Birol: We hope the "35 by 35" electrification pledge will be signed at COP31 in Antalya

International Energy Agency (IEA) chief Fatih Birol said he expects many countries to sign the "35 by 35" goal at COP31, to be hosted by Türkiye in Antalya. Birol assessed the growing role of electricity in the global energy system and the main obstacles to the transition.

Electricity demand is surging

According to Birol, while global energy demand is rising, electricity demand is growing three times faster than total energy demand. Describing this as the start of a new era, he recalled saying about two years ago that the world had entered the age of electricity. He said the trend should also reshape the investment decisions of governments and energy companies.

Birol listed three factors accelerating demand: power-hungry data centers needed for AI applications, electric vehicles, and air conditioners, whose use is spreading as global temperatures rise.

Five years ago, only 5 percent of cars sold in the world were electric. This year, 32 percent are electric. This gives additional momentum to the growth of electricity demand.

Fatih Birol

The "35 by 35" goal and a monitoring mechanism

Birol said he held talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, after which a joint goal to raise electricity's share of total energy consumption came up. The goal aims to lift that share from the current 23 percent to 35 percent by 2035. Birol recalled that the initiative was announced at the United Nations meeting in New York with Emine Erdoğan in attendance.

The future of energy in the world lies in electricity. The place where its contract is signed, where it is envisioned, will be Antalya. For years, everyone will remember Antalya with this goal.

Fatih Birol

An international mechanism is planned to monitor implementation of the pledge. The Turkish and Australian governments are expected to task the IEA with annual monitoring and reporting. According to Birol, the annual rise in electricity's share and countries' progress will be assessed. He said many countries are ready to sign the pledge.

The biggest test: grids

Birol said the sector's most important challenge is less about building power plants than about delivering the electricity produced to where it is consumed. He stressed that higher generation capacity must be backed by strong transmission and distribution infrastructure.

There is currently a grid problem in the world. There is also a mobilization to overcome this grid problem. I see this as the biggest test.

Fatih Birol