Everything Energy

Laura Cozzi and Tim Gould from the IEA delve into the World Energy Outlook 2025, revealing complex energy security risks tied to geopolitical tensions and market concentration in critical minerals. They highlight shifting demand driven by growth in India and Southeast Asia, emphasizing the rapid rise of renewable energy, particularly solar. The duo also discusses the pervasive impact of electric vehicles on oil demand and the urgent need for grid investments to keep pace with skyrocketing electricity needs, advocating for a coordinated policy response akin to 1973.

In this conversation, Talya Vatman, the IEA's Caspian and Black Sea Programme Manager, discusses Ukraine's precarious energy security as winter approaches. She shares insights from her visit to Kyiv, emphasizing the risks of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. Talya highlights the human impact of power outages and the necessity of decentralized renewable sources for resilience. She also covers the challenges of maintaining energy supplies and the vital role of international support in safeguarding Ukraine's energy future.

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 Cooperation Centre in Singapore. From the Agency’s first office outside its Paris headquarters, she unpacks these trends, examining the key opportunities and challenges ahead. She also outlines what countries in the region need to do to achieve the ambitious energy goals they have set.

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 quickly and what this could mean for the oil sector, from the impact on refineries to the potential implications for emissions.

In this insightful discussion, Eren Çam, an electricity analyst at the IEA with a focus on global power trends, dives into the evolving landscape of electricity generation. He outlines the current mix of energy sources, including the dominance of coal and the rapid rise of renewables like solar and wind. Eren also addresses key challenges in scaling up electricity supply, such as infrastructure and regulatory barriers, while highlighting optimistic trends for low-emission growth and integrating diverse energy sources for a sustainable future.

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, IEA Africa Programme Manager, and Dan Wetzel, Head of the IEA’s Tracking Sustainable Transitions Unit. They explain what the lack of clean cooking supplies means in practice, what the latest data reveals, what more can be done to close the access gap, and why the energy sector is key to solving this challenge.

Brian Motherway, Head of the IEA’s Office of Energy Efficiency, dives into the soaring global demand for air conditioning as temperatures rise and income levels increase. He discusses the impact on electricity systems and affordability, highlighting the urgent need for effective government policies. The conversation explores strategies for sustainable urban design to combat heat while ensuring equitable access to cooling. Motherway emphasizes the significance of updating building codes and standards as climate change intensifies, showcasing the challenges and solutions in keeping cool without straining energy resources.

Araceli Fernandez Pales, Head of the IEA’s Technology Innovation Unit, delves into the transformative role of batteries in energy systems. Teo Lombardo, an IEA energy analyst, breaks down battery mechanics and trends, spotlighting China's dominance in production. They discuss the surge in battery demand, driven largely by electric vehicles and grid storage. The conversation also highlights environmental concerns in battery production and the future potential of technological innovations, including recycling, to reshape the energy landscape.

Oil markets have faced significant turbulence this year. Heightened geopolitical risks, trade tensions and policy shifts have all affected the outlook. At the same time, the major drivers of supply and demand over the past 15 years are losing momentum, signalling that a deeper transformation of markets is underway. In this episode, Toril Bosoni, Head of the IEA’s Oil Industry and Markets Division, unpacks the latest developments, speaking about the forces shaping oil markets today, how resilient they could be to tensions in the Middle East and elsewhere, and what the oil market might look like in the years ahead.

Cecilia Tam, Head of the IEA’s Energy Investment Unit, shares insights from the groundbreaking World Energy Investment report. She reveals that global energy investment could soar to $3.3 trillion by 2025, driven largely by energy security concerns. The discussion highlights China as a dominant player in energy investments, the shift from fossil fuels to renewables, and the funding challenges faced by Africa. Tam emphasizes the urgent need for balanced investment in grid infrastructure and low emission technologies to meet global climate targets.