Six key trends from 2024 outline how global energy demand is changing, which sources are stepping up to meet it, and how clean technologies are reshaping the trajectory of CO₂ emissions.
Global energy demand surged in 2024, nearly doubling its recent average growth. The increase was driven by rising electricity use across sectors such as cooling, electric vehicles (EVs), industry, and data centers, according to the Global Energy Review 2025.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that electricity demand growth in 2024 reached 2.3%, significantly above the 1.2% average recorded between 2019 and 2023. This upturn marks one of the fastest expansions of energy use in recent years.
All major energy sources contributed to meeting this growing demand, but renewables led the increase, accounting for the largest share, followed by natural gas. Wind and solar saw record outputs, helping to stabilize electricity markets amid high consumption levels.
Among fossil fuels, natural gas recorded the largest growth, with demand rising across all global regions, notably in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. This rise was partially attributed to its use in balancing intermittent renewable generation and addressing extreme weather-related surges in demand.
Low-emission sources, including nuclear, hydro, and renewables, supplied over 80% of the global increase in electricity demand. This progress reflects continued investments in clean energy infrastructure and supportive policy frameworks in key economies.
Despite this positive development, global CO₂ emissions rose to a new record, reaching 37.4 billion tons. However, the IEA noted that the widespread deployment of clean energy technologies limited the increase in emissions, avoiding a much steeper rise. Without these technologies, emissions would have surged by an additional 1.2 gigatons, nearly three times the actual increase.
Extreme temperatures in 2024 had a pronounced impact on energy systems. According to the data, temperature-related effects were responsible for 20% of the growth in both gas and electricity demand, half of the CO₂ emissions increase, and the entire rise in coal consumption.
The IEA emphasized the importance of scaling up clean energy technologies to shield energy systems from weather volatility and reduce emissions over the long term.
By Humeyra Ayaz
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr