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Gaining an Edge
…creation, energy efficiency helps firms compete amid high costs, growing demand, and rising trade pressures. In today’s global context, energy efficiency is not only a matter of energy policy, but also of economic policy.The report analyses historical progress in industrial energy efficiency and its role in enhancing industrial competitiveness. It includes comparisons of firm-level energy efficiency, identifying performance gaps and opportunities for further improvement. Drawing on a new IEA survey of 1 000 firms across 14 countries, it provides insights into industry perspectives. The report also highlights emerging opportunities in energy efficiency markets and offers recommendations for policymakers…
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Financing Electricity Access in Africa
…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 to provide a comprehensive overview of the status quo of electricity access financing, including a first-of-a-kind tracking of public and private investment flows…
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Gas Market Report, Q1-2026
…accelerate further in 2026, fostering a stronger increase in natural gas demand, which is expected to reach a new all-time high. Although the LNG supply growth is reducing market tightness, geopolitical tensions and weather impacts may still cause price volatility. Close international co-operation between responsible producers and consumers remains important to reinforce the architecture for secure global gas supplies. The International Energy Agency (IEA) continues to support this process, including through the permanent Working Party on Natural Gas and Sustainable Gases Security (GWP), established in late 2024.This edition of the quarterly Gas Market Report provides a thorough…
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Outlook for Biogas and Biomethane
A global geospatial assessment Biogases play an important and growing role in energy systems. Produced locally using organic waste, biogas and biomethane can contribute to energy security, waste management, emissions reductions and agricultural development.In recent years, demand for biomethane – also known as “renewable natural gas” – has grown rapidly in many countries, supported by dozens of new policies. As a low-emissions substitute for natural gas, the use of biomethane has been targeted across a wide range of sectors, including power, industry, transport and buildings. This report presents a first-of-its-kind global geographical analysis of the untapped potential…
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Cobalt
Outlook for key energy transition minerals This report provides an outlook for demand and supply for key energy minerals including copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements. Demand projections encompass both key energy technologies and other uses under different IEA Scenarios. Supply projections are based on a detailed review of all announced projects. They show how today's geographical concentration evolves over time, for both mining and refining and how expected supply compares with primary supply requirements.
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Accelerating Renewables Growth in ASEAN
…Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have adopted net zero emissions targets, and recent national energy plans outline substantially higher ambitions for renewable capacity. Achieving these goals will require timely, sustained and strongly co-ordinated policy action to unlock the scale of renewable energy deployment needed by 2030 and beyond.This report examines the key challenges hindering a faster capacity deployment of renewable power in ASEAN and outlines potential policy solutions informed by successful international experience. It also provides an assessment of renewable-energy auction design options, an increasingly important procurement mechanism that is expected to account for around 60…
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Coal Mid-Year Update 2025
…These trends carry major implications for energy security, affordability and sustainability, especially as coal remains the single largest contributor to energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. While the large majority of the world’s coal use is concentrated in Asia, particularly China, consumption in Europe and North America remains considerable. Coal’s influence therefore remains global in both energy and climate discussions.The International Energy Agency’s 2025 Coal Mid-Year Update reviews the latest trends in coal demand, production, trade and prices. It includes preliminary data for the first half of 2025 and provides updated forecasts for 2025 and 2026…
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Integrating Solar and Wind in Southeast Asia
…diverse renewable resource potential. Variable renewable energy (VRE) - solar and wind - are now among the most cost-competitive generation options and are playing an increasingly important role in the region’s power sector. VRE presents an opportunity for the region to meet rising demand, support energy security, affordability and climate goals. However, integrating higher shares of VRE can present technical and regulatory challenges that require changes to system operation and planning. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the readiness of Southeast Asia’s power sector to integrate higher shares of VRE - identifying opportunities and key considerations. It reviews technical…
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Designing Energy Efficiency Policies to Enhance Affordability
…identified as a key challenge. In response, this report was developed to provide practical guidance on designing energy efficiency policies that support affordability, particularly in the buildings sector.As part of this work, the IEA conducted a survey with G7 governments to better understand the obstacles they face. On the consumer side, major challenges include the landlord-tenant split incentive, high upfront costs and administrative complexity. On the supply side, governments identified skills shortages and difficulties in reaching underserved communities.The report analyses the affordability-focused energy efficiency policies of G7 countries. These include targeted financial support, simplified programme design…
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Competitiveness
…shown to lead to improved product quality and consistency, contributing to brand reputation.Improved resource use, such as reduced equipment downtime and unplanned shutdowns, lower maintenance costs, and potentially reduced staff requirements for operation and monitoring. Efficiency has also been shown to increase worker health and safety, reducing the incidence of work-related accidents and health insurance costs.Reduced waste production, such as less use of materials and process water.Combined, these multiple benefits can more than double the benefits of energy cost savings. Need more information? IEA (2025), Gaining an Edge: The Role of Energy Efficiency in Enhancing Competitiveness.
