Encouraging signals | SAIGON GIAI PHONG NEWSPAPER

The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that the amount of electricity produced from renewable sources worldwide will surpass that from coal for the first time in 2025.

Global electricity demand is expected to grow by 4% this year and next, up from 2.5% in 2023, the IEA said. That would be the highest annual growth rate since 2007. Meanwhile, record-high global temperatures and frequent heatwaves are driving up the use of air conditioning. As a result, grids are under pressure to maintain supply from sources like coal, despite the environmental impact.

“Global electricity demand growth this year and next is expected to be the fastest in two decades, highlighting the growing role of electricity in the economy and the impact of extreme heatwaves,” said Keisuke Sadamori, director of the IEA’s Energy Markets and Security Division. Severe heatwaves are expected to increase electricity demand in India by 8% this year, China by 6%, Europe by 1.7%, and the US by 3%.

In addition, with the development of artificial intelligence (AI), the demand for electricity for data centers is increasing. To meet this demand, hydropower, solar, wind and other renewable energy sources will provide 35% of global electricity supply in 2025, up from 30% in 2023. Solar alone will meet half of the growth in electricity demand in 2025, while wind will contribute another 25%. However, the IEA also warned that coal-fired power generation is not yet able to decline due to high electricity demand. Although the share of renewable energy is on the rise, Mr. Sadamori admitted that the current pace of transition is still not enough to achieve international energy and climate goals.

The IEA regularly reviews the energy policies of its member countries and makes key recommendations. This is a process that supports the development of energy policies and encourages the exchange of best practices. It recommends expanding international partnerships in areas of human-centred clean energy transitions.

KHANH MINH

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tin-hieu-khich-le-post750291.html