India, Feb. 7 -- Global electricity demand is projected to grow at its fastest sustained pace in decades through 2030, driven by accelerating electrification of industry and transport, rapid expansion of data centres, and rising demand for cooling, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA)'s latest outlook.

In its annual report Electricity 2026, the IEA forecasts global power demand to rise at an average annual rate of 3.6 per cent between 2026 and 2030, adding roughly 1,100 terawatt-hours (TWh) every year, about 50 per cent more than the average annual additions recorded over the past decade. Global electricity consumption is expected to reach 33,600 TWh by 2030, up from 28,200 TWh in 2025, it said.

The agency said the world h...