International Energy Agency (IEA)

Explore Spotlight : The world is moving at speed into the Age of Electricity

The workshop is organized by the IEA Experts Group on R&D Priority Setting and Evaluation (EGRD) and it is hosted by The Technical University of Denmark. EGRD is an informal advisory group under the IEA Committee on Research and Technology (CERT) with the role of supporting CERT delegates with advice on R&D priority-setting and the linkage to governmental policy objectives, methods and approaches for evaluation of R&D activities, and understanding of emerging and systematic R&D topics. Recent topics include: Improving the Resilience of the Complete Clean Energy Supply Chain (2023), Social Impacts of Clean energy Policies (2023) and Climate Neutral Heating and Cooling: RD&D Needs and Perspectives for International Cooperation (2023).

The third edition of the World Energy Employment (WEE ) provides an update on the status and prospects for the global energy workforce in the wake of the global energy crisis and discusses future uncertainties that will remain top of mind for energy workers and employers. The report includes comprehensive estimates of energy employment by sector, by region, and by supply chain segment. It also highlights how the industry is grappling with skilled labour shortages, the implications for wages, emerging needs for education and upskilling, and data on gender, informality, and digitalization.

The IEA hosted its biennial Emergency Response Exercises (ERE), an important training programme aimed at emergency response procedures in the event of global oil supply disruptions.

The new energy economy that is fast emerging creates big opportunities for countries looking to manufacture clean energy technologies, their components and related materials.

Following the release of Energy Technology Perspectives 2024, authors will present key findings across four webinars.

Artificial intelligence will transform energy innovation, but we haven’t yet grasped the scale of the impacts - A commentary by Simon Bennett, Thomas Spencer

Like the steam engine and electricity, artificial intelligence (AI) is a general-purpose technology that could profoundly transform the global economy and the world’s energy system. Though key uncertainties remain, it stands to have major impacts. High on the list is its potential role in accelerating innovation.

Policy progress can enable Sweden’s low emissions electricity system to drive a green industrial transformation.

Emerging and developing economies are critical to the global energy transition, as their pathways to meeting growing energy demand will be critical to achieving clean energy goals. Innovation is essential, as 35% of the energy sector emissions reductions needed to reach net zero by mid-century rely on technologies that are not yet commercially available. Emerging and developing countries have much to gain from participating in development of cutting-edge technologies and fostering the capabilities to adopt and adapt them in their own contexts. However, they face specific challenges, including constrained public budgets, limited research infrastructure, and uncertain domestic markets for innovative technologies, which hinder their ability to fully reap the benefits of clean energy innovation. Policy plays a key role in enabling and accelerating technology deployment through financial incentives, regulations and research support.