IEA overhauls its energy data website to boost transparency and user-friendliness

­­­The International Energy Agency announced on Wednesday that as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the statistics pages of its website, more than 20 years of data for more than 140 countries and regions worldwide are now available online for the first time. Not only do the enhancements give users easy access to the IEA’s wealth of information on fuels, emissions, taxes, prices and more going back to 1990, but they also allow for customisable, interactive graphics that can easily tell the global energy story over several decades.

“The IEA is the world’s most authoritative source of energy data, and in a world in which all nations face common energy challenges it is all the more important to share information,” IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven said.  “Our enhanced website now gives citizens and governments easy access to the same critical information needed for everyone to work towards a secure and sustainable energy future.”

Until now, only one year’s worth of data was available on the IEA’s website. But as part of the revamped site, users anywhere in the world can view data from 1990 through 2011.  Even more recent statistics are available, including the very latest results from the IEA monthly survey of OECD oil, natural gas, electricity and prices. And for those who would like more complete and detailed data, books and data services nicely complement the web pages.

“Statistics are critical to the IEA and to energy analysts worldwide, and more people visit the IEA Statistics web pages than any other section of our website,” said Jean-Yves Garnier, head of the IEA Energy Data Centre, the IEA’s statistics arm. “To make sure users can get the data they need, our new web pages offer not just our vast range of statistics but also graphics, charts, glossaries and links to other statistical organisations and their data.”

The website features seven tables of critical data for each country and region, ranging from energy production trade and transformation to the final consumption by sub-sector. One click also presents a country’s principal statistics in graphic forms. Moreover many of the statistics are given as compound indicators, like electricity consumption per capita or energy-related CO₂ emissions divided by GDP.

Among the most exciting features of the new statistics pages are the so-called Sankey diagrams, which help users visualise energy transfers for the world, specific regions and individual countries. Each element of energy production or consumption is represented by an arrow that widens or narrows based on the amount of energy it represents. The Sankey diagrams can be animated to show year-to-year changes dating back as far as 1973.

The new web pages were created jointly by the IEA Energy Data Centre and the Communication and Information Office.

Statistics collection has been a principal activity of the IEA since its founding in 1974, providing the basis for IEA analysis and recommendations. The Energy Data Centre’s nearly 30 statisticians work closely with both OECD and non-OECD countries to collect and exchange data for the many categories tracked, from production and consumption of all the major fuels to energy-related CO₂ emissions, and the results are verified using internal checks, market intelligence and discussions with countries. To standardise and improve data collection, the IEA publishes manuals and organises two one-week training sessions each year as well as regional or country workshops worldwide.

About the IEA

The International Energy Agency is an autonomous organisation which works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 28 member countries and beyond. Founded in response to the 1973/4 oil crisis, the IEA’s initial role was to help countries co-ordinate a collective response to major disruptions in oil supply through the release of emergency oil stocks to the markets. While this continues to be a key aspect of its work, the IEA has evolved and expanded. It is at the heart of global dialogue on energy, providing reliable and unbiased research, statistics, analysis and recommendations.