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State of Energy Policy 2026 Energy efficiency and fuel switching regulations
More than 130 countries have energy efficiency or fuel switching regulations in place, but some were revised, delayed or withdrawn in 2025 Energy use has become more efficient around the world since 2000. Global energy intensity has improved by around 30% over the past 25 years, meaning the world uses about 30% less energy per unit of economic output today than it did in 2000, with differentiated trends by key end uses: passenger cars and air conditioners have notably seen efficiency improvements for new sales of 30% and 45%, respectively since 2005. However, the pace of improvement has slowed over…
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Germany 2025 Executive summary
Germany is at an important inflection point in its energy transition. As one era of its energy history draws to a close, another is coming clearly into view – the move away from nuclear, coal and Russian natural gas contrasted by the transition towards renewables, low-emissions hydrogen, heat pumps and electric vehicles (EVs). While the world has been buffeted by geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges in recent years, Germany has worked hard to accelerate its clean energy transition. This report seeks to provide Germany with timely advice on how it can progress towards its energy and climate goals, including in three…
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Global Methane Tracker 2025 Key findings
Energy-related methane emissions have still not reached a definitive peak The fossil fuel sector is responsible for nearly one-third of methane emissions from human activity today. Record production of oil, gas and coal, combined with limited mitigation efforts, has kept emissions above 120 million tonnes (Mt) annually. Abandoned wells and mines – included in this year’s Global Methane Tracker for the first time – contributed around 8 Mt to these emissions in 2024. Bioenergy production and consumption results in a further 20 Mt of methane, largely from the incomplete combustion of traditional biomass used in cooking and heating in developing economies…
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Electricity 2026 Flexibility
Evolving generation and demand patterns reshape power system needs The Age of Electricity is underpinned by rising investments in new resources. These include growing converter-based variable solar PV and wind, battery storage systems, as well as spatially and temporally concentrated demand from EVs, heat pumps and large loads like data centres. Combined with the expansion and upgrade of transmission and distribution grids, substantial increases in the flexibility of power systems are required for secure and cost-effective integration of generation, load and storage technologies that characterise this new era.Last year’s report, Electricity 2025, focused on measures to…
- Executive summary
- Demand
- Supply
- Grids
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+ 4 pages
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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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Ilias Atigui
India Programme Officer.
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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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Gaining an Edge Summary for policymakers
Energy efficiency delivers more than energy savings and emission reductions – it can also improve the competitiveness of countries and firms. From increased profitability to job creation, energy efficiency helps firms compete amid high costs, growing demand, and rising trade pressures. In today’s global context, energy efficiency is not only a matter of energy policy, but also of economic policy.Today the world’s industries can produce nearly 20% more value for a given amount of energy than they could two decades ago. This progress has yielded significant benefits at the country level. G20 countries have doubled their economic output…
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The State of Energy Innovation 2026 Executive summary
Successful energy innovations can have outsize economic and social outcomes, impacting industrial competitiveness, trade, environmental health, infrastructure investment and security. The second edition of the State of Energy Innovation turns the spotlight on the technologies, policies and funders at the forefront of this process. Today, the global markets for energy technologies such as batteries, transformers, turbines, motors and heat exchangers are worth trillions of dollars. With spending on energy representing as much as 10% of global GDP, innovation that reduces energy supply costs can transform a country’s comparative advantage. As a result, the energy sector is innovation-intensive: one…
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Global Energy Review 2026 Technology: Nuclear
In 2025, 3 GW of new nuclear capacity came online, with China, India and Russia each completing work on a new reactor. However, these additions were offset by the retirement of 3 GW of nuclear capacity, two-thirds of which was in Belgium. In total, global nuclear capacity remained at 420 GW at the end of 2025, with reactors in operation in over 30 countries. There were ten construction starts in 2025 – nine in China and one in Russia – with a total capacity of 12.2 GW. Over the past decade, 94% of nuclear reactors that started construction were of…
- Key findings
- Global trends
- Oil
- Natural gas
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+ 9 pages
