Around 115 clean-energy technologies are commercially ready and undeployed

Clean-energy innovation does not end when a technology becomes commercially available: the IEA identifies around 115 commercially ready technologies that remain undeployed, including nearly 80 that have been ready for more than five years. Closing that gap requires market creation, not just better technology. Key elements like credible demand, offtake, policy support and financing will help unlock commercial success.

The finding cuts against a common assumption that decarbonisation is waiting on invention. A large share of the tools already exist and have already been proven. What they lack is a first buyer willing to underwrite the premium, an offtake contract that a lender will accept, and a policy environment that does not shift before the asset is paid off.

Each of those is a demand-side problem, and demand sits with the companies that will eventually buy the lower-carbon product. Insetting lets those companies commit early, share the premium with other beneficiaries in the chain, and receive a verified claim in return. That is market creation in the sense the IEA means it.