Türkiye leads electricity demand growth in Europe – CEENERGYNEWS

According to the latest report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), global electricity consumption is expected to grow at its fastest pace in recent years, increasing by nearly four per cent annually until 2027, largely driven by air conditioning and data centres besides industry.

Most of the rise will come from emerging and developing economies, which will account for 85 per cent of it. This trend is most noticeable in China, where electricity demand has been growing faster than the economy since 2020. The country’s consumption rose by seven per cent in 2024 and is expected to grow by an average of around six per cent through 2027.

Significant growth is also expected in the United States: Over the next three years, an increase is expected to be equal to California’s total current usage.

However, growth will be more modest in the European Union, where demand will only return to 2021 levels by 2027. It grew by only 1.4 per cent in 2024, and the average annual growth forecast for the period between 2025 and 2027 is 1.7 per cent.

In Europe, electricity demand increased by 1.9 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year and is expected to continue growing at this rate. Progress was made in the electrification of the heating and transport sectors, and data centres continued to expand.

Weather also had a significant impact on higher demand in some countries, with Turkey standing out, contributing a quarter of the continent’s growth. Of the country’s 5.7 per cent increase, 4 per cent was due to higher cooling demand caused by heatwaves, as it was the hottest summer there in 54 years.

A rebound in hydro generation in 2024, after a drought in 2023, limited the increase in fossil-fired generation, and the country’s nuclear energy plans are also in line with its decarbonisation goals. The first reactor is expected to be commissioned this year, and more plants are planned for Sinop and the Thrace region.

The report also highlights Ukraine, where the war has shut down half of the electricity generation capacity, and the growing demand has resulted in a power deficit exceeding 2.3 gigawatts (GW) in the summer, with even more in the winter. Decentralised renewable energy facilities combined with storage systems are crucial for the country’s energy security.