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Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2026 Energy outlook to 2050 based on today’s policy settings
…fossil fuels. In the STEPS, clean energy meets over 40% of incremental demand growth to 2035, while fossil fuels still meet around 60%. In the Current Policies Scenario, slower policy implementation, financing constraints and power system integration challenges prolong reliance on conventional fuels and push emissions higher. End-use energy demand continues to rise, but electrification and efficiency moderate growth in the STEPS. Total final consumption grows rapidly to 2035, by an annual average of 2.5% to 2035 in the STEPS. Industry remains the largest end-use sector, supported by expanding manufacturing and energy-intensive production. To 2035, Southeast…
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Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2026 Southeast Asia’s energy challenges and emerging opportunities
…cut the 2035 fossil fuel import bill to around half this level. Renewables, electrification and efficiency therefore offer long-term security as well as emissions benefits. Developing domestic oil and gas resources where geologically and economically viable, and enhancing the resilience of oil supply through diversification and refinery system flexibility also contribute region’s resilient energy system. Some countries turn to coal when gas prices spike, but coal use entails broader risks, including CO₂ emissions and air pollution, which contributed to an estimated 330 000 premature deaths in 2024. Measures implemented as of 7 May 2026. FX = foreign exchange…
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Energy and AI Energy demand from AI
…etc. The share of these different components in data centre electricity consumption varies greatly by type of data centre, depending on the nature and efficiency of the equipment they have installed. The outlook for energy demand from data centres Data centres – at least at the scale seen today – are relatively new actors in the energy system at the global level. Today, electricity consumption from data centres is estimated to amount to around 415 terawatt hours (TWh), or about 1.5% of global electricity consumption in 2024. It has grown at 12% per year over the last five years. The rise…
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Energy and AI AI for energy optimisation and innovation
…potential of AI-led interventions, as it factors in certain insurmountable structural issues that would block their complete adoption. For example, we consider variations in adoption by region by factoring in the availability of enabling digital infrastructure. AI applications for optimising energy systems Oil and gas companies have been among the earliest adopters of new technologies to boost exploration and production. In 2000, 11 supercomputers operated by oil and gas companies ranked among the world’s 500 fastest. By 2024, this number had increased to 24, and total computing capacity has grown at almost 70% annually, outpacing the broader supercomputing…
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Energy and AI Understanding the energy-AI nexus
…AI related benchmarks have limitations that necessitate a cautious approach to assessing their implications, they offer a window into the evolving capabilities of AI models that can complement data on real-world deployment. In the energy sector, AI has numerous applications that can improve efficiency, reduce costs and drive innovation. Examples include faster, cheaper and more accurate weather forecasting for predicting the output of wind and solar PV plants, real-time monitoring and optimisation of transmission lines, and the use of AI to discover new battery chemistries.At the same time, AI is also energy intensive. Globally, data centres consumed...
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World Energy Employment 2025 Executive summary
…layoffs in turbine manufacturing, where jobs declined by 6% in 2024.The shift to electrification is also changing the nature of employment in related sectors. Vehicle manufacturing employment continued to rise, driven by strong gains in jobs related to electric vehicles (EV), which rose by nearly 800 000 last year. In China, almost 40% of all jobs in vehicle manufacturing are now tied to EVs and their batteries. Employment in other energy end-uses rose by 2%, with electrification in buildings and industry contributing to a sizeable portion of the increase. In both vehicles and efficiency employment, part of this growth…
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Global Energy Review 2026 Key findings
…a slower rate than in 2024. Low-emissions sources combined – solar, wind, nuclear, hydropower and other renewables – contributed nearly 60% of the growth in global demand.Demand growth in the United States rose to its second highest level since 2000, excluding post-recession rebound years, boosted by strong electricity demand from data centres, robust industrial growth and colder temperatures. The People’s Republic of China (hereafter, “China”) accounted for the largest overall share of global energy demand growth, but at 1.7% its growth rate slowed sharply due to the rapid growth of renewables and efficiency improvements.Demand for electricity…
- Key findings
- Global trends
- Oil
- Natural gas
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Prospects for Natural Gas Certification Executive summary
Governments and industry are working to improve resource efficiency and reduce emissions from natural gas supply – from both domestic production and imports – to help deliver on their climate goals, while also looking to improve energy security. One emerging approach is natural gas certification, which can help buyers make more informed decisions by providing independently verified greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity data at select stages of the supply chain, from production and processing to storage and transport, but excluding final consumption. This can support the implementation of best practices throughout the entire supply chain, and help importing countries and regions better understand…
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The Future of Electricity in the Middle East and North Africa Executive summary
…rising living standards, and accelerating climate pressures. Between 2000 and 2024, electricity demand tripled – increasing by more than 1 000 terawatt-hours (TWh). This made the MENA region the third-largest contributor to global electricity demand growth after China and India. Looking ahead, demand is projected to rise by another 50% by 2035, adding the equivalent of the current demand of Germany and Spain combined – with significant implications for global energy markets. Cooling and desalination: Twin pillars of surging electricity demand growth The region’s climate, characterised by extreme heat and water scarcity, means that reliable and resilient electricity systems…
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China’s Official Energy Finance in Emerging and Developing Economies Case 5. Silk Road fund commitment in African Infrastructure Investment Fund IV
…are expanding digital infrastructure in lower-carbon electricity and greater renewable energy sourcing; and the acquisition of the Logistics Group (TLG), which operates rail and port assets and is working to cut corridor emissions through improved operational efficiency.Through its participation, the SRF gains exposure to a diversified portfolio of sustainable assets across multiple African markets rather than through single-asset project finance. It has also appointed a representative to AIIF’s ESG Advisory Committee, strengthening the fund’s environmental and governance approach. Financing model and China’s role AIIF4 reached financial close in August 2024 at USD 748 million…
