The International Energy Agency (IEA) has launched a Global Observatory on Energy Sector Resilience, a new data and analysis hub designed to help governments and industry identify risks to energy infrastructure and strengthen protection against potential disruptions.

The initiative, launched in support of the COP31 Presidency’s 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge, initially focuses on power system resilience as countries accelerate electrification and become increasingly dependent on reliable electricity supplies.

Since 2022, the IEA has recorded around 3,000 reported power outages linked to extreme weather and other natural hazards across more than 150 countries.

These incidents have left an average of approximately 190 million electricity customers without power annually.

The Observatory will expand the agency’s monitoring of energy disruptions, providing more detailed information on the causes and impacts of outages while gradually extending coverage across the wider energy sector.

A key feature of the platform is a global atlas mapping energy infrastructure exposed to natural hazards, including floods, tropical cyclones and extreme heat.

According to IEA analysis, around 30% of electricity assets worldwide are exposed to tropical cyclones of varying intensity, while approximately 20% face extended periods of extreme heat. More than 10% are located in floodplains.

The initiative also addresses growing concerns over cyber threats and malicious attacks, alongside climate-related risks that could undermine energy security and supply reliability.

“The Global Energy Resilience Observatory provides a new, comprehensive evidence base to inform decisions and investment in energy resilience and security,” said Laura Cozzi, IEA Director of Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks, highlighting the urgency of preparing energy systems for increasingly complex threats.

To support practical action, the Observatory's first release includes an inventory of more than 130 resilience measures, supported by case studies and references covering different infrastructure types and potential hazards.

The measures range from improved governance and energy system design to physical infrastructure reinforcement, operational improvements and enhanced monitoring. Some can address multiple risks simultaneously while improving the overall performance of energy systems.

The Observatory follows discussions at the IEA’s October 2025 High-Level Roundtable on Strengthening Energy Infrastructure Resilience, where ministers and policymakers called for better data on energy disruptions and closer international cooperation to prepare for future risks.

The IEA said the platform will evolve as a living resource, expanding its coverage of disruptions, hazards and infrastructure while helping governments and industry prioritise investments and measures to strengthen energy resilience worldwide. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service