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Coal 2025
…of different trends could shape coal markets in the years ahead.On the one hand, recent policy changes supporting coal could drive consumption higher, as could surging electricity demand in economies across the world, since two-thirds of global coal use today is for power generation. On the other, the rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity – particularly in China, the world’s biggest coal consumer – has the potential to curb demand. At the same time, the coming wave of liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity, which is likely to bring more abundant supplies and lower prices to natural gas markets…
- Executive summary
- Demand
- Supply
- Trade
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Integrating Distributed Energy Resources in China
Lessons from international experience Like no other country in the world, the People’s Republic of China (hereafter, “China”) is witnessing rapid growth in distributed energy resources (DERs), including rooftop solar photovoltaics, battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. As China advances towards its carbon peaking and neutrality goals, these resources offer a unique opportunity to support a more flexible, efficient and resilient power system, provided their integration is well-managed.This report analyses recent trends in DER deployment across China and highlights the emerging challenges their growth poses for power system planning and operation, calling for renewed attention to…
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World Energy Employment 2025
The World Energy Employment (WEE) report series provides comprehensive tracking and analysis of the global energy workforce, including estimates of its size and distribution across regions, sectors, and technologies. It also assesses how energy labour requirements evolve to 2035 across all IEA scenarios.The WEE 2025 – the fourth edition – examines how skilled labour needs and shortages have changed since the series first highlighted these issues in 2022, and explores their implications for education and training systems, wages, policy, and the global buildout of energy infrastructure. This year’s report introduces, for the first time, detailed occupation-level estimates that offer…
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World Energy Investment 2025 China
…critical. After years of expanding energy supply, focus has shifted to ensuring this capacity is used effectively and stable enough to meet new and evolving demand while sustaining industrial competitiveness. These priorities have materialised in two major investment trends. First is the significant push for grid, storage, and smart infrastructure, as seen from USD 88 billion in transmission and distribution investment in 2025. Heatwaves and industrial demand spikes have exposed weaknesses in China’s grid, while rapid renewable deployment has outpaced grid expansion, leading to higher curtailment rates and ineffective transmission to areas of high energy demand in the east…
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Scaling Up Transition Finance Sectoral insights
…unlock high-impact projects that lower emissions and avoid or mitigate other impacts, guided by practical KPIs.Natural gas: Natural gas is set to remain a part of the global energy mix for many decades but the applicability of transition finance to gas varies by country and sector and over time. Priority should be placed on front-loading methane abatement, reducing emissions from liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction providing infrastructure for low-emissions gases and helping, alongside other technology options, plants to provide flexibility for electricity systems, under transparent, time-bound plans that align with national energy and climate strategies.
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Electricity Market Design Executive summary
…risk management Short-term markets have been broadly effective in maintaining reliable and efficient operations even as systems become more complex. In the markets analysed across parts of Europe, the United States, Australia and Japan, electricity has been securely supplied more than 99.9% of the time over the past five years. Short-term markets have enabled efficient scheduling, transparent price formation and broad participation across a diverse set of resources and actors. In Europe, the day-ahead market processes more than 400 000 bids every hour across thousands of registered actors. As variability and decentralisation have increased, these markets…
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World Energy Outlook 2022 Energy security in energy transitions
…of clean energy technologies with scaling back of fossil fuels. Investing in clean energy is key to avoid future crises while reducing emissions. In the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE) Scenario, around USD 9 is spent on clean energy by 2030 for every USD 1 spent on fossil fuels. Cutting investment in fossil fuels ahead of scaling up investment in clean energy pushes up prices but does not necessarily advance secure transitions. High fossil fuel prices could make it 10‑25% more expensive for fossil fuel importers to meet climate goals.Tackle the demand side and prioritise energy efficiency. The energy crisis highlights…
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Gaining an Edge Opportunities in efficiency markets
…of energy efficiency technologies represents a new opportunity Facing volatile energy prices, rising energy security risks and stricter regulations, all sectors are turning to energy efficiency technologies to reduce consumption and manage these growing challenges. At the same time, governments around the world committed at COP28 in Dubai in 2023 to work collectively to double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements.These dynamics have triggered a strong increase in demand for energy efficiency technologies. For example, the market for electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries has grown nearly six-fold from 2020 to 2023, while heat pump markets…
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International collaboration continues to power innovation in energy technologies
…Many of the original initiatives remain active today, continuously evolving to meet emerging technological breakthroughs and global energy challenges. The newest TCP – established earlier this year – focuses on Critical Minerals and Material Recovery, an increasingly important topic for policymakers and technology developers. This week, representatives of the TCPs are convening at the IEA’s headquarters in Paris for the sixth Universal TCP Meeting. Participants will focus on priorities for strengthening international collaboration on innovation and the role that innovation plays in supporting governments’ ambitions to achieve a secure, sustainable and affordable energy future. The meeting will also welcome the Mission…
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Scaling Up Demand Flexibility
From peak management to efficient system operation This report has been developed as part of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Digital Demand-Driven Electricity Networks (3DEN) initiative to examine the growing importance of demand flexibility in electricity systems amid rising demand, increased renewable energy integration and the electrification of power systems. Case studies in chronological order to examine the changing role of demand flexibility over time from South Africa (2025), Thailand (2030) and Ireland (2035) demonstrate how demand flexibility improves reliability, reduces costs, supports renewables integration and manages network constraints. To realise these benefits, the report emphasises the role for…
