IEA sees global electricity use reaching 30,700 TWh by 2027

The IEA Electricity Mid-Year Update 2026 projects global electricity consumption rising from 28,600 TWh in 2025 to 30,700 TWh in 2027. The key point is that cooling, electrification, and data centers are lifting demand while renewables could overtake coal generation in 2026.

These are forecasts, not measured outcomes. Based on official material checked on 24 July 2026, this briefing focuses on why electricity demand and grid bottlenecks are becoming central to the energy transition.

What The Forecast Says

IEA puts global electricity demand growth at 3.0% in 2025, 3.6% in 2026, and 3.8% in 2027. Economic growth, cooling, electric vehicles, heat pumps, industrial electrification, and data centers are all pushing electricity toward the center of energy policy.

The Key Numbers

In the IEA outlook, electricity consumption rises from 28,600 TWh in 2025 to 30,700 TWh in 2027. Renewables are forecast to overtake coal generation in 2026, and renewables plus nuclear could supply 50% of global electricity by 2030.

Why Grids Matter

More generation capacity does not help if networks cannot connect and move it. IEA points to more than 2,500 GW of projects in grid queues, making grid expansion and permitting a practical bottleneck rather than a technical footnote.

What To Watch

Coal share is forecast to fall from 34% in 2025 to 27% in 2030, but regional demand, fuel prices, LNG supply, Middle East conflict, and weather can all shift the outcome. The figures should be read as conditional outlooks.

Next Checks

The next checks are actual 2026-2027 demand, data center power use, and grid investment speed. Use the mid-year update for short-term demand and Electricity 2026 for the 2030 mix and grid queue context.

Official Sources

IEA Electricity Mid-Year Update 2026: 2025-2027 demand outlook and regional trends

IEA executive summary: renewables, nuclear, coal share, and 2030 low-emissions outlook

IEA grid chapter: more than 2,500 GW in grid queues and network bottlenecks