Electricity demand grows 3.8% in Southeast Asia last year after 2020 decline: IEA

This was met by renewables as well as coal, and gas generation.

Electricity demand in Southeast Asia grew 3.8% in 2021, following an overall decline seen in 2020, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported.

In a January 2022 report, the IEA attributed this growth was by increased generation of renewable energy, along with gas and coal.

Demand in the first quarter of 2021 was led by industrial sector. However, a surge in COVID-19 cases across Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam that heavily impacted the residential and commercial sectors dampened this growth.

“From 2022 we expect a stronger recovery, with annual demand growth close to 5% in 2022-2024,” the report read in part.

Coal continues to lead the electricity supply in the region, accounting for around 43%. This is followed by gas and renewables with 31% and 25%, respectively.

The IEA, however, noted that the share of coal and gas both saw a decline in the mix, whilst renewables climbed by more than two percentage points.

“While renewables growth is set to continue up to 2024, we expect the sum of coal- and gas-fired generation to meet around two-thirds of new demand over this period,” the IEA said.