Brand guide

The mission of the International Energy Agency is to shape a secure and sustainable future for all, through our focus on all fuels and all technologies, and our analysis and policy advice to governments and industry around the world. Our recent rebranding has allowed the Agency to take a fresh look at some of our most important assets, including the Technology Collaboration Programme. These new TCP guidelines are designed to bring clarity and ease-of-use and ensure the Programme appears as a united force both visually as well as through our communication. It is meant to underscore the TCP’s importance and closeness to the IEA as well as the fact that each individual collaboration operates independently from the IEA. 

The IEA appreciates the collective and consistent efforts in advancing energy technology research and application around the world that each collaboration is a part of, and their importance to the IEA’s own work. We also recognise that no individual collaborations are alike and we have created guidelines that can be used across widely varying use cases.

Within this guide, there are two main sections:

Visual Guidelines
This section provides access to the new logo and common templates as well as guidelines for how to use it.

Communication Guidelines
This section provides suggested copy that you can use to describe the IEA, the TCP, and your own work.

The Technology Collaboration Programme logo was designed to embrace the diversity of the programme. The logo embraces individual brands while driving consistency across the entire programme. The logo puts the name of the programme front and centre. It also retains the link to the IEA but clarifies that the programme is not part of IEA but it is supported by IEA.

The logo is designed with digital media in mind. It is best used as a bar placed flush against the top or bottom of your website, presentations, or social media presence. It may also be used in the same fashion in professionally printed publications such as reports, fact sheets, and brochures.

Specific templates and how-to guidance are provided for specific use cases below.

The TCP logo uses the same blue as the IEA logo. This colour distinguishes the IEA brand and creates a coherent, recognisable experience. By incorporating the same blue into the TCP logo, this builds coherence between the TCP brand and the IEA brand. However, to reflect the autonomy of the individual collaborations, we ask that you please not use the same colour elsewhere in your communications.

Colour in digital versus print media

Digital and print media do not use the same colour model: digital media use an additive colour model based on red, green, and blue, while printed media use a subtractive colour model based on cyan, magenta, and yellow. Because of this difference, we have created a special version of the TCP logo to be used for print applications only ("CMYK").

If you print the normal version ("hex/RGB"), it will not look the same as when you view it on the screen. Similarly, the CMYK version does not look the same on screen as it does on paper.

Please select the appropriate version based on the use. For documents that will be printed, use the CMYK version. Otherwise, use the hex/RGB version. Please do not use the CMYK version on your website or in other digital formats.

These examples show the proper placement of the new logo. How-to guidance on specific use cases is found below in the sections labelled "Digital Media" and "Print Media." The examples are selected at random and do not show favouritism of one collaboration over another.

When applying the TCP logo

These examples show what to avoid when applying the TCP logo.

When updating your logo

These examples show what should be avoided when updating, changing or modifying your logo.

This section of the guide includes detailed instructions on how the logo should be applied across four key digital formats: web, digital reports, presentations, and social media.

The TCP logo should appear as a bar spanning the full width of the screen. The bar should be immediately visible as soon as a user reaches the front page of your website. We generally recommend that you place the bar at the very top of the first page of the website. Your own logo would then appear just below the TCP bar. If you wish, the bar may disappear as the user scrolls down the page. Depending on the design of your site, it is acceptable to place the bar at the bottom of the page as long as its position is set to sticky—ensuring it remains visible as the user scrolls down the page.

We further recommend that you make the logo a clickable link that takes you to the "About" page of your website, where you can include additional text explaining the IEA, the TCP, and the relationship between the two. See below for sample text for your "About" page.

As mentioned above, please do not use the IEA blue elsewhere on your website other than the bar, and please remove the blue Energy Technology Network logo as this logo has been retired.

Technical Details

To apply the logo to your website please follow one of the options outlined below, each of which is based on the level of access your have to your websites codebase or the level how customisable your website is via your content management system (CMS).

Option 1

If you or a member of your team has access to your websites codebase the logo should be applied as a bar (shown in the image above) at the very top of the page above your current header or navigation bar. This bar should be applied globally across all pages of your website. If your website has a sticky header or navigation bar, the logo should be integrated into this element, however this is not a requirement. Please download the SVG, web-ready version of the logo to be able to integrated the logo into you HTML.

When creating the bar it should be a height of 60px and 100% of the width of the page at all breakpoints. The logo asset should be aligned to the top left of this bar. The background colour of the bar should be #0044FF.

Option 2

If your header is customisable via your CMS please upload the logo as image in the size that is correct for the specification of your website. You maybe need a graphics editing tool to create this asset in the correct dimensions. When create this asset, the height should be 60px, with the background colour of #0044FF, the width should be defined by the specification of your websites design.

Option 3

If your only have the ability to update content from your CMS please upload the logo (available to download at the start of this guide) to your homepage in a position that is prominent when the page loads and does not require the user to scroll. Ideally the logo should be place as close the top right of the page however it's exact position will be dependent on the design of your website.

When applying the logo to a digital publication that will be available as a pdf on a website but would not be expected to be printed, please use the RGB template below. Note that if you print from this template, the colours may not appear correctly.

