• Electricity demand surges, driving global energy investment toward power systems

• Renewables lead capacity growth, while nuclear power stages a global comeback

• Energy security broadens to grids, minerals, and stronger government involvement

International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol said in a commentary published on Monday that several shifts are already underway and will reshape the global energy system, even as the sector faces instability from geopolitical tensions and economic shocks.

The first is electricity. Birol said electricity demand is rising much faster than overall energy demand, making power central to industry, the digital economy and the electrification of end uses. More than half of global energy investment now goes into electricity, he added.

This shift is being driven largely by renewables. Global installed capacity has hit record highs year after year, led by solar, followed by wind and other technologies. Growth in Africa is slower, but remains steady, reflecting the continent’s persistent need to expand electricity access.

Birol also said nuclear power is making a comeback. After setbacks in the 2010s, global nuclear generation is reaching new highs, with around 70 gigawatts of capacity under construction. In Africa, the trend is visible in South Africa’s decision to extend the lifespan of the Koeberg plant by 25 years and progress on Egypt’s El Dabaa project.

He added that energy security is becoming a bigger concern. It now extends beyond oil and gas to include the reliability of power grids and access to critical minerals, whose refining is concentrated in a handful of countries, increasing risks for importers.

In response, governments are taking a more central role, Birol said, with energy increasingly seen as an economic and national security priority. In Africa, this is reflected in 29 countries publishing national plans in 2025 setting targets and measures to achieve universal electricity access under the Mission 300 initiative, backed by international partners including the World Bank.

Birol said Africa’s trajectory mirrors the global shift, despite investment shortfalls. The continent is advancing electrification, renewable deployment and energy planning as it seeks to harness its potential and build greater energy independence, which remains critical to long-term development.

Abdoullah Diop