Global energy demand surged by 2.2 percent in 2024, nearly twice the average pace of the previous decade, as electricity consumption soared, driven by record temperatures and expanding industrial and data center usage, the International Energy Agency said on Tuesday.

Emerging and developing economies accounted for over 80 percent of the growth, although China saw slower demand growth of under 3 percent, half its 2023 rate. Advanced economies also reversed a year-long decline, with demand rising by almost 1 percent.

“Electricity use is growing rapidly, pulling overall energy demand along with it to such an extent that it is enough to reverse years of declining energy consumption in advanced economies,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said.

Renewables and Nuclear Lead Growth

The power sector led the increase, with global electricity consumption jumping 4.3 percent, nearly double the past decade’s average. Factors included record global temperatures that drove up cooling needs, rising industrial activity, increased transport electrification, and the growth of artificial intelligence and data centers.

Renewables and nuclear covered 80 percent of the growth in electricity generation, with renewable capacity installations reaching a record 700 gigawatts. Nuclear power additions also hit their fifth-highest level in 30 years, contributing to renewables and nuclear jointly providing 40% of total global generation for the first time.

Natural gas demand increased by 2.7 percent or 115 billion cubic meters, while oil demand grew by 0.8 percent, bringing oil’s share of total energy demand below 30 percent for the first time in 50 years. The expansion of electric vehicle sales, which accounted for one in five cars sold globally, helped curb oil demand growth.

Coal consumption rose 1 percent, mainly due to heatwaves in China and India driving up cooling demand. This contributed to more than 90 percent of the annual increase in global coal use.

Emissions and Energy Transition

Global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose by 0.8 percent to 37.8 billion tonnes in 2024 despite the clean energy expansion. However, emissions in advanced economies declined by 1.1 percent, reaching levels last seen 50 years ago.

“The strong expansion of solar, wind, nuclear power, and EVs is increasingly loosening the links between economic growth and emissions,” Birol said.

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