The Future of Electricity: Meeting the World's Demand
Former U.S. President Joe Biden is facing a worsening health situation after his son Hunter Biden said the cancer has spread to his bones and described the disease as "very painful" and "very debilitating."
Electricity is increasingly vital for modern life, with global demand expected to grow by 3.6% in 2026 and 3.8% in 2027, reaching approximately 30,700 terawatt-hours by 2027, according to the IEA. (IEA, via Industrial Info Resources and SMM)
Familiar and new pressures, including industry, electric vehicles, air conditioning, and data centres, drive higher consumption; a stronger-than-expected expected El Niño may increase cooling demands and reduce hydropower and wind output. (Carbon Brief) (DevelopmentAid)
Will there be enough supply to meet all this demand?
For now, largely yes. Electricity output is forecast to grow by around 600 terawatt-hours this year, almost matching the record expansion of 2025, and solar power is set to overtake wind in 2026 to become the second-largest renewable source after hydropower. (Industrial Info Resources)
IEA chief Fatih Birol describes the shift as the world "moving at speed into the age of electricity", and he says the latest report confirms the agency's view that fossil fuel consumption will peak before 2030. (Carbon Brief)
The main challenge involves the electricity grid rather than power plants. The IEA emphasizes the need for robust grids, flexibility, and significantinvestment to ensure reliability and affordability. Rising natural gas prices may reduce gas generation, increasing coal output, highlighting the grid's critical role in meeting demand.
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