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Gaining an Edge Policy implications
An integrated policy package is key to deliver value to businesses and the economy Government intervention can help enhance industrial energy efficiency through effective policy packages. To create effective drivers and preconditions for increasing energy efficiency in the industry sector, policy packages combine three main mechanisms, regulation, information and incentives:Regulation is essential to exclude the worst performing equipment and practices from the market, driving greater energy efficiency at both firm and national level. Information improves firms’ awareness and knowledge of their energy efficiency options, highlighting benefits and enabling more efficient choices in energy-related purchases and use. Increased capacity…
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Coal Mid-Year Update 2025 Supply
Regardless of mixed regional trends in 2024, coal supply reached an unprecedented level Global coal production reached a record 9.15 Bt in 2024, driven primarily by strong output in China, India and Indonesia. Domestic coal is the largest source of energy supply in both China and India making coal production central to their energy security strategies. After shortages in 2021, both countries boosted production, a push that lasted a few years to reach an all-time high in 2024. China remained the largest producer, maintaining output at 4 666 Mt. Although Shanxi, traditionally the largest coal producing province, reduced production by…
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Global Energy and Climate Model Policies
Policies database Underpinning the scenario analysis of the GEC Model, an extensive effort is made to update and expand the list of energy and climate-related policies and measures that feed into our modelling. Assumptions about government policies are critical to this analysis and are the main reason for the differences in outcomes across the scenarios. A summary of some of the key policy targets and measures for different sectors by selected countries and regions can be found in the Annex B of WEO-2025.Although all care has been taken to ensure accuracy, completeness and clarity of content in…
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The State of Energy Innovation 2026
The second edition of The State of Energy Innovation turns the spotlight on the technologies, policies and funders at the forefront of energy technology development. It provides a comprehensive assessment of recent progress and emerging challenges in energy technology innovation, drawing on over 150 innovation highlights from 2025 and a survey of practitioners across more than 40 countries. It analyses trends in public and corporate R&D spending, venture capital flows, patenting and policy, as well as providing an update on progress towards the 18 IEA Races to First in energy innovation. This data-driven approach informs policy makers, industry…
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Delivering Sustainable Fuels
Pathways to 2035 Sustainable fuels – including liquid biofuels, biogases, low-emissions hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels – offer multiple benefits for the energy sector. They complement electrification and energy efficiency in energy transitions, and are particularly important for sectors that continue to be reliant on fuel-based solutions such as aviation, shipping, and parts of road transport and industry. Sustainable fuels can also enhance energy security, strengthen environmental sustainability and stimulate economic development, particularly in rural areas.If fully legislated and implemented, current and proposed national and international policies would put the use of sustainable liquid and gaseous fuels on a…
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India’s electricity demand grows at night: Managing rising cooling demand
India cooling commentary As India’s cooling demand surges alongside solar power capacity, ensuring sufficient nighttime power capacity is key Power consumption in India is on the rise amid economic and population growth, as well as the growing use of air conditioning as more households purchase units and temperatures increase. Since 2019, the country’s electricity demand has increased by 5% per year. While electricity supply has kept pace, solar PV has accounted for two-thirds of power capacity additions in India since 2019. Against this backdrop, ensuring adequate power generation capacity during periods of peak demand is emerging as…
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Competitiveness
Multiple benefits of Energy Efficiency 2025 Energy efficiency provides multiple benefits. This page explores competitiveness. Why is energy efficiency important for competitiveness? Increasing energy efficiency can improve competitiveness at both the firm level – by reducing costs, improving operations and increasing product value – and at the country level, by reducing the amount of energy required to produce economic output. Key facts Today the world’s industries produce nearly 20% more value added with a given amount of energy, compared with two decades ago. In the industrial sector, energy management can lead to more than 10% in annual energy cost savings within…
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Integrating Distributed Energy Resources in China Executive summary
Rapid DER expansion creates new considerations for China’s distribution networks China is experiencing an unprecedented boom in distributed energy resources (DERs), including rooftop solar photovoltaics, battery storage, electric vehicles (EVs) and flexible electric loads. Typically located behind-the-meter, these small assets can deliver significant benefits to China’s power system if efficiently integrated, including enhanced flexibility, strengthened electricity security and lower system costs. Driven by declining technology costs and supportive national programmes, DER deployment has accelerated across rural communities and commercial and industrial buildings. By 2024, distributed photovoltaics (DPV) accounted for 40% of the country’s total solar…
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Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report, 2025
Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report, 2025 Since its inception in 2018, Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report has become the global reference for information on progress toward the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The aim of SDG 7 is to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.” This report therefore summarizes global progress on electricity access, clean cooking, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and international cooperation to advance SDG 7. It presents updated statistics for each of the indicators and provides policy insights on…
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Renewables in District Energy
This report examines how renewables can play a larger role in district energy systems, helping to deliver cleaner, more secure and more efficient heating and cooling. District energy networks already supply heat to around 600 million people worldwide, but many systems remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels, exposing consumers and utilities to price volatility, supply risks and high emissions.The report provides a global overview of district energy systems, their fuel mixes, market conditions, governance models and affordability implications. It explores the growing opportunities offered by renewable and recovered heat sources, including bioenergy, geothermal, solar thermal, waste heat, large-scale heat…
