Renewables and Nuclear to Supply Half of Global Electricity by 2030: IEA

Global electricity demand is projected to grow by more than 3.5% per year through 2030, driven by electrification, digital expansion, and rising cooling needs, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest report, Electricity 2026.

The report forecasts that renewable energy and nuclear power will together generate 50% of global electricity by the end of this decade, up from 42% today, marking a major shift in the world’s power mix. Rapid growth in solar PV installations is a key driver, with renewables now on track to overtake coal-fired power generation, following near parity in 2025. Nuclear generation has also reached a new record, reinforcing momentum behind low-emissions electricity.

The IEA highlights that electricity demand is rising at least 2.5 times faster than overall energy demand, reflecting the accelerating “Age of Electricity.” Growth is being fueled by industrial electrification, electric vehicle adoption, expanding data centres, artificial intelligence workloads, and increased air-conditioning use. While emerging economies remain the main contributors to demand growth, advanced economies are seeing a rebound in electricity consumption after more than a decade of stagnation.

At the same time, natural gas-fired power generation is expected to expand, particularly in the United States and the Middle East, even as coal generation continues to decline, returning to 2021 levels by 2030. As a result, global power-sector CO₂ emissions are expected to remain broadly flat over the rest of the decade.

The report warns that grid infrastructure and system flexibility must expand rapidly to integrate growing renewable capacity. More than 2,500 gigawatts of energy projects are currently stalled in grid connection queues worldwide, though grid-enhancing technologies and regulatory reforms could unlock up to 1,600 gigawatts in the near term.

The IEA’s Electricity 2026 underscores that meeting rising electricity demand while ensuring affordability, reliability, and decarbonisation will require significant investment in grids, storage, and system resilience.