The International Energy Agency has reported a sharp increase in global electricity demand, which surged by 4.3% in 2024, marking a significant rise from the 2.5% growth recorded in 2023.

The newly released Global Energy Review 2025 on Friday attributes this surge to rising electrification across multiple sectors, extreme weather conditions, and growing industrial activity.

According to the report, electricity demand growth in 2024 nearly doubled the annual average of the past decade, with China leading the charge.

The world’s second-largest economy accounted for more than half of the global increase, as its electricity consumption jumped by over 550 terawatt-hours (TWh), a 7% rise from the previous year.

“China’s power demand in 2024 exceeded the entire global average annual increase of the last decade,” the IEA noted, adding that the expansion was fueled by industrial output, data center growth, and rising air conditioning use.

Meanwhile, advanced economies also experienced a strong rebound in electricity demand, reversing a 140 TWh decline in 2023.

The United States led this recovery, contributing significantly to the 230 TWh rise seen across developed nations.

“A combination of rising industrial production, the rapid expansion of data centers, and record-breaking heatwaves increased electricity consumption across North America,” the report stated.

In Europe, the trend was similar, though less pronounced. The European Union’s electricity consumption grew by approximately 1.5% in 2024, a notable improvement compared to near-zero growth over the previous two decades.



https://punchng.com/global-electricity-demand-surged-4-3-in-2024-iea/