Everything Energy

What did the global energy landscape look like just before the outbreak of the war in the Middle East sent shockwaves through energy markets in March? What were the major trends – and what might they tell us about what comes next?   In this episode, IEA energy analyst Alex Martinos discusses the findings from the Global Energy Review 2026 , which provides a comprehensive assessment of global energ...

Around the world, billions of people use liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, to cook their meals. Today, many of them are under substantial pressure, with global LPG supplies severely disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East. In 2025, 30% of all LPG exported by sea transited through the Strait of Hormuz – a route that’s seen shipping slow dramatically since the end of February.   In this episode,...

As the energy crisis caused by disruptions to oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz continues to unfold, how is it shifting energy investment priorities around the world?   In this episode, two IEA experts – Energy Investment Unit head Cecilia Tam and energy investment analyst Kirsten Smith – dig into this question based on new insights from the World Energy Investment 2026 report. With e...

Hydropower is the third largest source of power generation globally, producing roughly as much electricity as solar and wind combined. Yet despite its huge role in electricity systems around the world, it is often left out of conversations on energy.  In this episode, IEA renewable energy analyst Yasmina Abdelilah explains how the role of hydropower in electricity systems has evolved in recent dec...

A lot has happened since the IEA published its landmark report last year on what artificial intelligence could mean for global electricity demand and its potential to reshape how energy systems work. The tech sector has poured hundreds of billions of dollars of additional investment into AI, while the technology itself and the ways in which it’s used have continued to develop rapidly. At the same...

Critical minerals are essential for many of today’s energy technologies – and for the broader economy. Lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite, for example, are crucial to battery performance. Rare earth elements are indispensable for the permanent magnets in wind turbines and electric vehicle motors. And electricity networks need huge amounts of aluminium and copper. As demand for these m...

Amid the war in the Middle East, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints – has plunged, creating the largest disruption to oil supply in history. How is this shock rippling through oil markets? What are the real-world consequences for oil-consuming countries and industries? And how has it changed the IEA’s forecasts for supply and demand in the m...

Four-day workweeks. Designated driving days. Fewer business trips. Across Southeast Asia, governments have been moving quickly to adopt measures that conserve fuel – highlighting the region’s exposure to the energy crisis caused by the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz.   In this episode, Sue-Ern Tan, Head of the IEA’s Regional Cooperation Centre in Singapore, explains why countries in Southeas...

Oil prices have surged amid the war in the Middle East, putting pressures on consumers around the world. To help address the supply disruptions, the IEA is coordinating the largest ever release of oil from countries’ emergency reserves. But actions on the demand side can also play a key role.   In this episode, Stéphanie Bouckaert, Head of the IEA’s Demand Sectors Unit, and Lucas Boehlé, an analys...

The global oil market is facing the most severe disruption in its history, with the war in the Middle East largely halting energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical trade chokepoint. In response to this disruption, IEA Member countries agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency stocks – the largest collective action since the Agency’s founding more than 50 years...

As risks multiply around the world, energy security has rapidly climbed to the top of the political agenda – leaving policymakers to navigate an increasingly complex mix of traditional threats and emerging vulnerabilities.   This episode features conversations with Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-Charge of Energy, Science and Technology, and Leila Benali, Morocco’s...

The global energy sector is adding jobs twice as fast as the overall economy. But where is this growth coming from? And with skills shortages increasing, can it keep up the momentum?   In this episode, IEA analysts Elspeth Hathaway and Rebecca Ruff – two authors of the World Energy Employment report – dive into the latest data. They talk about who works in the energy sector, what’s been driving th...

Enthusiasm for hydrogen has surged in recent years. The most abundant element in the universe, it offers a wide range of potential energy applications, and many governments now see it as an important part of the solution to their energy challenges. Much of the focus has been on low‑emissions hydrogen. But building markets around a still‑emerging technology is far from straightforward. In this epis...

The car industry is a key part of many economies – and with passenger cars representing the single largest source of global oil demand today, changes in the worldwide auto sector have important implications for the energy sector. The global car industry is undergoing significant shifts, as the geography of car production evolves, new regions drive sales growth, and electric cars expand consumer ch...

For many decades, global energy demand was mainly concentrated in wealthy, industrialised economies such as the United States, Europe and Japan. That has changed in the 21st century as China’s rapid economic growth moved the centre of gravity eastward, with the country driving more than half of global oil and gas demand growth and 60% of electricity demand growth since 2010.   Now, the landscape i...

Today, nearly two out of every five people in Africa still live without access to electricity. That means no lighting at home or in schools, no power to grow businesses, and no reliable energy for healthcare or essential services.   New IEA analysis outlines a pathway to universal access to electricity by 2035. But what will it take to get there? In this episode, Emma Gordon and Adam Ward – energy...

In every scenario in the IEA’s flagship World Energy Outlook 2025 , solar power is projected to grow rapidly in the coming decades. But what is driving this growth? And what could slow it down or speed it up?   In this episode, Brent Wanner, Head of the IEA’s Power Supply Unit, and Anthony Vautrin, an energy modeller, unpack the new report’s key findings on solar. They discuss the trends that have...

The World Energy Outlook 2025 – the latest edition of the IEA’s flagship annual report, which explores a range of possible energy futures and their implications for energy security, access and emissions – is out now. This episode walks through the key findings of the report with its lead authors: IEA Director of Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks Laura Cozzi and Chief Energy Economist Tim Gou...

As Ukraine enters another winter at war, its energy security is once again in jeopardy. While Ukraine made strong strides in rebuilding and strengthening the resilience of its energy system this past spring and summer, the situation remains fragile. The risk of major disruptions to electricity and heating in the coming months remains – particularly as Russia expands the scope and sophistication of...

Southeast Asia is a dynamic region that is increasingly shaping global energy trends. As populations and economies grow, its energy demand is set to soar in the coming years, accounting for a quarter of global growth over the next decade. It also plays a critical role in the supply chains for energy technologies.   In this episode, we’re joined by Sue-Ern Tan, Head of the IEA’s Regional Cooperatio...

Products made from petrochemicals are all around us – in our clothes, electronics, packaging, medical equipment, tires and so much more. But what are petrochemicals? And why are they so important for the future of global oil markets?   In this episode, we speak with IEA Oil Market Analysts David Martin and Ciarán Healy. They explain how petrochemicals are produced, why demand for them is rising qu...

When many people think about energy, electricity comes to mind. The bedrock of modern societies and economies, it powers everything from home appliances to factory machinery – keeping the lights on, trains running and much more – although a great deal more work is needed to ensure universal access to it worldwide. Globally, electricity demand is rising quickly. So, in this episode, we speak with I...

Today, four in five families in African countries cook with fuels such as wood and charcoal over open fires or basic stoves. This leads to more than 800,000 premature deaths each year. But new IEA analysis shows that momentum is building to address this critical issue – opening a pathway to reach universal access to clean cooking in Africa by 2040.   In this episode, we hear from Syrine El Abed, I...

As incomes and temperatures rise around the world, demand for cooling is soaring. And while expanding access to air conditioning stands to improve quality of life for millions of people, it is also putting new strain on electricity systems during hot periods. In this episode, we hear from Brian Motherway, who leads the IEA’s work on energy efficiency. He walks through the latest global data on air...

When you think of batteries, you might picture charging a phone or laptop. But it’s the energy industry that has transformed the battery market over the past decade. Today, over 90% of battery demand comes from the energy sector, driven by record-breaking electric car sales and the rapid growth of battery storage to support power grids around the world. In this episode, we hear from Teo Lombardo,...