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Energy system
Hydroelectricity
Hydropower is the largest source of renewable energy today, but that could change soon
Hydro is currently the third largest source of power generation worldwide after coal and natural gas. In 2024, it generated around 4 500 terawatt-hours of electricity, or 14% of the global total.
More than 150 gigawatts (GW) of new hydro capacity is set to come online by the end of the decade, mostly in emerging and developing economies. As a result, electricity generation from hydropower is expected to increase by 7% between 2025 and 2030. However, its share in global electricity generation is poised to…
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Policy report
Jun 2026
Energy Efficiency Policy Toolkit
The Energy Efficiency Policy Toolkit is an interactive online tool that has been updated and expanded ahead of the 11th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency in Montreal, Canada. It aims to support governments in designing and implementing effective energy efficiency measures by combining policies across three core pillars: regulation, information and incentives. It also features a wide range of case studies, offering practical insights into the successful implementation of energy efficiency policies across diverse national and sectoral contexts.The Toolkit builds on earlier IEA work to advance energy efficiency policy. In 2022, the IEA introduced Policy Packages for Energy…
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Fuel report
May 2026
Global Methane Tracker 2026
Around the world, many countries have made reductions in methane emissions a policy priority as part of their efforts to limit near-term global warming, enhance energy security, and improve air quality. The energy sector – including oil, natural gas, coal and bioenergy – accounts for around 40% of methane emissions from human activity and has some of the best opportunities to cut these emissions. The annually updated Global Methane Tracker provides essential data on methane emissions across the energy sector and the opportunities to bring them down.The Tracker presents the IEA’s latest sector-wide emissions estimates – based on the…
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Country
Rwanda
Rwanda included strong commitments to its intended nationally determined contribution (INDC) to the Paris Agreement. The country plans to increase its carbon sink capacity through sustainable forest management practices and to reduce emissions from the agricultural sector. In 2019, Rwanda’s energy mix was dominated by biomass and waste (74%) and oil products (20%), while natural gas, coal and hydro account for the rest of the energy supply. In 2020, less than 5% of the population had access to clean cooking and 50% had access to electricity. With annual access growth of more than 3 percentage points, Rwanda has shown…
- Overview
- Energy mix
- Emissions
- Electricity
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+ 5 pages
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Country
Colombia
Colombia launched the Energy Plan 2050 in 2016 , which aims to diversify the country’s energy resources and ensure a reliable energy supply by including wind power plants, solar PV and geothermal energy generation in the country's electric mix.
- Overview
- Energy mix
- Emissions
- Electricity
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+ 5 pages
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Contributor
Jennifer Morgan
State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action, Germany.
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Country
Brazil
Brazil’s energy policies measure up well against the world’s most urgent energy challenges. Access to electricity across the country is almost universal and renewables meet almost 45% of primary energy demand, making Brazil’s energy sector one of the least carbon-intensive in the world. Total primary energy demand has doubled in Brazil since 1990, led by strong growth in electricity consumption and in demand for transport fuels on the back of robust economic growth and a burgeoning middle class.
Large hydropower plants account for around 80% of domestic electricity generation, making the Brazilian electricity mix one of…- Overview
- Energy mix
- Emissions
- Electricity
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+ 5 pages
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Country report
May 2026
Portugal 2026 Executive summary
Thanks to steady expansion of hydropower, wind power generation and solar photovoltaics (PV) in recent years, Portugal has one of the lowest carbon intensities of electricity generation among IEA Member countries. Portugal is entering a mid‑transition that requires managing two interconnected energy systems that are moving in opposite directions: one is based on renewables and electrification and must scale up rapidly; the other is a legacy fossil fuel system that must decline in an orderly way to avoid stranded assets and price shocks. Electricity is becoming the central pillar of energy security and the main driver of emissions reductions.Portugal…
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Country
Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s energy policy aims to move from a fossil fuels based energy system towards renewable energy sources and to expand its power generation capacity, replacing old power generating stations and developing new projects.
- Overview
- Energy mix
- Emissions
- Electricity
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+ 5 pages
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Country report
Jan 2026
Chile 2050 Energy Transition Roadmap
World Energy Outlook Special report Chile has made significant strides in its energy transition, towards its ambitious long-term goals and it stands at a pivotal moment in its energy journey, possessing remarkable renewable and critical mineral resources. The Chile 2050 Energy Transition Roadmap, produced at the request of the Government of Chile, and in close collaboration with the Chilean Ministry of Energy, sets out a detailed pathway for the country to reach its legally binding goal of net zero emissions by 2050 while expanding economic growth and improving energy security and affordability. This pathway relies on four pillars: accelerating…