Soaring electricity demand is placing significant pressure on energy systems, and despite the rapid buildout of renewable and alternative energy sources, fossil fuels are expected to remain a dominant part of the energy mix through midcentury, according to the latest World Energy Outlook report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The report, released on Oct. 16, highlights that although clean-energy deployment is accelerating, particularly in wind and solar, the pace of change is not fast enough to sharply reduce fossil fuel reliance. Under the IEA’s Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS)—which outlines the world’s energy trajectory based on existing government policies—fossil fuels remain a major source of energy.
