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Solar PV
Solar PV continues to dominate global renewables growth, though at a slower rate
Recent policy changes are expected to affect the pace at which solar PV capacity is added annually through the end of this decade. Even so, low costs, faster permitting and broad social acceptance are set to continue to drive the accelerating adoption of solar PV. As a result, capacity is set to more than double between 2025 and 2030 compared with the 2019 to 2024 period.
A growing share of variable renewable sources such as solar also comes with challenges. Curtailment levels and instances of negative electricity…
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Battery Circularity
Innovation trends for a future source of critical materials This report provides new evidence on global innovation trends for technologies related to battery recycling. Based on the EPO’s unique and comprehensive worldwide patent databases and the IEA’s expert insights into the key issues for battery technologies, the report presents the very latest data as a guide to decision makers from the public and private sectors. It sheds light on the main locations of patenting, the leading patentors in the world and the technology categories receiving the most innovation attention.More than one in four cars sold globally in…
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Austria 2026 Executive summary
Austria has one of the most ambitious climate and energy targets in the world; achieving them requires actionable delivery strategies and adequate funding. The country’s commitments to climate neutrality by 2040 – a full decade ahead of the European Union (EU) – and a 100% renewable share in the national annual electricity balance by 2030 are bold. These goals are underpinned by a large hydropower fleet (accounting for around 60% of electricity generation), including 5.6 gigawatts (GW) of pumped hydro storage and a nationwide smart meter roll-out. Austria has the highest share of renewable energy in electricity consumption in the…
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Energy security
Multiple benefits of Energy Efficiency 2025 Energy efficiency provides multiple benefits. This page explores energy security. Why is energy efficiency important for energy security? Energy efficiency can help mitigate energy security risks by reducing the reliance on fossil fuel imports, improving grid reliability, and acting as a buffer to supply shocks. Key facts Efficiency gains from the last two decades avoided the need for 20% more fossil fuel imports in IEA countries. Energy efficiency and demand response can support grid reliability by reducing peak demand. For instance, more efficient air conditioners in India could lower the impact of heatwaves on…
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Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency
As energy efficiency continues to gain attention as a key resource for economic and social development across all economies, understanding its real value is increasingly important. The multiple benefits approach seeks to expand the perspective of energy efficiency beyond the traditional measure of energy savings by identifying and measuring its impacts in full bloom.
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Key Questions on Energy and AI
Following the publication of the IEA’s landmark Energy and AI report in 2025, this report examines how the energy and AI nexus has evolved amid surging investment in data centres and rapid advances in model capabilities. Drawing on fresh datasets and analysis, it explores where electricity demand is rising, how quickly grids and supply chains can respond, and what these shifts mean for energy security, affordability and sustainability.
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Demand- and Supply-Side Measures for the Industry Transition
Policy brief As governments look to scale up lead markets for near-zero and low-emissions steel and cement, targeted policy measures can help overcome commercialisation barriers, capture emerging market opportunities and support broader government objectives. This policy brief explores a variety of possible policy instruments to stimulate demand and supply of such industrial materials, providing options that governments could adopt and adapt as part of their industrial policy framework – tailored to their unique circumstances to enhance effectiveness – along with practical next steps towards implementation.
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South Africa
Coal is the mainstay of the South African energy system, meeting around 70% of installed power generation capacity. The 2019 Integrated Resource Plan however sets out a long-term diversification of the power mix by 2030 and moves towards lightening the carbon footprint of the energy sector while meeting growing energy demand and ensuring a socio-economically just transition. While the options to diversify the country's electricity mix appear diverse, the affordability of electricity supply looms as a key concern and a potential constraint on diversification. The structure of consumption and of spending on electricity is skewed towards higher…
- Overview
- Energy mix
- Emissions
- Electricity
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+ 5 pages
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Sustainable Transport Policy for Armenia: A Roadmap Policy recommendations and milestones
As Armenia shifts toward a sustainable transport sector, a clear roadmap with structured policy recommendations and milestones is essential. To be sure, the transition faces challenges ranging from geopolitical risks to resource limitations. However, it also offers significant opportunities to lower CO2 emissions, improve transport accessibility for people and businesses, enhance regional and international connectivity and wean Armenia from its dependence on imported fossil fuels.In the summary below, the recommendations offered in this roadmap have been grouped into three categories to help the government prioritise its actions effectively and ensure a systematic transition toward low-carbon mobility. Each category…
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Demand and Supply Measures for the Steel and Cement Transition
The case for international co-ordination A massive scale-up of markets for transformative near-zero emissions steel and cement is needed to achieve internationally agreed net zero goals. Yet early movers on both the supply- and demand-side – that is, material producers and consumers – face substantial barriers related to high costs and risks, among other factors. This has led to relatively slow market growth for near-zero emissions materials, at a moment when reinvesting in long-lived high-emissions production could have repercussions for governments to achieve their stated climate goals. Policy makers have the opportunity to play a…
