IEA Reports Slower Global Energy Demand Growth in 2025 Led by Solar
The International Energy Agency's Global Energy Review 2026 shows global energy demand grew by 1.3% in 2025, with electricity demand rising faster at 3%. Solar power met most of the demand growth, followed by gas, amid slower economic expansion. In the U.S., data centers drove half of the power demand increase.
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewThe International Energy Agency (IEA) released its Global Energy Review 2026 on April 20, 2026, detailing trends in global energy consumption for 2025. Global energy demand increased by 1.3% in 2025, a slowdown from 2024 and slightly below the average annual growth of 1.4% over the previous decade.
Electricity demand grew by 3% worldwide in 2025, nearly triple the rate of overall energy demand growth.
The rise in electricity use outpaced total energy consumption, driven by data centers and electric vehicles. In the United States, electricity demand rose by 2% in 2025, slower than the 2.8% growth in 2024 but more than three times the average over the prior decade. U.S.
power demand increase, with the buildings sector contributing 80% overall. A cold winter boosted space heating needs, with heating degree days up nearly 10%.
The IEA noted that electricity consumption grew much faster than overall energy demand.
