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Energy innovation enters security-focused phase as batteries dominate patent landscape
…has moved to the forefront of global innovation activity, highlighting its growing role in national security and power systems as the world enters the Age of Electricity. Batteries accounted for 40% of all energy patenting in 2023 – an unprecedented share for a single technology area – and the proportion is expected to have risen further based on preliminary data for 2024 and 2025. China, Korea, and Japan remain leading sources of lithium-ion battery patents, with China’s share rising sharply over the past decade. In solar innovation, patenting has shifted toward perovskite solar cells, which now account for over 70% of…
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New projects, partnerships and policies are needed to address supply chain risks for rare earth elements
…concentrated geographically across each stage of the value chain. Today, China accounts for around 60% of global mined production of magnet rare earths, while its share of refining is above 90%. Its dominance is even starker in downstream segments, with almost 95% of permanent magnet production. Two decades ago, China represented only around half of global permanent magnet output.Recent developments have brought these vulnerabilities into sharper focus. Export controls introduced by China in 2025 led to significant short-term disruptions, with some manufacturers outside China facing difficulties in securing key inputs and, in certain cases, having to reduce production…
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Global energy demand growth was met by diverse range of sources in 2025, led by solar and then gas
…with IEA projections. This reflected continued growth of electric vehicles, which constrained demand for road fuels. Electric car sales in 2025 increased by over 20% to more than 20 million units – making up around one in four new car sales worldwide. Strong renewables growth reduced coal use in power generation in China, while coal demand increased in the United States as high natural gas prices drove gas-to-coal switching in electricity generation. Overall, the rate of coal demand growth slowed in 2025.“Global energy demand continued to increase in 2025 against a complex economic and geopolitical backdrop, with one trend…
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Close to 30% of cars sold this year are set to be electric as countries and consumers respond to energy crisis
…and it is providing some relief now amid the largest oil supply shock in history,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “Looking ahead, the falls we have seen in battery prices and the potential policy responses to the current global energy crisis are set to provide further momentum in EV markets.”The report finds that sales of electric trucks are also growing significantly, with the vast majority in China. Global sales more than doubled in 2025 from the previous year. Electric models accounted for nearly one in ten trucks sold worldwide last year. And the most electrified road transport segment…
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The mega batteries transforming power systems
…face multi-year delays in securing grid connection and permitting. Projects can also have uncertain or volatile revenue streams, and they may struggle to access affordable financing. In this context, greater efforts to reduce market barriers and address integration challenges are needed to unlock the full potential of this technology.
At the same time, much of the world’s battery supply chains are concentrated in China. Such high geographic concentration creates considerable risks in terms of supply security, given the growing role batteries play across energy systems and the wider economy, calling for greater efforts to diversify supply chains and...
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Tackling rare earth supply risks
…China accounts for around 60% of global mined production of these elements – and its share of refining for them is above 90%. The country also accounts for almost 95% of permanent magnet production.
When a single country controls the supply chain for a fuel, material or technology, it creates significant energy and economic security risks. For rare earths, this came into clear view last year, when China introduced export controls on numerous rare earth elements, as well as on related compounds and magnets. This resulted in significant short-term disruptions: some manufacturers outside China faced difficulties in securing key inputs…
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Oil exports through Strait of Hormuz rise
…largest-ever release of emergency stocks brought additional barrels to market. Second, there have been key responses from exporters, with some Gulf producers using alternative routes to market that bypassed the Strait, and a surge in crude exports from other suppliers, most notably the United States. Thirdly, the global refining system has made rapid adjustments to compensate not only for losses of Middle Eastern crude oil, but also for the collapse in exports of refined products from the region.
Another major factor in the readjusting was the steep drop in China’s crude oil imports, which plunged by 40% – o...
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Sustainable Transport Policy for Armenia: A Roadmap Accelerating sustainable transport
Amid a rapidly changing energy landscape and mounting environmental pressures, Armenia faces both an urgent challenge and an opportunity to reshape its transport system. As it seeks to balance the twin goals of enhanced energy security and reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels, Armenia has made the transition to sustainable transport a top priority.This chapter lays out a forward-looking framework designed to accelerate Armenia’s shift to an efficient, low-carbon and resilient transport system. Drawing on international best practices, the recommendations focus on three interconnected priorities: electrifying the road transport fleet, boosting overall transport system efficiency and…
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Connie Hedegaard
Former Commissioner for Climate Action. Connie Hedegaard was a European Commissioner between 2010 and 2014. During her career, she has also served as Denmark’s Minister for Environment and Minister for Climate and Energy. She currently chairs of a number of important institutions, including the KR Foundation and Aarhus University.
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Sang-Hyup Kim
Director General.
