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Amani Al-Saidi
Former Energy Data Officer.
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Roland Gladushenko
Energy Modeller.
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Hyeji Kim
Former Energy Analyst.
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Ana Morgado
Former Energy Analyst.
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Global battery markets are growing strongly – and so are the supply risks
…over 20% from 2024, but its economic and strategic significance extends far beyond market size. Batteries are becoming a cornerstone of the automotive sector, a critical source of flexibility for power systems, and an increasingly important source of back-up power for digital infrastructure, including data centres and artificial intelligence.Beyond energy, batteries remain indispensable for a wide range of industrial and strategic applications, from portable electronics and unmanned defence systems to emerging technologies such as humanoid robots. As applications diversify and costs continue to fall, batteries are evolving into a foundational component of modern economies. This shift carries far…
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Why the growth of energy service companies is uneven globally
…more than 130 energy cooperatives adopted ESCO business models in 2025 – double the previous year. In Italy, where 900 companies are certified as ESCOs, average market revenues increased by over 78% in the past three years.Overall, ESCO markets scale up where policy frameworks are durable, procurement rules are aligned with performance contracting, and projects are implemented through standardised processes. In markets lacking these conditions, high transaction costs, contractual complexity and policy uncertainty continue to limit demand. These barriers are most visible in smaller scale and residential building projects, where ESCO models based on energy savings are harder to implement…
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Battery storage is scaling up and taking on a larger system role
…shares of variable renewables.In regions that have been at the forefront of renewable integration and battery deployment, batteries now play an essential role in continuously balancing electricity demand and supply. Comparatively short construction and development timelines are further supporting the rapid deployment of utility-scale batteries in particular: in many markets, projects typically take around two years to develop and commission, giving them an important advantage in systems that seek flexible capacity quickly.Looking ahead, battery storage deployment is on track to continue accelerating. However, tackling notable barriers, such as regulatory uncertainty and delays in grid connection and permitting…
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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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Delivering on the EU’s electrification ambitions
…renewed attention to the EU’s target of increasing electrification from 24% today to 32% of energy consumption by 2030.This commentary is the second in a series examining the case for electrification in the EU. The previous instalment looked at the cost-competitiveness of electric technologies under 2025 price conditions. This commentary explores where new electricity consumption is expected to emerge across end-use sectors in order to reach the 32% target, and some of the challenges and opportunities that come with it.Over the past decade, electricity demand has grown almost twice as fast as energy demand globally…
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What it would take to unlock the next phase of hydrogen growth
…steel sector. Demand grew by almost 2% from 2023, in line with overall energy demand growth. This consumption was almost completely met with hydrogen produced from unabated fossil fuels, using 290 billion cubic metres of natural gas and 90 million tonnes of coal equivalent. However, alternative technologies that can produce low-emissions hydrogen have attracted a lot of interest from governments given their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diversify energy supply, particularly in countries that have a large dependence on fossil fuel imports.Low-emissions hydrogen production – or the production of hydrogen from low-emissions electricity via water electrolysis, from…