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Land-Use Competition between Biodiversity and Net Zero Goals
…Model (REALM), which identifies areas of overlap between renewable projects, critical mineral mining, and conservation priorities. Using Canada as a case study, this report highlights areas of potential land-use conflict and shows how the country can reach its 30% by 2030 target without significantly hindering the wind and solar development needed to achieve its net zero targets. Key points Achieving global energy, climate and biodiversity conservation targets simultaneously has significant implications for land use. At the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference (COP28) in 2023, nearly 200 countries set a target to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. Based on…
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IEA Support to Accelerating Renewable Energy Permitting (ARPE)
…civil society and industry. Invited speakers and discussants shared their experiences and lessons learned, providing multiple applicable insights for policy makers in focus countries and beyond.This webpage contains a summary of the main findings resulting from the ARPE action, as well as the summary reports containing the main findings of each workshop. It provides examples of solutions and can inform policy-making, as well as all other stakeholders engaged in renewable energy project development.The project was funded by the European Union (EU) via the Technical Support Instrument, which is managed by the Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM…
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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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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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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…
