-
Cost of Capital Observatory
Tracking the cost of capital for clean energy projects in emerging and developing economies The Cost of Capital Observatory is an initiative from the IEA, the World Economic Forum, ETH Zurich and Imperial College London. The aim of the Observatory is to increase transparency in the energy sector and inspire investor confidence, especially in emerging and developing countries where data on financing costs is scarcer.The Observatory is divided into three sections:A Dashboard that provides free data on the cost of capital for energy projects in emerging and developing economies, updated with 2023 and 2024 data in July and…
-
Financing Clean Energy in Africa Executive summary
A dramatic increase in energy investment into African countries is essential Multiple recent crises have made it increasingly challenging for many African countries to raise financing to support their clean energy ambitions, despite the continent’s huge needs and rich and varied resources. Africa accounts for around 20% of the world’s population but attracts less than 2% of its spending on clean energy. In recent years, African countries have had to deal with a series of overlapping crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the energy and food crises following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and worsening climate risks. Borrowing…
-
Sodium-ion battery momentum grows, but challenges remain
batteries commentary sodium batteries Recent technological advances and investment announcements suggest dynamics are shifting for sodium-ion batteries Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a new player in battery markets, offering opportunities to diversify battery chemistries and supply chains at a time of rising global demand for electric vehicles and energy storage. Developed in laboratories since the early 1980s, sodium-ion batteries operate on the same fundamental principles as lithium‑ion batteries – which currently dominate the market – yet their path to commercialisation has been markedly slower.While lithium-ion batteries entered commercial use in the 1990s – with the first electric vehicles…
-
Access and Affordability
“An Affordable and Sustainable Energy System for Sub-Saharan Africa” (Energy Sub-Saharan Africa) is a five-year programme (2019-2024) funded by the European Union. It supports work with Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia, with the aim of promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth through the transition towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient energy sector, while delivering universal and affordable energy access to all. Today, 730 million people around the world live without access to electricity, while over 2 billion people continue to rely on harmful cooking fuels…
-
Policy and financing momentum sustain CCUS progress despite setbacks
CCUS Projects Database 2026 commentary Efforts to expand carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) took some important steps forward in 2025. Despite delays and cancellations in some areas, projects reached notable milestones in key markets, while growing financing provided further momentum.CCUS deployment in Europe saw a step-change as the world’s first dedicated carbon dioxide CO2 storage hub began operating in Norway. Major projects were also commissioned in China and North America, and the construction of new facilities began in eight countries worldwide. The newest annual update to the IEA’s CCUS Project Database – which incorporates developments between…
-
Brazil 2025 Executive summary
Brazil has positioned itself as a leader in the global energy transition. Its vast renewable energy resources, strong biofuels sector and ambitious climate commitments offer distinct advantages in the low-carbon economy. The country has introduced a comprehensive National Energy Transition Policy (PNTE) aimed at achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, supported by the Energy Transition Plan (PLANTE) and the Energy Transition Forum (FONTE). In 2024, the country also launched the Low-Carbon Hydrogen Law, the Brazilian Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System Law, the Fuel of the Future Law and the Energy Transition Acceleration Program, further boosting momentum…
-
Outlook for Biogas and Biomethane Biogas and biomethane outlook to 2050
The landscape for biogases is very different now compared to our last Outlook in 2020, with total demand 32% higher in 2040 in the STEPS than in the New Policies Scenario at the time. Whereas natural gas prices in 2020 were at record lows, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 triggered interest in developing biomethane to substitute imported natural gas. The revised figure is driven in part by strengthened policy incentives, notably in Europe and China. There is a strong continued use case for biogases in the Outlook scenarios. Electricity's share in total final consumption increases from 20…
-
What Next for the Global Car Industry
An Energy Technology Perspectives Special Report The global car industry has operated under relatively stable conditions for decades. The world’s largest car manufacturers are based in the European Union, Korea, Japan and the United States, and – more recently – in China, and the car industry is a major contributor to the economy in these countries. The strength of many of these car makers is built on decades at the forefront of technological innovation around the internal combustion engine (ICE), as well as highly integrated and optimised supply chains that allow for vehicles and their components to be produced at low…
-
Energy Technology Perspectives 2026 Energy technology manufacturing and trade
Recent trends Global investment in manufacturing capacity for six clean energy technologies – solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, batteries, electric vehicles (EVs), electrolysers and heat pumps – dropped below USD 200 billion in 2024, down from nearly USD 220 billion in 2023. This downwards trend is estimated to have continued in 2025, mainly due to weaker solar PV and wind manufacturing investment in China. The United States and the European Union are estimated to have accounted for around 30% of global manufacturing investment combined in 2025, up from 15% in 2023, marginally increasing global supply chain diversification. After dipping in 2024, global trade in clean energy technologies recovered in…
-
Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency for Business Operational benefits
For every dollar in energy cost savings, productivity gains can deliver up to an extra 30 cents of value Energy efficiency measures can improve how firms use labour, equipment and materials, leading to gains that go beyond reduced energy use. These improvements are often driven by more efficient, precise and optimised processes. By reducing losses – such as excess heat, inefficient combustion or friction – equipment operates more smoothly and reliably. Electrified processes can further enhance efficiency by reducing the number of moving parts and points of failure.This improved performance leads directly to higher productivity. More efficient production lines enable better…
