QAZAQ GREEN.  As global energy risks multiply, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that governments must accelerate diversification and strengthen cooperation to navigate an increasingly complex landscape of fuels and technologies. The World Energy Outlook 2025 (WEO) highlights the strategic choices, opportunities, and trade-offs facing countries amid rising energy security threats and long-term risks.

The report shows that electricity demand is rising faster than total energy use, driven not only by emerging economies but also by advanced economies, where data centers and AI are becoming major consumers. Investment in electricity infrastructure now accounts for half of global energy spending, yet grid expansion and system flexibility lag behind generation capacity.

Renewables, led by solar PV, are projected to grow fastest across all WEO scenarios, with 80% of global energy demand growth by 2035 concentrated in regions with high solar irradiance. Nuclear energy is also seeing a resurgence, with global capacity expected to increase by at least a third by 2035.

The report warns that reliance on concentrated supply chains for critical minerals, essential for batteries, EVs, and advanced technologies, poses additional risks. Geopolitical tensions, climate change, and energy access remain major challenges: about 730 million people still lack electricity, and nearly 2 billion rely on unsafe cooking methods.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol emphasizes that governments must balance energy security with affordability, competitiveness, and climate goals. “The Age of Electricity is here,” Birol notes, highlighting the need for rapid investment in grids, storage, and flexible power systems to meet rising demand while strengthening resilience against climate and cyber risks.