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Fuel report
Dec 2022
Renewables 2022 Renewable heat
Recent trends and policy update Heating is the world’s largest energy end use, accounting for almost half of global final energy consumption. Industrial processes are responsible for 53% of the final energy consumed for heat, while another 44% is used in buildings for space and water heating and, to a lesser extent, cooking. The remainder is used in agriculture, primarily for greenhouse heating. The heating sector is largely dominated by fossil fuels, with renewable energy sources meeting less than one-quarter of global heat demand in 2021 (and the traditional use of biomass makes up half this amount).With…
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Fuel report
May 2025
Outlook for Biogas and Biomethane Key findings
…largest share – around 40% – of its sustainable potential, compared with less than 5% in India. Biomethane production costs exhibit a wide range, with 90% of the potential being between USD 10 per gigajoule (GJ) and USD 30/GJ. Emerging market and developing economies in Asia typically have the lowest costs, with 40 bcme available at less than USD 10/GJ. Around 45 bcme of biomethane potential could be exploited in different parts of the world at a cost equal to or lower than prevailing wholesale natural gas prices. This is already more than 5 times the current biomethane production globally…
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Fuel report
Oct 2025
Gas Market Lessons from the 2022-2023 Energy Crisis Anatomy of a natural gas crisis
Sudden and drastic reduction in Russian pipeline gas deliveries to Europe In the run-up to the gas supply shock, Russian natural gas (pipeline and LNG combined) accounted for a growing share of European gas supply. Prior to 2010, Russian supply made up a relatively steady 30% of the European Union’s gas supply. However, the combination of plateauing demand and rapid decline in EU domestic production, which started in the early 2010s (linked to the decision to phase out the historical Groningen gas field in the Netherlands), led to growing dependency on gas imports across the European Union. The…
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Contributor
Andrew O'Callaghan
Senior Policy and Programme Evaluator, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Andrew O’Callaghan is a Senior Policy and Programme Evaluator at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). He works on developing evidence and data models to assess the impact of national retrofit and energy efficiency programmes. Andrew has a background in applied psychology and carbon management, and has previously worked in behavioural economics and energy modelling. His work supports the design of more effective and inclusive policies to advance Ireland’s climate and energy goals.
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Policy report
Jun 2026
Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency for Business The business value of energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is often described as the “first fuel” because the cheapest and most secure energy is the energy that is not used. For businesses, this begins with a straightforward benefit: lower energy bills. In many cases, efficiency investments can pay back quickly through reduced energy costs alone, improving margins and reducing exposure to price volatility.However, the value of energy efficiency extends beyond energy savings. By improving how equipment, buildings and processes operate, efficiency measures deliver wide-ranging benefits that strengthen business competitiveness across several dimensions: Operational benefits Efficient and electrified equipment operates more reliably and with less stress…
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Country report
Oct 2025
Ukraine’s Energy Security As Ukraine heads into another heating season, six measures can help improve energy security
Air defence remains the best method to protect Ukraine’s critical energy and civilian infrastructure. However, there are other steps that can be taken to increase Ukraine’s energy security ahead of and during the coming winter. The IEA proposes six key actions for Ukraine and its partners to help address ongoing energy security challenges. Action 1: Boost protections for critical energy infrastructure and continue improving equipment supply chains Strengthening the security of critical energy infrastructure across Ukraine is vital to maintaining capacity this winter. A multilayered defence strategy, whereby air defence is combined with passive defence measures, can serve…
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Contributor
Tim Gould
Chief Energy Economist. Tim Gould was appointed the Agency's Chief Energy Economist in 2021. As Chief Energy Economist, he provides strategic advice on energy economics across a wide range of IEA activities and analysis. Mr Gould is also Head of the Office of the Chief Energy Economist, in which capacity he co-leads the World Energy Outlook, the IEA's flagship publication series, and oversees the Agency's work on investment and finance, including the World Energy Investment report.Mr Gould joined the IEA in 2008, initially as a specialist on Russian and Caspian energy, and in recent years has designed and directed a wide range of IEA analytical outputs, while continuing to contribute also as an author. Prior to joining the IEA, Mr Gould worked on European and Eurasian energy issues in Brussels and has ten years of experience in Eastern Europe, primarily in Ukraine. He graduated from Oxford University and has a post-graduate diploma from the School of Advanced International Studies of J...