A boom in heavy industry, an increase in the number of air conditioners, and a robust electric-vehicle market are all adding to China’s power demand. India and Southeast Asia are also going to have above-average increases in demand, driven by economic growth and increased adoption of air conditioners.

Emerging economies will account for 85% of the growth. Data centers and electric vehicles will also boost demand in richer countries.

The agency predicts in a forecast released Friday the world will need 4% more electricity annually through 2027. Meeting that demand will require adding more generating capacity than all of Japan — every year.

Douglas McIntyre, Editor-in-Chief at Climate Crisis 24/7, reports that air conditioning is becoming a major driver of global electricity demand. According to the IEA, worldwide electricity use will rise by an amount equal to Japan’s total annual consumption by 2027,

Thanks to power-hungry sectors. The global electricity demand is set to climb nearly 4% annually through 2027 as power use increases in various sectors, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast a surge in global electricity consumption over the next three years, averaging nearly 4% per year until 2027.