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Electricity Mid-Year Update 2025
Despite a slowdown in global economic growth prospects, the world’s electricity consumption increased strongly in the first half of 2025, driven by rising demand from industry, appliances, cooling, data centres and electrification. At the same time, electricity supply from renewables, natural gas and nuclear continues to grow, with all set to reach new milestones.This mid-year update follows the extensive Electricity 2025 report released in February, examining the latest trends and the outlook for the remainder of the year. It includes updated data for 2024 along with new forecasts for 2025 and 2026 covering areas such as global…
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Ultra-fast charging batteries
GEVO 2026 - Chapter 8 New power‑electronics materials, battery cell technologies and battery pack architectures are enabling more efficient, higher‑voltage – and therefore faster – charging systems. Advances in batteries and power electronics are improving EV performance Over the past decade, average EV battery pack energy density (Wh/kg) has increased by around 60%, while prices have fallen by roughly 75%. Moreover, in 2023, battery-related patents accounted for 40% of all energy-sector patents, suggesting that more developments are still to come. At the same time, new power‑electronics materials, battery cell technologies and battery pack architectures are enabling more efficient, higher‑voltage – and…
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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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Autonomous vehicles
GEVO 2026 - Chapter 8 Progress in AI and computing power is disproportionately benefiting EVs, particularly for automated driving and integrated vehicle control. Sensors and chips integrate well with the stable, high-voltage power supply of EV batteries. Electric vehicles lead in automation and advanced driver assistance Driving automation is at the forefront of software developments for cars today. While fully autonomous cars (Level 5 automation)) are not currently in sight, electric driverless taxis (Level 4) are already operating commercially in more than 20 cities worldwide. Moreover, automated driving systems are not limited to self-driving cars – they are also rapidly gaining…
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National Climate Resilience Assessment for Algeria
Algeria’s energy system already faces significant disruption due to extreme weather events. Critical infrastructure has been impacted in recent years by flash floods, drought-induced wildfires and heatwaves. With the climate projected to warm more rapidly than the global average, these risks are likely to intensify. Proactive measures to enhance the resilience of Algeria’s energy system could offer substantial benefits.Algeria has experienced significant warming, averaging 0.49 °C per decade from 2000 to 2023 and exceeding the global average of 0.37 °C per decade. Temperatures are expected to rise further, reaching up to 5.6 °C above pre‑industrial levels…
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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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China’s Official Energy Finance in Emerging and Developing Economies
Evolving institutions, instruments and implications for clean energy transitions Global energy investment exceeded USD 3.3 trillion in 2025, but capital flows remain uneven. Emerging market and developing economies (EMDE) outside China attracted just 27% of total energy investment and 18% of clean energy spending, despite accounting for nearly two-thirds of the global population and the bulk of future demand. Addressing this imbalance requires mobilising more capital from diverse sources into EMDE energy systems.China continues to play a central role in global energy investment flows because of its large domestic investments and its large external capital spending on energy. Since…
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Vehicle software and software-defined vehicles
GEVO 2026 - Chapter 8 The transition from mechanical to software-based vehicle control has been underway for decades and has accelerated dramatically with the rise of EVs. Pure-play EV makers have pioneered the shift towards high-level, continuously updateable software-based vehicle control, speeding up the development and rollout of new features. Vehicles are evolving into software platforms for which users can access subscription‑based premium features, in the same way as for smartphones. A new design paradigm is emerging, with EVs at the forefront The digital transformation of the car industry is most evident in the emergence of software…
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Ensuring a Skilled Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Workforce
This report examines employment trends, skills needs, and skills gaps across renewable energy, grids, and energy efficiency. It highlights the increased demand for skilled workers in these sectors and the need to address skilled labour shortages. The report identifies barriers which are currently hindering energy education and training. It also discusses policy measures aimed at attracting more people to the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors and providing them with the necessary training. The report includes new IEA analysis on online job postings in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and IEA modelling on energy employment from 2024 as the last…
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Financing CCUS at Scale
How to Mobilise Private Capital Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is an important area of attention for governments and financiers as both look to balance policy and investment goals. Recent financial investment decisions of major projects show promise in a sector that is gaining momentum, but its future success depends on viable business models and effective risk allocation across the value chain.In this context, Financing CCUS at Scale is the IEA’s latest report on what it takes to move CCUS projects from the drawing board to operation. Building on expert interviews with leading financial institutions, the report…
