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Electricity Mid-Year Update 2025 Prices: Trends in wholesale markets differ across regions
Average wholesale electricity prices in the first half of 2025 rose year-on-year in various regions, including Europe, the United States and Japan, amid higher gas prices. By contrast, countries such as India and Australia saw lower wholesale prices compared to the previous year in the face of varying demand and generation trends, among other factors. At the same time, a number of markets continued to observe an increase in the occurrence of negative electricity prices. A detailed discussion of negative electricity prices and their drivers can be found in our Electricity 2025 report. Higher gas prices put upwards…
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World Energy Outlook 2025 Regional insights
Diverse priorities, diverse pathways This chapter explores energy sector trends and priorities in countries and regions that cumulatively account for around 90% of the world’s population, GDP and energy demand. Priorities, objectives and national circumstances vary widely between and within regions, but two trends that are visible in most parts of the world are a rise in the electrification of end-uses, and a rise in the share of renewables in electricity generation. Energy trends in advanced economies are shaped by the structure of their economies, and by high average incomes and rates of vehicle and appliance ownership. Overall…
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Overview graphic: key technology trends for EVs
GEVO 2026 - Chapter 8 Electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly at the centre of innovation in the automotive sector, bringing advances that extend far beyond developments in batteries and power electronics, thanks to several mutually reinforcing factors. Key technology trends are aligning in favour of EVs Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are mechanically simpler than internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) or hybrids, making them more compatible with digitalisation and automation. The relative simplicity of electric drivetrains enables shorter development cycles for new vehicles, allowing emerging technologies to reach BEVs sooner than vehicles with other powertrains.While the transition from mechanical to software…
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Sodium-ion battery momentum grows, but challenges remain
batteries commentary sodium batteries Recent technological advances and investment announcements suggest dynamics are shifting for sodium-ion batteries Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a new player in battery markets, offering opportunities to diversify battery chemistries and supply chains at a time of rising global demand for electric vehicles and energy storage. Developed in laboratories since the early 1980s, sodium-ion batteries operate on the same fundamental principles as lithium‑ion batteries – which currently dominate the market – yet their path to commercialisation has been markedly slower.While lithium-ion batteries entered commercial use in the 1990s – with the first electric vehicles…
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Gaining an Edge Unlocking the potential of energy efficiency
Efficiency opportunities at the firm level At the firm level, energy efficiency offers untapped opportunities to reduce costs in both light and heavy industries In a competitive environment, firms are seeking to reduce costs, support sustainable growth and meet dynamic market demands. Energy is an important component of production costs in many industrial sectors, although its share varies by industry. These differences are influenced by the type and complexity of production. Heavy industries, such as steel, cement and chemicals, tend to be more energy intensive due to the large-scale processes and high thermal demands. Light industries, such as electronics…
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Global Energy and Climate Model About the Global Energy and Climate Model
Overview Since 1993, the IEA has provided medium- to long-term energy projections using a continually evolving set of detailed, world-leading modelling tools. First, the World Energy Model (WEM) – a large-scale simulation model designed to replicate how energy markets function – was developed. A decade later, the Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP) model – a technology-rich bottom-up model – was developed for use in parallel to the WEM.Over the past four years, the IEA has worked to develop a new integrated modelling framework: the IEA’s Global Energy and Climate (GEC) Model. This model is now the principal tool…
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World Energy Investment 2025 Southeast Asia
In the past, Southeast Asia’s rapid economic growth was mostly driven by fossil fuels but clean energy now accounts for almost half of energy investment Southeast Asia is a rapidly developing region, with GDP per capita increasing by more than 30% since 2015. During the last ten years, energy demand has increased by over 35%, with electricity demand rising by more than 60%. Driving this is a 12% increase in electricity access rates, growing consumption in industry, urbanisation and rising incomes creating demand for cooling and other appliances. Historically, this rising energy demand has been met by fossil fuels…
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Advancing Methane Emissions Reductions by National Oil Companies
National oil companies (NOCs) are responsible for around half of all global oil and gas production today and their actions strongly influence methane abatement prospects. More than 30 NOCs have joined the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC) and are engaging in initiatives to tackle methane emissions and flaring. There is a major opportunity for NOCs looking to implement best practices in methane management to learn from the experience of peers in order to deploy strategies that are adapted and tailored to their circumstances. Best practices include adopting measures to limit flaring and venting, implementing leak detection and repair programmes…
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State of Energy Policy 2026 Government energy spending
Government energy spending declined as affordability measures were rolled back after 2022 crisis, though investment support continues above historical levels The energy sector has historically accounted for a relatively small share of government budgets, averaging around 1% in most countries. Over the past five years, however, government spending on energy has doubled compared with 2019 levels, reaching around 1.4% of total direct government expenditure in 2025. Levels have varied by country, with some reaching up to 5% of general expenditure. Although spending fell from its peak in 2023, disbursements in 2024 and 2025 remained significantly higher than in the…
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Global Energy and Climate Model Understanding GEC Model scenarios
Overview The IEA’s medium- to long-term outlook publications – including the World Energy Outlook (WEO) and Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP) – use a scenario approach relying on the Global Energy and Climate (GEC) Model to examine future energy trends.Each scenario has the same starting point and is based on the latest data for energy supply and demand, markets, technology costs and policies, as well as the same pathways for future population and economic growth.The energy system described and explored in each scenario evolves in a distinctive pathway that delivers energy services with a different mix of technologies and…