'First global energy crisis, accelerate the transition,

"The world is in the midst of the first real global energy crisis, triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the electricity sector is one of the most severely affected."

This was stated by the director for energy markets and security of the International Energy Agency AIE, Keisuke Sadamori, commenting on the Electricity Market Report.

"Governments must use emergency measures to address immediate challenges, but they must also focus on accelerating investment in clean energy transitions as the most effective and lasting response to the current crisis," says Keisuke Sadamori.

In the first half of 2022, the average price of natural gas in Europe was four times higher than in the same period in 2021, while the price of coal was more than triple.

As a result, wholesale electricity prices have more than tripled in many markets, according to the International Energy Agency's AIE Electricity Market Report.

The IEA price index for the main global electricity wholesale markets reached double levels compared to the average for the first half of the 2016-2021 period.

The agency recalls how "due to high gas prices and supply constraints, coal is replacing natural gas for power generation in markets with spare capacity for coal-fired power plants, particularly in European countries seeking to end their dependence on Russian gas imports ".

Some countries also have "