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Commentary
08 Jun 2026
International collaboration continues to power innovation in energy technologies
International collaboration continues to power innovation in energy technologies For 50 years, Technology Collaboration Programmes have played a crucial part in advancing international energy goals Throughout history, collaboration among researchers and experts across countries has been a motor of innovation in energy technologies. By advancing our understanding of energy fundamentals, improving the efficiency and quality of existing processes and materials, and supporting the development of frontier technologies that strengthen the energy security and sustainability, this coordination has accelerated progress and shed new light on the implications of innovative technologies around the world.An understanding that energy technology innovation can play…
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Commentary
17 Feb 2026
Sodium-ion battery momentum grows, but challenges remain
…ion batteries was installed a few years earlier, in 2019 in China. However, in 2025 their total global production was less than 1% of that of lithium-ion technologies.Recent technological advances and investment announcements suggest that this dynamic is starting to change. CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, released its second-generation sodium-ion batteries and has confirmed plans for their commercial-scale deployment across multiple sectors starting in 2026. BYD, the second largest producer, began construction of its first sodium-ion battery plant in January 2024, targeting applications in electric vehicles, grid-scale storage and industry. Hina…
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Commentary
13 May 2026
Energy crisis threatens world’s most vulnerable as cooking fuel shortages grow
…supplying a significant share of their needs. In 2025, around two-thirds of the LPG consumed in India transited through the Strait of Hormuz. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused an unprecedented cooking fuel crisis, with severe supply disruptions in Asia In March 2026, as shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz plunged amid the Middle East conflict, the volumes of LPG exported through the strait fell by around 80%, dropping from 1.5 million barrels per day (mb/d) on average in 2025 to 0.3 mb/d. Almost all of the LPG exported from…
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Commentary
27 Mar 2026
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…
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Commentary
04 Feb 2026
Canada is set to play a leading role in supplying the world with responsibly produced critical minerals
Commentary Already a mining hub, Canada could play a big part in diversifying global mineral supply chains Since 2023, the IEA has been conducting Critical Mineral Reviews – in-depth country reviews of critical mineral policies and security that have served as part of the Agency’s pioneering work to ensure secure mineral supply chains. The latest Critical Minerals Review of Canada shows that at a time of increasing concentration risks, including from export controls by the dominant supplier, Canada has the potential to contribute to the development of secure, diversified and competitive global supply chains for critical minerals.Canada can…
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Commentary
21 Apr 2026
How governments can best support consumers during this energy crisis
How governments can best support consumers during this energy crisis The conflict in the Middle East has triggered a major shock to global energy markets, with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggering the largest supply disruption in the history of oil markets and significantly impacting supplies of natural gas and a range of energy-related commodities.As concerns over supply security have grown, prices have risen across several parts of the energy system, increasing pressure on household budgets, public finances and economic activity more broadly. In response, many governments have announced emergency measures to protect consumers from…
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Commentary
25 Mar 2026
Businesses see competitive value of energy efficiency, but smaller firms struggle to access solutions
…for 20% to 40% of operating expenditures, mining companies reported the highest perceived impact of energy efficiency efforts on enhanced competitiveness. This was particularly evident in responses from mining companies in India and Indonesia, where reliance on relatively expensive off-grid diesel electricity generation makes reducing energy intensity especially valuable.When businesses were asked how they would respond to higher energy costs, energy efficiency also emerged as the leading strategic response. Almost 40% of industry leaders ranked energy efficiency as the single most important measure they pursued to offset energy price increases, followed closely by investment in on-site renewables…
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Commentary
27 Jan 2026
Designing an effective strategic stockpiling system for critical minerals
critical minerals 2025 was the year when the risks of highly concentrated critical minerals supply chains materialised at scale The IEA has long warned of the potential security risks associated with the high concentration of critical mineral supply chains. In 2025, these risks became a reality, marking a major turning point for global economic security. The rare earths export controls announced by China in October 2025 posed major national and economic security risks across the world, with potentially severe impacts for a range of strategic sectors including energy, automotive, defence, aerospace, AI and semiconductors. Earlier export controls introduced in April…
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Commentary
15 Jun 2026
From farms to fuel: Ukraine’s biomethane opportunity for energy security and European decarbonisation
…biomethane come at a critical moment. Repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have exposed the vulnerabilities of centralised energy supply. Although biomethane relies on the same gas distribution and transmission infrastructure as natural gas, its production is inherently more decentralised than domestic natural gas extraction, reducing exposure to disruptions affecting individual production sites. Biogas and biomethane can also be used for local production of electricity and heat. Additionally, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to drive imported natural gas price volatility. In this context, countries with support schemes based on biomethane tariffs and premiums, such as France…
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Country
Brazil
…making the Brazilian electricity mix one of the cleanest in the world. Continued expansion of hydropower is increasingly constrained by the remoteness and environmental sensitivity of a large part of the remaining resource. PV projects (utility scale and distributed) will represent nearly 70% of all additions in the coming years. Reliance on other sources for power generation is also growing, notably natural gas, wind (on-shore and off-shore) and bioenergy. Brazil is a global leader in second generation biofuels and flex-fuel cars provide a large domestic market. Ethanol supply is set to average 660 kb/d in 2026…
- Overview
- Energy mix
- Emissions
- Electricity
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+ 5 pages