[Episode #280] – Statistical Review of World Energy 2026

[Episode #280] – Statistical Review of World Energy 2026

From The Energy Transition Show with Chris Nelder by XE Network

July 15, 2026 · 25 min · Episode 280

About this episode

This episode discusses the Statistical Review of World Energy 2026, highlighting record energy demand and the growth of renewables, particularly solar power, in the global energy landscape.

The Statistical Review of World Energy 2026 is out, offering the first complete look at global energy data for 2025. The report's 75th edition, now presented in partnership with the energy think tank Ember, reveals a year in which demand for every form of energy hit a new record high. But growing overall demand, even for fossil fuels, doesn't mean the energy transition isn't happening. Renewables grew more than any other form of energy for the first time outside of a recession, with solar power accounting for 72% of the increase. And global electrification reached a tipping point, with electricity demand growing 3%, faster than energy supply overall. China alone added the equivalent of Germany's entire annual electricity consumption in a single year. These are just a few of the indications that the future of global energy use is increasingly electric, even as regional paths differ. In 2025, rising electricity demand was met entirely by low-carbon sources, with renewables and hydro overtaking coal as the largest source of generation. Fossil generation fell overall, demonstrating that fossil fuels are being substituted rather than supplemented. Solar and storage are clearly taking…

People in this episode

Host: Chris Nelder

Guest: Aditya Lolla

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ember

Places: China, Germany

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