Electricity demand surges for the world’s two biggest polluters
1 min read
Summary
Countries such as China and the US are set to significantly increase their electrical energy consumption over the next few years, driven by rises in demand for electric vehicles, solar panels and semiconductors, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The increase in demand reflects changes in energy use around the world, and the IEA warns that the surge could prove problematic for ensuring the supply of affordable, sustainable and secure electricity in the future.
The global increase in electricity demand is set to equal the annual consumption of Japan, with the majority coming from developing countries.
However, the report also highlights that since 2009, demand for electricity has either flatlined or decreased in advanced economies such as the US, Canada, Japan and Korea, despite economic growth over the same period.
The forecasts suggest that renewable energy sources will be called upon to meet growing electrical demand in the next few years, with the IEA predicting that CO2 emissions from electrical generation could plateau soon.