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Renewables 2021 Biofuels
Forecast summary Global demand for biofuels is set to grow by 41 billion litres, or 28%, over 2021-2026 in the main case. The recovery to pre-Covid-19 demand levels accounts for one-fifth of this demand growth. Government policies are the principal driver of the remaining expansion, but other factors such as overall transport fuel demand, costs and specific policy design influence where growth occurs and which fuels grow quickest. The combination of these influences pushes Asian biofuel production past that of Europe during the forecast period. Policies in the United States and Europe help demand for renewable…
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IEA Support to Accelerating Renewable Energy Permitting (ARPE)
Between October 2023 and March 2025, the IEA implemented the “Accelerating Renewable Energy Permitting” (ARPE) action. The goal of ARPE was to support five EU Member states – Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and the Slovak Republic (Focus countries) – in developing and implementing policy and regulatory measures aimed at reaching their renewable energy targets, notably through accelerating permitting of renewable energy projects.In support of this objective, the IEA organised and facilitated five workshops focused on the following topics:streamlining administrative proceduresaccelerating offshore wind deploymentfacilitating spatial planning for renewable energy deploymentensuring public engagement and acceptance, and afinal workshop summarizing the project…
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Energy Efficiency 2024 Executive summary
A year on from the historic agreement to double global energy efficiency progress, the world is not yet on track to achieve it At the COP28 summit at the end of 2023, nearly 200 countries reached a landmark agreement to work together to collectively double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. This was the strongest recognition yet by governments of energy efficiency’s central role in clean energy transitions, providing an important focal point for greater national ambition and accelerated action. A year on from this historic agreement, however, this has yet to translate into faster…
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Designing Energy Efficiency Policies to Enhance Affordability
Examples from G7 countries Energy affordability has emerged as a critical concern in the context of rising global energy prices and growing inequality in energy access. Lower-income households spend a significantly higher share of their income on energy than wealthier households, leaving them exposed to price shocks and especially vulnerable when energy prices increase. Energy efficiency can play a key role in delivering lower energy bills, reducing emissions, and enhancing resilience. However, ensuring that all households benefit requires targeted, inclusive policy design.This issue was a central focus of an IEA workshop held in January 2025 with G7 country…
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Financing Electricity Access in Africa Pathway to universal access
Mobilising the necessary investment Under the new Accelerating Clean Cooking and Electricity Services Scenario (ACCESS), investment of nearly USD 150 billion is needed to achieve universal electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa by 2035. This represents a six-fold increase in annual spending from today’s levels, facilitated by improvements to the regulatory environment, strengthened risk management by developers and risk-mitigation tools to support more private investment, and a more targeted use of concessional funds.Around 45% of households currently without access are connected via the grid under the ACCESS scenario, with financial support for households to reduce connection fees and…
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Financing Clean Energy in Africa Executive summary
A dramatic increase in energy investment into African countries is essential Multiple recent crises have made it increasingly challenging for many African countries to raise financing to support their clean energy ambitions, despite the continent’s huge needs and rich and varied resources. Africa accounts for around 20% of the world’s population but attracts less than 2% of its spending on clean energy. In recent years, African countries have had to deal with a series of overlapping crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the energy and food crises following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and worsening climate risks. Borrowing…
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Global Energy and Climate Model Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE)
The International Energy Agency (IEA) was asked by the COP26 Presidency in 2021 to give an indication of what achieving the 1.5 °C goal would mean for the energy sector. Responding to this request, the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE Scenario) was developed. It represents a global pathway towards the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C, but not the only possible one. The IEA has always been clear that there are various paths to reach this objective and that each country will have its own route. Since 2021, the IEA has updated its NZE Scenario each year…
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Heat Pump Taxonomy
A common framework for heat pumps classification and data Heat pumps are a cornerstone technology for achieving secure, affordable and sustainable heating. They have become one of the most common heating technologies and have the potential to impact significantly future trends for energy consumption in buildings and beyond.Tracking and analysing the pace of heat pump deployment compared to that of conventional heating technologies is essential for understanding future needs with regards to energy demand, investments in electricity infrastructure and fuel supply.Despite their growing importance, data on heat pump installations, as well as on their performance and cost, remain…
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Investment
This initiative includes a dashboard that offers free data on financing costs for clean energy projects, tools and analysis to help governments identify and address investment risks, and case studies showcasing successful strategies for mobilising capital. This initiative includes a dashboard that offers free data on financing costs for clean energy projects, tools and analysis to help governments identify and address investment risks, and case studies showcasing successful strategies for mobilising capital. Globally, energy investment by governments, households and businesses is expected to reach a new high of $3.3 trillion in 2025. How this spending is allocated has major…
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Global EV Outlook 2026 Electric vehicle batteries
Electric vehicle battery deployment Electric vehicle battery deployment grew by almost 30% in 2025 Electric vehicles (EVs) remained the primary source of global battery deployment, accounting for more than 70% of the total in 2025, slightly down from almost 80% in 2024. In 2025, EV battery deployment reached 1.2 TWh, an increase of almost 30% compared to 2024, and more than 7 times greater than in 2020. Light‑duty vehicles remained the dominant segment, representing more than 85% of the 2025 EV battery deployment. However, the fastest growth came from electric trucks, for which battery demand more than doubled – largely thanks…
