Global energy demand rose faster than usual last year as record temperatures across the world meant more power was used for cooling in the self-perpetuating loop between climate change and energy use. Electricity demand increased by 4.3 per cent, up from 2.5 per cent in 2023, according to the latest data published by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The surge was linked to exceptional heat, the electrification of transport, buildings and industry, as well as the expansion of data centres. Most — but not all — of this increased electricity demand was met by a growing supply of clean sources. When it came to fossil fuels, natural gas demand increased most rapidly last year, reaching an all-time high, while growth in oil and coal demand slowed. _no_facet2022-232023-24 5%5% 10%10% 2.2%2.2% 3.7%3.7% 2.6%2.6% -4.8%-4.8% -3.2%-3.2% 1.8%1.8% 0.9%0.9% Renewables Nuclear Natural gas Oil Coal _no_facet2022-232023-24 0.9%0.9% 2.4%2.4% 0.3%0.3% 2%2% 0.9%0.9% 0.7%0.7% 3.5%3.5% -0.2%-0.2% -2.3%-2.3% Natural gas Oil Coal Bioenergy and waste Industrial process How we made it: weather effects Last year was the hottest on record. So, just how much did 2024’s weather drive the growth in energy demand? The effect is twofold: warm weather increases cooling demand and at the same time, it can affect electricity generation. Hydropower, for example, took a hit in some regions that experienced prolonged drought, requiring other power sources — such as coal — to kick in. On the first effect: so-called global “cooling degree days” were 6 per cent higher in 2024 compared with 2023, and 20 per cent higher than the 2000-20 average. {Nerd note: Cooling degree days is a somewhat mind-bending indicator used as a measure of cooling needs. It is typically calculated over a year as the sum of all positive deviations of a day’s average temperature from a particular threshold […]