Global Energy Review 2025

Current context: The International Energy Agency (IEA) released the Global Energy Review 2025, highlighting the impact of extreme weather on global energy demand in 2024.

Key Highlights

• Energy Demand:
• Global demand increased by 20%, driven by record-high temperatures and industrial growth.
• Electricity demand grew nearly twice as fast as overall energy demand.
• Renewable Energy:
• Renewables contributed 32% of global electricity generation.
• Combined with nuclear power, they accounted for 80% of global electricity growth.
• Solar PV capacity saw record-breaking expansion.
• Sector-Specific Growth:
• Buildings: Electricity demand grew 4x faster than in 2023, due to air conditioning during heatwaves.
• Industry: Accounted for 40% of total electricity demand growth, driven by electro-intensive manufacturing.
• Transport: Electricity consumption rose 8% with 17 million EVs sold (25% increase from 2023).
• CO2 Emissions:
• Energy sector emissions continued to rise, though slower than in 2023.
• Natural gas emissions grew by 2.5%, the largest contributor to emissions growth.
• Coal demand increased, led by consumption in China and India.

Future Implications: Adoption of solar PV, wind power, nuclear energy, EVs, and heat pumps is essential to mitigate emissions and ensure sustainable energy growth.