companies
…distinctive characteristics, including their ties to national policy priorities. Executive summary NOCs have a crucial role to play in shaping the outlook for methane emissions. Rapid and cost-effective measures to tackle methane emissions by NOCs could deliver an annual reduction of up to 30 million tonnes (Mt) of methane by 2030, an impact comparable to eliminating all CO2 emissions from the global aviation industry. This report aims to support NOCs on their methane reduction journey.Around half of the oil and gas produced by NOCs is covered by pledges to achieve near-zero methane emissions by 2030. NOCs are…
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The Implications of Oil and Gas Field Decline Rates
…is crucial for assessing the outlook for oil and gas supply 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…
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Energy Management for Industry
Driving efficiency implementation This report demonstrates the value of energy management for industry and governments. It illustrates how more systematic approaches to energy efficiency can contribute to ensure continual, durable, and increasing improvements that support competitiveness and energy security. It shows how new advances in energy management, such as increased digitalisation and artificial intelligence, can provide further benefits at speed and at scale. Building on best practices and innovative approaches, the report provides policy guidance on effective policy packages, giving insights into possible actions for policy makers irrespective of the maturity of existing programmes.
