Energy in Demand News, May 24-25, 2026

adaptation, buildings, carbon emissions, circular economy, clean energy, climate change, decarbonisation, electrification, energy efficiency, energy transition, environment, fossil fuels, international co-operation, renewable energy

This current energy crisis with the blockade of shipping from the Strait of Hormuz is getting more and more serious every day. The Guardian reports that Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, warned on Thursday that oil markets will enter the “red zone” by July and August as stocks dwindle before the summer travel season. The IEA chief said that the current crisis was having a greater impact than the three biggest previous major energy shocks – the 1973 Mideast war and oil embargo, the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Birol predicted that governments around the world would review their energy strategies in the next few years and “look for new options” for fuel imports. He added that countries would also turn to other energy sources, including renewables, nuclear – and, to a lesser extent, coal – and that domestically, energy production “that makes economic sense will get a push”. The Guardian article did not mention the role energy efficiency should play.

The IEA has published a major update to its Energy Crisis Policy Response Tracker, a new interactive online tool that monitors government actions taken in response to the energy market impacts of the conflict in the Middle East. The online tool provides a comprehensive survey of policies to promote energy conservation, support consumers and improve structural resilience – and now allows users to easily search for specific countries. Check it out and let us know what you think.

The IEA forecasts that electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are expected to make up nearly 30 per cent of global car sales this year as the Middle East energy crisis and lower battery costs boost demand. As the Financial Times reports: “The electric shift is also fuelled by surging exports of EVs and plug-in hybrids made in China as BYD and other domestic manufacturers face pressure from a cut-throat price competition in the world’s largest car market. China accounted for nearly three-quarters of the electric cars produced globally in 2025, while exports of Chinese electric cars doubled to a new record high. Driven by those exports, the market share of electric cars in south-east Asia is expected to increase to 60 per cent by 2035, compared with nearly 20 per cent last year.” When do you think Europe will hit 60 per cent?

In planning travel over the upcoming weeks, here are some useful ideas to help you along:

B. F. Skinner (1904-1990), an American psychologist, behaviourist, inventor, and social philosopher provides a valuable message this week: “A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.”

EiD welcomes your views about this week’s selection of posts on the zero-carbon energy transition:

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