About the IEA

About the IEA Research Cooperation

Until the mid 1970's energy supply policy was a side issue for the industrialized nations: all the energy services needed could be provided with the fossil sources of energy available in the market.The oil crisis in October 1973 was a turning-point in national and international energy policies - for the first time the extent of dependence on the oil-exporting countries was revealed, and the security of the supply of energy in future seemed to be in jeopardy.

As a reaction to the crisis, the International Energy Agency (IEA) was set up in 1974 as an autonomous entity within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with headquarters in Paris.

Austria is one of 16 founding members; today the IEA has 29 members (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, USA, UK).

The IEA is committed to advising on and coordinating national energy policy in the member states.

Events

IEA-ES Task 45 Webinar – accelerating the market uptake of Large Thermal Energy Storage technologies

10. June 2025
Online, AT

This webinar will explore the diverse planning, regulatory, societal, and financial aspects involved in implementing large-scale thermal energy storage systems, drawing on real-world examples involving Aquifer, Borehole, and Pit Thermal Energy Storage technologies.

International Sustainable Energy Conference – ISEC 2026

14. –16. April 2026
Graz

Over the three conference days, ISEC 2026 will focus on various thematic areas, such as the "Role of the Heating Sector and Energy Efficiency" in an interconnected sustainable energy system, as well as "Research and Innovation in Energy Transition, Circular Economy, and Climate-Neutral Cities".

15th IEA Heat Pump Conference: Decarbonisation through Innovation

26. - 29. May 2026
Vienna

The leading scientific conference and meeting place for academia, industry, market, policy makers and investors interested in the field of heat pumping technologies. Under the motto ‘Decarbonisation through Innovation’, experts from all over the world will meet to present and discuss the latest advances and developments.

All Events