Industry, data centers, and air conditioning are all expected to drive some of the fastest growth in electricity demand in years, according to International Energy Agency forecasts.
The agency predicts in a forecast released Friday the world will need 4% more electricity annually through 2027. Meeting that demand will require adding more generating capacity than all of Japan — every year.
While data centers in the U.S. have stolen headlines and the attention, emerging and developing economies will likely drive 85% of that growth. Chinese industries, including solar panel, battery, and electric vehicle manufacturing, will help drive the country’s annual electricity growth at a 6% clip, down slightly from last year.
Growth in the U.S. will be lower than China though still significant, adding as much demand through 2027 as California has today.
Low-carbon sources, mostly renewables and nuclear, are expected to cover nearly all of global demand growth, the agency said.