Buildings will soon need as much power as entire nations!
Buildings are a major driver of global energy consumption, accounting for about a third of energy use today.
This demand is expected to increase by more than 20% over the next 25 years, reaching levels similar to the current total energy demand of all advanced economies.
One key driver is the construction boom in rapidly urbanising regions, particularly in developing economies.
By 2030, global floorspace is projected to double compared to 2000 levels. Additionally, energy-intensive sectors like data centres are expanding quickly, spurred by the growing demand for IT services and artificial intelligence.
As incomes rise, appliance ownership is also growing. In India and Indonesia, ownership rates are currently about one-third of those in advanced economies but the gap is closing fast.
In China and Brazil, ownership of refrigerators and washing machines is already nearing parity with wealthier countries.
These shifts mean that the buildings sector is expected to be responsible for almost half of the global electricity demand growth over the next decade.
Cooling in particular is a major factor.
Electricity use for cooling is expected to nearly double by 2035 and triple by 2050, driven by rising global temperatures and more frequent heatwaves across China, India, the United States and Europe.
This poses challenges for policy makers and grid operators but the International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that solutions exist.
These include scaling up proven energy efficiency measures, digitising buildings and electricity networks and using AI to optimise consumption.
Without action, the rising power needs of buildings could strain electricity systems and undermine progress on climate goals.
Global building energy demand set to soar, driven by growth in floorspace and cooling needs appeared first on Energy Live News.