IEA’s Electricity Mid-Year Update 2025:
The International Energy Agency’s Electricity Mid‑Year Update 2025 highlights rising power demand fueled by heatwaves, air conditioners, data centres, and electric vehicles, while solar, wind, and nuclear energy rapidly reshape the global electricity mix.
Key Highlights:
- Global electricity demand is projected to grow by 3.3% in 2025 and 3.7% in 2026, well above the 2015–2023 average of 2.6%.
- India and China will together contribute 60% of global demand growth through 2026, with India growing at 4% in 2025 and 6.6% in 2026.
- Solar and wind are set to surpass coal generation by 2025 or 2026, with their share growing from 15% in 2024 to 20% by 2026. Solar and wind will account for over 90% of the increase in electricity demand in 2025.
- As a result, coal’s share in total generation is set to drop below 33% for the first time in the last 100 years.
- Global nuclear power generation is set to reach a record high in 2025, rising by 2% over 2025-26, driven by new reactor installations (in China, India, South Korea) and plant restarts (in Japan).
- Blackouts in Chile and Spain/Portugal emphasize the need for robust grid infrastructure, secure supply chains, and flexibility resources to ensure electricity security.
- Global emissions rose by only 1.2% in 2024, despite extreme weather.
- Low-emission sources (renewables + nuclear) are offsetting fossil fuel use, though unpredictable weather still affects year-to-year trends.
