Everything Energy

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.

The automotive industry has faced major challenges in recent years, from pandemic-driven supply chain shocks to inflation and geopolitical uncertainty. But amid the turmoil, global sales of electric vehicles have continued to break records.  In 2024, more than one in five cars sold globally were electric, and this year it's expected to be one in four. In some parts of the world, EVs are now cheaper than conventional cars. But what's driving these trends? Who's making these cars? How are we charging them? And how is their uptake reshaping the world’s energy system?  In this episode, we speak with IEA Energy Technology and Transport Analyst Elizabeth Connelly to answer these questions and unpack the 2025 edition of the IEA's annual Global EV Outlook, out now.

Thomas Spencer and Siddharth Singh, lead authors of the IEA's report on Energy and AI, share their insights on the burgeoning relationship between artificial intelligence and energy consumption. They discuss how the demand for electricity from data centers will surge by 2030 and the dual nature of AI—while it can enhance energy efficiency, it also raises concerns about carbon emissions. They highlight the vital role of supply chains and renewable energy in shaping this dynamic, and how AI is transforming the very fabric of our energy systems.

This year, electricity generated from nuclear power is set to reach a record high. Dozens of nuclear reactors are currently under construction, and government support for the sector is at its highest level since the oil crisis in the 1970s. These trends point to a major global comeback for nuclear energy after a prolonged period of stagnation. In this episode, host Dan Hewitt is joined by Brent Wanner, the head of the IEA’s Power Sector Unit. Drawing on important findings from a recent IEA report, The Path to a New Era for Nuclear Energy, they discuss the factors driving nuclear energy’s renewed momentum. They also dig into the key challenges, such as project delays and cost overruns, that need to be overcome for it to play a more significant role in the future energy landscape.

It's abundant. It's clean. And it’s right beneath our feet. So why is geothermal energy often overlooked in the global energy conversation? Despite its massive potential, geothermal only meets about 1% of global electricity demand today. So, what’s holding it back? And could new technologies transform the way we think about geothermal energy and who can access it? Joining host Dan Hewitt to explore these questions are Heymi Bahar and Rebecca Schulz, senior analysts at the International Energy Agency and co-authors of the IEA’s latest report on the subject, The Future of Geothermal Energy.

What does the world of energy look like today? In this episode of the IEA’s Everything Energy podcast, which is back from an extended break, we delve into this topic, guided by a brand-new IEA report. The Global Energy Review 2025 is the first assessment of 2024 trends across the energy sector based on the latest data. It shows that growth in energy demand surged in 2024 to almost twice its recent average as the consumption of electricity rose around the world.  Why is this so significant? What fuels and technologies helped meet the increase in demand? And what has been the effect on global emissions? Host Dan Hewitt and Laura Cozzi, the IEA’s Director of Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks, discuss these questions and more.

In this episode of the podcast - our first for 2021 - we welcome Mechthild Wörsdörfer, Director Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks and Lucila Arboleya, Energy Economics and Financial Analyst at the IEA, to discuss key challenges and opportunities facing gender diversity in the energy sector - widely regarded as one of the least gender diverse parts of the economy.