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Battery Circularity
…topic from governments. International patenting related to battery circularity grew by 42% per year on average from 2017 to 2023, across technology categories such as those for the collection and sorting of used batteries, mechanical processing, and treatments to recover valuable metals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper from end-of-life batteries. As a potentially important secondary supply of critical battery materials, recycling will compete with primary supplies and the report also finds that innovation landscape for converting primary mined ore to battery-critical metals to be dynamic. However, there is lower growth in refining compared with recycling.
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Ramping up Heat Pumps in Moldova: A Roadmap
Buildings account for more than half of Moldova’s final energy consumption, with three-quarters of that used for space and water heating. At the same time, 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…
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Efficient Grid-Interactive Buildings in India
Status and opportunities This report assesses the opportunities for efficient grid-interactive buildings (EGIBs) to support India’s clean energy transition. EGIBs unite energy efficiency, smart digital technologies and demand-side flexibility, allowing them to optimise energy use, shift or reduce peak demand and better align consumption with renewable energy generation.The buildings sector is central to clean energy transitions in a context where rapidly increasing electricity demand is driven by cooling and appliance use, and the share of variable renewable energy in electricity generation is continuously growing. Without targeted action, unmanaged peak loads and variable supply could jeopardise grid…
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Energy security
…driven by strong energy efficiency improvements in the industrial sector. Meanwhile, in Japan the strongest reductions were in oil imports, due to some of the most stringent fuel economy standards both for passenger and commercial vehicles. A closer look at electricity security Energy efficiency and demand response policies can also contribute to electricity security by reducing the risk of outages resulting from peak demand.Different programmes have demonstrated success in reducing peak electricity demand and preventing outages. Studies in the United Kingdom and the United States show that real-time feedback and pre-event communications lead to reductions in consumption…
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Grid investments
Multiple benefits of Energy Efficiency 2025 Energy efficiency provides multiple benefits. This page explores grid investments. Why is energy efficiency important for grid investments? As we enter the Age of Electricity, global electricity demand is rising rapidly – and so is the demand for the expansion of electricity grids. Energy efficiency can help close the gap between supply and demand, but often at a lower cost, and more quickly, than new generation and grid expansion. Key facts On average, energy efficiency costs less than half the amount it would cost to build new generation capacity and grid infrastructure, per unit of…
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Heat Pump Taxonomy
…that of conventional heating technologies is essential for understanding future needs with regards to energy demand, investments in electricity infrastructure and fuel supply.Despite their growing importance, data on heat pump installations, as well as on their performance and cost, remain fragmented and inconsistent across regions as reporting practices differ in scope, definitions and metrics used.The Heat Pump Taxonomy Project, led by the IEA in collaboration with stakeholders from over 50 institutions, has developed a proposed taxonomy that focuses initially on heat pumps used as primary heating equipment in buildings, and that could be gradually expanded to other sectors…
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Emission reductions
Multiple benefits of Energy Efficiency 2025 Energy efficiency provides multiple benefits. This page explores emission reductions. Why is energy efficiency important for emission reductions? Energy efficiency can reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants and make the energy system more sustainable. Key facts Since 2010, efficiency measures avoided energy-related carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions equivalent to nearly 20% of the global total in 2023. This is more than the entire energy-related emissions of India and the European Union combined. Accelerating efficiency improvements could deliver a third of all energy-related CO₂ emission reductions between now and 2030 in…
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The Role of Traceability in Critical Mineral Supply Chains
…varying supply chain complexities. They also require strong collaboration among companies, governments and civil society, backed by cost-sharing, reliable verification and secure data-sharing protocols. Above all, traceability should serve clear objectives rather than become an end in itself: policy makers and practitioners should adopt a measured approach, progressively deploying mechanisms where necessary while allowing for inclusive participation and access to markets and investment. This report includes a practical eight-step roadmap, from setting policy objectives to building trust mechanisms, which can help ensure traceability systems are fit for purpose and aligned with the realities of global supply chains.
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Blueprint for Action on Just and Inclusive Energy Transitions
Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions: Designing for Fairness June 2025 This year’s G20 President, South Africa, is placing a major focus on just and inclusive energy transitions. This builds on Brazil’s 2024 G20 Presidency which elevated just and inclusive energy transitions as a priority on the global agenda. Under Brazil’s Presidency, the G20 leaders endorsed ten voluntary Principles for Just and Inclusive Energy Transitions. The Global Commission believes these principles form a powerful framework for how governments, each navigating their own set of circumstances, can proceed with clean energy transitions that provide benefits and…
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Sustainable Transport Policy for Armenia: A Roadmap
As a part of the EU4Energy Programme, the Armenia Energy Policy Roadmap on Sustainable Transport presents a comprehensive, evidence-based framework for transforming the country’s mobility system into a sustainable and efficient transport system. The strategy seeks to deliver significant reductions in CO₂ emissions while strengthening regional connectivity, fostering economic development, and enhancing energy security. While Armenia has made notable progress in rolling out electric vehicles and electrifying its rail network, it still struggles with a high dependence on imported fossil fuels, a lack of data transparency and weak co-ordination among government agencies. This roadmap is structured to…
