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Cost of Capital Observatory
…divided into three sections:A Dashboard that provides free data on the cost of capital for energy projects in emerging and developing economies, updated with 2023 and 2024 data in July and September 2025.A section with Tools and Analysis to help governments understand and quantify the main underlying risks perceived by investors and financiers in each country.Case Studies with lessons learnt of how policymakers, together with the private sector, development finance institutions and other entities managed to mitigate risks and mobilise capital for clean energy sectors across the emerging and developing world.We hope these resources will help…
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World Energy Investment 2025
…World Energy Investment report, marks the 10th edition of this flagship analysis and provides a full update on the investment picture in 2024 and an initial reading of the emerging picture for 2025.The report provides a global benchmark for tracking capital flows in the energy sector and examines how investors are assessing risks and opportunities across all areas of fuel and electricity supply, critical minerals, efficiency, research and development and energy finance.The report highlights several key aspects of the current investment landscape in the context of recent policy and macroeconomic developments and a heightened focus on energy security…
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China’s Official Energy Finance in Emerging and Developing Economies
…linked to uneven availability of concessional or long-tenor finance.This report maps and analyses these changes through an energy sector-level dataset covering 2015 to 2024. It explores how China’s evolving financing model is reshaping instruments, institutions and regional allocation patterns, and also considers the strategic and practical implications for EMDE energy transitions.The analysis is complemented by case studies covering a range of technologies and financial structures – from large-scale renewables and electricity distribution to green industrial projects, waste-to-energy and upstream developments – which show how China’s official actors operate in practice across contrasting markets…
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World Energy Investment 2026
World Energy Investment is the global benchmark for tracking investment trends across the energy sector. The report will present the latest data on capital flows to different types of energy projects, as well as the first set of full-year estimates for 2026.As energy security concerns continue to shape investment priorities, this year’s report will explore the potential implications for different sectors and regions, particularly in light of the ongoing energy crisis stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.The 2026 edition will highlight major investment milestones and opportunities from different energy sectors and regions. It also includes…
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Businesses see competitive value of energy efficiency, but smaller firms struggle to access solutions
…manage risk and strengthen their position in global markets. Yet not all firms have the same capacity to quickly improve their energy efficiency.New analysis of the 2025 IEA Industrial Competitiveness Survey – which covered 1 000 companies across 14 countries – shows that business leaders view energy efficiency as closely linked to their competitive performance. But the survey also highlights a persistent divide: while large companies are often well positioned to capture these benefits, many that are small and medium-sized face barriers that limit their ability to invest in efficiency and compete on the same terms. Energy efficiency drives competitiveness across…
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7 certainties about energy for this age of uncertainty
ED commentary The energy sector, like many others, is contending with a blizzard of uncertainties, complicating the work of policymakers, business leaders and investors.Geopolitical twists and turns are straining long-established relationships and upending deeply held assumptions. The World Uncertainty Index, devised by economists from the IMF and Stanford University, has hit unprecedented levels in recent months.But in this time of flux, there are still some important trends that we can identify with some confidence. Here are seven that can help us keep our bearings: The world has entered the age of electricity Oil and gas will still…
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The State of Energy Innovation 2026
The second edition of The State of Energy Innovation turns the spotlight on the technologies, policies and funders at the forefront of energy technology development. It provides a comprehensive assessment of recent progress and emerging challenges in energy technology innovation, drawing on over 150 innovation highlights from 2025 and a survey of practitioners across more than 40 countries. It analyses trends in public and corporate R&D spending, venture capital flows, patenting and policy, as well as providing an update on progress towards the 18 IEA Races to First in energy innovation. This data-driven approach informs policy makers, industry…
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Investment
…impact. Analyses such as our flagship World Energy Investment report, published annually, explore how investors are assessing risks and opportunities across all areas of fuel and electricity supply, critical minerals, energy efficiency, research and development and energy finance.The Agency also supports governments and industry as they work to reduce barriers to investing in secure, affordable and clean energy. Our analysis is designed to enhance transparency around economic and financing trends, the cost of capital and profit dynamics. We also explore how capital markets and innovative financing instruments can drive greater investment in the energy sector – especially in emerging and developing economies…
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Asset values
…the capital cost, while the tenant is the one benefiting from lower energy bills. This is often known as a “split incentive.” However, evidence from the United States suggests that energy efficiency improvements are associated with reduced vacancy and tenant turnover, which reduces associated transaction costs and provide an incentive for landlords to invest. Need more information? Eichholtz, P. (2024), The Impact of Minimum Energy Performance Standards on the Commercial Real Estate Market.Zitouny, S. (2024), On the capitalization of energy labels on the French housing market.Amaral, F. et al., (2024), Green Signals: Energy Efficiency and German Housing Markets…
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World Energy Investment 2025 Executive summary
…Energy Investment shows that capital flows to the energy sector are set to rise in 2025 to USD 3.3 trillion, a 2% rise in real terms on 2024. Around USD 2.2 trillion is going collectively to renewables, nuclear, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency and electrification, twice as much as the USD 1.1 trillion going to oil, natural gas and coal. Open questions about the economic and trade outlook means that some investors are adopting a wait-and-see approach to new project approvals, but we have yet to see significant implications for spending on existing projects. Rapid growth in spending on energy…