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Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2026 Energy outlook to 2050 based on today’s policy settings
…electricity demand growth, led by cooling. Air conditioner stocks are set to triple by 2035 as incomes rise, cities expand and temperatures increase. Stronger minimum energy performance standards and better building codes could significantly reduce future cooling demand while improving affordability and resilience to heatwaves.Electricity demand more than doubles to 2050, requiring a rapid expansion and modernisation of power systems. Growth is driven mainly by buildings and industry, while data centres add a new source of highly localised demand: Southeast Asia already accounts for around 10% of data centre electricity demand in the Asia Pacific region. Coal remains the…
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Electricity 2026 Demand
…2030. Amid robust growth, the next five years will add on average 50% more electricity demand per year than over the past decade. The brisk pace will be supported by growing industries, electric vehicles, space cooling, and data centres, among many other end uses. Electricity consumption is now projected to grow at least 2.5 times faster than overall energy demand, hastening the world’s transition to an electricity-based economy. In tandem, the relationship between electricity demand and economic growth is undergoing a paradigm shift. Traditionally, electricity use has closely tracked economic expansion, excluding periods of global financial crises…
- Executive summary
- Demand
- Supply
- Grids
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+ 4 pages
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Japan
…safety. Achieving the aim of carbon-neutrality by 2050 will require substantially accelerating the deployment of low-carbon technologies by 2030, to address regulatory and institutional barriers and further enhance competition in energy markets. It will also be important to develop different decarbonisation scenarios and to prepare for the possibility that certain low-carbon technologies, such as nuclear, might not expand as quickly as hoped. Stronger reliance on market-based instruments, such as carbon pricing, could be one policy option for Japan to cost-effectively reduce emissions, foster innovation and further increase the country’s high level of energy efficiency.
- Overview
- Energy mix
- Emissions
- Electricity
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+ 5 pages
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Indicators Handbook for Just and Inclusive Energy Transitions Introduction
…contexts and experiences, form a framework for approaching transitions that maximises benefits and mitigates the risk of unintended consequences. Designed as a technical resource, the Indicators Handbook provides guidance for governments and other stakeholders on identifying relevant indicators as a first step towards tracking policy design and implementation in line with the G20 Principles for Just and Inclusive Transitions. The Handbook provides tools for tracking progress, evaluating the effectiveness of existing or planned programmes, and supporting the design of just and inclusive energy policies.Recognising the diversity of national energy systems and socio-economic contexts, the handbook does not offer…
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Ireland
…electricity generation by 2030, but now their implementation needs to accelerate. Natural gas will remain an important part of the energy mix at least until the mid-2030s, especially to meet peak electricity demand, but offshore renewable energy will become the cornerstone of Ireland’s energy transition beyond 2030. Given Ireland’s current exclusive reliance on energy imports from the United Kingdom, energy security is a major concern to the government while transitioning to a (variable) renewables-based energy system and advancing the electrification of the heating and transport sectors to meet the ambitious climate targets to 2030 and beyond.
- Overview
- Energy mix
- Emissions
- Electricity
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+ 5 pages
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Switzerland
Switzerland has notably decoupled economic growth from energy use despite strong population growth. This trend should continue, and the energy efficiency first principle should be reflected in all climate and energy legislation. Reaching the 2050 net zero emissions target and addressing the growing winter electricity gap between demand and production requires an unprecedented volume of additional renewable generation capacity, especially wind and hydro. For this, the country needs to shorten the complex and extended administrative and legal permitting process. This will also help advancing investments in grid infrastructure to prepare for more decentralised and variable generation. Switzerland should also align…
- Overview
- Energy mix
- Emissions
- Electricity
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+ 5 pages
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Renewables in District Energy Executive summary
…through district heating has increased by about 35% since 2010. These systems are embedded in national energy systems across Europe, China, Russia and parts of Central Asia. District cooling is less developed than district heating but is expanding beyond the Middle East into multiple regions. With rising cooling demand and urban density, it can improve efficiency, reduce peak electricity demand and support system integration.To date, district heating remains largely fossil fuel-based, with around two-thirds of consumption in energy-importing countries, exposing consumers to price volatility and geopolitical supply risks. While efficiency improvements – including the shift to combined…
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Electric Vehicles
Global electric car sales continue to break records as affordability improves
Despite recent economic headwinds that have put pressure on the auto sector, global sales of electric cars have continued to break records as electric models become increasingly affordable. Electric car sales exceeded 17 million globally in 2024, reaching a sales share of more than 20%. Just the additional 3.5 million electric cars sold in 2024 compared with the previous year is more than the total number of electric cars sold worldwide in 2020.
In 2025, sales of electric cars are expected to surpass 20 million, accounting for over…
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Unlocking Ukraine’s Hydrogen Opportunity: A Roadmap Unlocking the opportunity - A roadmap for action
…instruments and action to mobilise private capital will be essential as capacity starts to ramp up.Several cross-cutting aspects will play a role in development, including international collaboration and knowledge-sharing, such as through joint projects and platforms. A skilled workforce is needed in government, the private sector and research. Lastly, defining technical standards across the value chain and ensuring compliance will be key. Introduction Hydrogen and its derivatives could offer a valuable opportunity for Ukraine in the long term. Taking advantage of this opportunity will require action outside and within the energy sector to improve the business case…
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Energy Efficiency Policy Toolkit Buildings
…making an energy efficiency upgrade more accessible and affordable. Grants can direct investments from stakeholders towards specific energy efficiency measures and motivate them to exceed minimum standards by reducing the upfront costs, adopting innovative technologies, and engaging in best practices. Incentives can promote the most efficient technologies or target a specific subset of the population that needs the support the most.More informationThis toolkit provides an overview of the most important elements of each policy instrument, but you can find more by exploring additional resources. IEA Overview on BuildingsIEA Working Group on Building Energy CodesIEA Efficient Grid-Interactive BuildingsGlobalABC Roadmap for Buildings…
