Green Energy: IEA says consumption of fossil fuels will increase in 2021 as electricity demand soars Energy share clipboard According to a report this month from the International Energy Agency, the growth in electricity demand coming out of the pandemic could see global emissions from the electricity sector hit record levels next year. Demand will rise 5% in 2021 and 4% in 2022 the IEA said in its semi-annual Electricity Market Report, largely from India, China and the broader Asia-Pacific region. While renewable energy uptake is positioned to grow 8% in 2021 and more than 6% in 2022, that won’t do anywhere near enough to cover the uptick in demand, 45% of which this year is expected to be covered by fossil fuel generators (40% in 2022), with the balance from nuclear power.