Global Energy Shift Signals Peak Coal as Electricity Demand Grows

Even as global power demand rises, the world has reached peak coal use, with electricity systems increasingly shifting toward cleaner sources, the International Energy Agency reports.

“At a moment of significant uncertainty across energy markets, one certainty is that global electricity demand is growing strongly,” said Keisuke Sadamori, director of energy markets and security at the International Energy Agency.

Electricity demand is projected to grow by 3.6% annually through 2030, while renewables and nuclear are expected to supply about half of global electricity, with renewable generation rising by around 1,000 terawatt-hours each year and coal output forecast to decline on average despite continued growth in overall power consumption.