IEA: Solar overtakes all energy sources in a major global first
5 hours ago
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- #electricity-demand
- Global energy demand growth slowed to 1.3% in 2025 due to weaker economic growth, milder weather, and more efficient technologies.
- Electricity demand surged around 3%, driven by electrification in buildings and industry, rising EV adoption, and data center power needs.
- Solar power led global energy supply growth for the first time, contributing over 25% of the increase, while renewables and nuclear met nearly 60% of demand growth.
- EV sales exceeded 20 million in 2025, accounting for one in four new car sales, curbing oil demand growth to 0.7%.
- Global CO2 emissions rose only 0.4%, with declines in China and flat growth in India, but advanced economies saw faster emissions increases due to fossil fuel use.
- Solar added a record 600 TWh of generation, battery storage was the fastest-growing power tech, and nuclear construction saw over 12 GW of new reactors start.
- Low-emissions technologies now avoid fossil fuel consumption equal to Latin America's energy demand and displacement half of global LNG exports in natural gas demand.