La global electricity demand is entering a phase in which it no longer simply follows the economic trend, but contributes to redefining its trajectory. This is a silent but structural change, linked to the growing electrification of consumption, to the expansion of data center and the increasingly pervasive role of'artificial intelligence in production processes. In this context, electricity becomes an increasingly direct indicator of the transformations underway in the global economic system, rather than simply a component of the energy mix.
A dynamic that is confirmed by the estimates contained in the report Electricity 2026 by the International Energy Agency (IEA). According to the agency, the consumption electrical world they will grow by over 3,5% per year until 2030, a rhythm more than both to overall energy demand and, for the first time in thirty years, to global GDP growthIf forecasts are confirmed, global demand will increase from around 28.200 TWh in 2025 to 33.600 TWh by the end of the decade.
The IEA describes this evolution as a new Age of Electricity, where electricity becomes a central axis of global economic and industrial transformation. Growth will be driven primarily by emerging economies, while advanced countries are also returning to contribute after years of stagnation: according to the agency, they will account for approximately 20% of the overall increase in consumption over the next five years.
Renewables close to overtaking coal
On the production front, the global energy system continues to change rapidly. renewables are now close to exceeding the carbon as the world's leading source of electricity generation. PV, in particular, continues to experience record growth rates and represents one of the main drivers of the energy transition. According to the report, renewable generation will increase by approximately 1.000 TWh per year until 2030, with solar expected to contribute more than half of this growth.
At the same time, the nuclear It is experiencing a boom, with production levels reaching new all-time highs. By 2030, renewables and nuclear power together are expected to account for about half of global electricity generation, up from 42% currently.
Despite the growth of low-emission sources, even the natural gas It will continue to play an important role in the energy mix, supported by strong demand in the United States and the progressive replacement of oil in power generation in several Middle Eastern countries. Coal, on the other hand, is expected to gradually lose ground, returning to the levels seen in 2021 by the end of the decade.
The challenge of electricity networks
However, the increase in consumption and the greater presence of renewable sources make it increasingly strategic strengthening network infrastructureAccording to the IEA, over 2.500 gigawatts of new projects are currently awaiting connection worldwide, including renewable plants, storage systems, and large energy-intensive infrastructure such as data centers. This bottleneck risks slowing the energy transition just as demand is accelerating.
To sustain consumption growth, it will be necessary to significantly increase investments in transmission and distribution networks. The agency estimates that by 2030, investments annual revenues will have to grow by about 50%, from the current $400 billion to about $600 billion a year.
In this scenario, an increasingly important role will be played by battery storage systemsMarkets such as California, Texas, Germany, the United Kingdom, and South Australia have already seen strong installation growth, helping improve the flexibility and stability of electricity systems.
Artificial intelligence enters energy management
In addition to the batteries, theartificial intelligence It is becoming a key tool for the operation of modern electricity grids. The most promising applications include demand forecasting, production optimization, and the early detection of anomalies and failures.
The growing share of energy produced by solar and wind introduces greater variability into the system. To manage this complexity, advanced forecasting models are emerging that combine machine learning algorithms, meteorological data, satellite imagery, and historical production information.
The goal is to make the increasingly accurate forecasts, both for generation from renewable sources and for consumption trends, improving the overall efficiency of the network and reducing the risk of congestion or imbalance.
The global energy transformation therefore involves more than just building new plants. The real challenge of the coming years will be to create a smarter, more flexible, and more resilient electricity system, capable of supporting ever-growing demand without compromising safety and reliability.