The logo should be applied as a bar spanning the full width of the cover. The bar may be applied at either the top or the bottom of the page. The bar should sit on top of all other content and should not be obstructed by any other text or images. It should be placed flush to either side and the top or bottom of the cover—no space should appear around the logo.

The easiest way to implement the logo is to download the attached template available in common A paper sizes. If your publication uses a non-standard format, please recreate the bar in the software of your choice using the logo asset available at the start of this guide. When recreating the bar if your own software, please align the logo to the top left or bottom right of your art-board or page. The height of the bar should be 14 mm X the width of your art-board or page.

When applying the logo to a presentation, the logo should be applied as a bar at either the top or the bottom of the first slide of the presentation. The bar should sit on top of all other content and should not be obstructed by any other text or images.

The easiest way to implement the logo is to download the attached template available in either 4:3 or 16:9 in Microsoft PowerPoint format.

When applying the logo to social media accounts, the logo should be applied as a bar at the top of the cover image. The bar should sit on top of all other content and should not be obstructed by any other text or images.

The easiest way to implement the logo is to download the attached template and apply the template on top of your current cover photo and re-upload to your social media accounts. This should be done for any and all accounts on Facebook or Twitter.

When used in print, the TCP logo should be applied as a bar spanning the full width of the publication and flush with the edge of the paper. Most professional printing services should be able to properly print the TCP logo for publications such as brochures, posters, and book covers. However, office or home printers may not be capable of printing an image flush to the edge of the paper, and a thin white gap may be visible. For this reason, we suggest that you avoid printing the TCP logo using a regular office printer.

This section provides instructions for using the TCP logo on professionally printed publications. An alternate logo, the TCP "badge" is also provided for a limited class of printed uses—specifically letterhead and meeting agendas.

When applying the logo to a publication that will professionally printed, please use the CMYK template below. With respect to colours, this template includes the CMYK version of the logo and is designed for printing only. If you would like to separately make the publication available as a downloadable pdf, please make a second version using the RGB template.

If your publication uses a non-standard format, please recreate the bar in the software of your choice using the logo asset available at the start of this guide. When recreating the bar if your own software, please align the logo to the top left or bottom right of your art-board or page. The height of the bar should be 15 mm X the width of your art-board or page.

As mentioned above, regular office and home printers may be unable to properly print the TCP logo. Therefore, in certain limited cases, you may use the TCP "badge." As the TCP "badge" is intended for your print use only, it is provided only in CYMK format. Please do not use the TCP badge file in digital media.

The TCP badge is available for documents that are expected to be printed on an office or home printer and that need to appear on TCP letterhead. This includes letters from the Chair or Operating Agent, meeting agendas, read-aheads, and any other document that are not intended for digital consumption and would not normally be professionally printed.

Most office and home printers are not capable of printing the normal TCP logo flush against the top and sides of the page. You may use the normal TCP logo for these documents, but only if you can print the letterhead on a printer that is capable of printing the logo flush against the top and sides of the page. As mentioned, most professional printing services have this capability. If you will have letterhead professionally printed, please use the CMYK TCP logo report template above.

If your printer does not have this capability, you may use the template below, which features the CMYK TCP badge alongside a place for the logo of your individual collaboration. We ask that you limit your use of the TCP badge to only these types of documents. Please do not use the TCP badge in digital media or on reports and other publications.

It can be tricky to clearly communicate the relationship between the IEA and the individual collaborations. To avoid confusion, it is important to ensure that we have a consistent approach across the network. In this section, you will find sample copy that you can use to describe the IEA, the Technology Collaboration Programme, and your individual collaboration. For quick reference, below you will find a brief blurb you may use in your communications that covers the IEA, the TCP, and a short disclaimer.

Standard introduction to the TCP

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an intergovernmental organisation that works to shape a secure and sustainable future for all, through our focus on all fuels and all technologies, and our analysis and policy advice to governments and industry around the world. 

The Technology Collaboration Programme is a multilateral mechanism established by the IEA with a belief that the future of energy security and sustainability starts with global collaboration. The programme is made up of thousands of experts across government, academia and industry in 55 countries dedicated to advancing common research and the application of specific energy technologies. 

Views of the [name of your collaboration] are not those of the IEA.

References to the IEA

The IEA encourages you to emphasise the connection between the IEA and your individual collaboration in your communications. But see below with respect to using disclaimers. Drawing attention to this connection reinforces the TCP brand and is mutually beneficial to both the IEA and to the collaborations. However, this subject should be treated with care as it can sometimes create misunderstandings about the actual relationship between the organisations.

This potential confusion can be a problem for both the IEA and the collaborations. The IEA Communications Office often receives press inquiries about statements and publications produced by an individual collaboration, which may not always be in line with the IEA’s messages, analysis, or public positions. Similarly, the IEA Legal Office also routinely receives requests from third parties to reproduce material from publications that are produced by one of the collaborations, not the IEA.

To avoid this confusion, you should take care that your communications strike an appropriate balance between highlighting the IEA connection and avoiding references that are likely to be misinterpreted.

