India's demand for electricity for ACs to exceed total power consumption of Africa: IEA

“India’s demand for electricity for running household air-conditioners is estimated to expand nine-fold by 2050 and will exceed total power consumption in the whole of Africa today,” the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on October 24.

“India’s demand for electricity for running household air-conditioners is estimated to expand nine-fold by 2050 and will exceed total power consumption in the whole of Africa today,” the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on October 24.

In its latest World Energy Outlook, IEA said India will see the largest energy demand growth of any country or region in the world over the next three decades.

It projected India's energy supply to rise from 42 exajoules (EJ) in 2022 to 53.7 EJ in 2030 and 73 EJ in 2050 under stated policies scenarios and 47.6 EJ by 2030 and 60.3 EJ by 2050 as per announced pledges.

Oil demand is seen rising from 5.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2022 to 6.8 million bpd in 2030 and 7.8 million bpd in 2050 under stated policies scenario. Under announced pledges, this demand is seeking 6.2 million bpd in 2030 and 4.7 million bpd in 2050.

IEA said that over the past five decades, India witnessed more than 700 heatwave events, which have claimed more than 17,000 lives. Fuelled by its geographic and meteorological conditions, air-conditioner ownership in India has been steadily rising with growing incomes, tripling since 2010 to reach 24 units per 100 households.

"The impact of cooling needs on electricity consumption is already clear," the Paris-based agency said.