According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), despite a slowdown in global economic growth prospects, the world’s electricity consumption increased strongly in the first half of 2025, driven by rising demand from industry, appliances, cooling, data centres and electrification. At the same time, electricity supply from renewables, natural gas and nuclear continues to grow, with all set to reach new milestones.
Renewable energy sources are projected to surpass coal as the world’s leading source of electricity by 2026 at the latest. This shift is driven by a global reduction in coal usage, particularly in regions like China and the EU, and a simultaneous expansion in renewable energy, including wind, solar, and nuclear power. By 2026, renewables are expected to account for 36 per cent of global power generation, while coal is projected to drop to 32 per cent, according to the IEA.