Describing the IEA

When describing the IEA, the Technology Collaboration Programme, and your individual collaboration, we recommend you use the same descriptions that we use in our own material. We've created blocks of text of different length for you to choose from depending on how much space you have in the particular use. Please select the blocks that makes best use of the space you have available.

Short option

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an intergovernmental organisation that works to shape a secure and sustainable future for all, through our focus on all fuels and all technologies, and our analysis and policy advice to governments and industry around the world. For more information, please click here.

Medium option

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an international organisation that is at the heart of global dialogue on energy, providing authoritative analysis, data, policy recommendations, and real-world solutions to help countries provide secure and sustainable energy for all. Taking an all-fuels, all-technology approach, the IEA advocates policies that enhance the reliability, affordability and sustainability of energy. It examines the full spectrum of issues including renewables, oil, gas and coal supply and demand, energy efficiency, clean energy technologies, electricity systems and markets, access to energy, demand-side management, and much more.For more information, please click here.

Long option

About the International Energy Agency (IEA)

The IEA is at the heart of global dialogue on energy, providing authoritative analysis, data, policy recommendations, and real-world solutions to help countries provide secure and sustainable energy for all.

The IEA is an intergovernmental organisation that was created in 1974 to help co-ordinate a collective response to major disruptions in the supply of oil. While oil security this remains a key aspect of our work, the IEA has evolved and expanded significantly since its foundation.

Taking an all-fuels, all-technology approach, the IEA advocates policies that enhance the reliability, affordability and sustainability of energy. It examines the full spectrum issues including renewables, oil, gas and coal supply and demand, energy efficiency, clean energy technologies, electricity systems and markets, access to energy, demand-side management, and much more.

Since 2015, the IEA has opened its doors to major emerging countries to expand its global impact, and deepen cooperation in energy security, data and statistics, energy policy analysis, energy efficiency, and the growing use of clean energy technologies. 

The Technology Collaboration Programme vs the TCPs

In the IEA's communications, when discussing the entire programme as a whole, we will refer to the programme collectively as "The Technology Collaboration Programme" and individually as "collaborations." This phrasing is intended to highlight that the 38 collaborations are a part of a single, united programme designed to work towards the common goals of the IEA. In certain contexts, when discussing an individual collaboration, the IEA will also continue to use "TCP" and "TCPs" to refer to a single collaboration.

You may continue to refer to your individual collaboration as the "XYZ TCP" and to other collaborations as "TCPs." However, we encourage you to refer to the collective programme as simply "The Technology Collaboration Programme" in your external communications.

Describing the Technology Collaboration Programme

In order to clarify the power of the purpose and remit, we suggest that you use one of the text blocks below, depending on the space you have available:

Short option

The Technology Collaboration Programme was created with a belief that the future of energy security and sustainability starts with global collaboration. The programme is made up of thousands of experts across government, academia, and industry dedicated to advancing common research and the application of specific energy technologies.

Long option

The Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP) is a multilateral mechanism established by the International Energy Agency that was created with a belief that the future of energy security and sustainability starts with global collaboration. The programme is made up of thousands of experts across government, academia and industry in 55 countries dedicated to advancing common research and the application of specific energy technologies. 

Currently there are 38 individual technology collaborations working across several technology or sector categories: energy efficiency end-use technologies (buildings, transport, industry and electricity), renewable energy and hydrogen, fossil energies, fusion power, and cross-cutting issues. These technology collaborations are a critical, member-driven part of the IEA family, but they are functionally and legally autonomous from the IEA Secretariat. The breadth of the analytical expertise in the Technology Collaboration Programme is a unique asset in the global transition to a cleaner energy future.  

In general, you may refer to the IEA name or acronym provided that the relationship between the IEA and your collaboration is clearly understandable to an average reader in context. For most references to the IEA in the text of publications, presentations, websites, or other works, this relationship can be clarified with a disclaimer. For other uses where confusion is more likely, additional steps may be necessary.

However, note that the use of the IEA name or acronym in official names and logos is likely to cause confusion even if a disclaimer is used. The IEA discourages this practice. If you have a longstanding practice of using “IEA” in this manner, you are not required to discontinue this use, but TCPs that continue to use “IEA” in official names and logos are expected to take proactive steps to prevent confusion wherever practical.

Standard disclaimers

Please include a disclaimer in any document that references the IEA. If your official name and logo includes "IEA," you should include a disclaimer wherever your name and logo appears.

Short option

Views of the [name of your collaboration] are not those of the IEA.

Long option

The [name of your collaboration] is organised under the auspices of the International Energy Agency (IEA) but is functionally and legally autonomous. Views, findings and publications of the [name of your collaboration] do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the IEA Secretariat or its individual member countries.”

The IEA hopes these guidelines have helped to clarify some of the confusion that has surfaced and have provided an easy way to implement a fresh and modern update to your communications and visuals. The IEA wants to celebrate the community that you are, the contribution you are making to our collective future, and the global force the IEA and the Programme have created together around the world.

Please write to us at TCP@iea.org for any questions.

Thank you!