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Built 2026-10-28 (28 October 2026)

Electricity in August 2026: Demand Up 3.4% on August 2025

Demand in the 57 countries with data for both August 2026 and August 2025 was 2,371 TWh in August 2026, up 3.4% on August 2025. Those 57 countries cover 81% of world electricity demand (measured on 2025 demand), so this is a review of the reporting countries, not a world total. Low carbon sources supplied 43.5% of their generation in August 2026.

August 2026 at a Glance

57 countries, Ember monthly
Demand, 57 countries2,371 TWhup 3.4% on August 2025
Low carbon share43.5%up 1.8 points on August 2025
Solar and wind share20.6%
Share of world demand81%57 countries, 2025 basis

Key Facts

  • Demand in the 57 countries with data for both August 2026 and August 2025 was 2,371 TWh in August 2026, up 3.4% on August 2025.
  • Those 57 countries cover 81% of world electricity demand (measured on 2025 demand), so this is a review of the reporting countries, not a world total.
  • Low carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) supplied 43.5% of generation in these countries in August 2026, up 1.8 points on August 2025.
  • Solar supplied 12.6% and wind 7.9% of their generation in August 2026.
  • Their generation weighted carbon intensity was 472 gCO2/kWh in August 2026, against 488 gCO2/kWh in August 2025.
  • Among large reporters, Sweden had the lowest carbon intensity in August 2026 (22 gCO2/kWh) and Bangladesh the highest (758 gCO2/kWh).

Demand Through 2026 Against 2025

same 57 countries, TWh per month
Monthly electricity demand of the 57 reporting countries, 2025 and 2026 Demand in the 57 countries with data for August 2026 and August 2025: 2,371 TWh in August 2026 against 2,294 TWh in August 2025. A month shows only when every one of these countries has a figure for it. 0 625 1,250 1,875 2,500 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Demand in the 57 countries with data for August 2026 and August 2025: 2,371 TWh in August 2026 against 2,294 TWh in August 2025. A month shows only when every one of these countries has a figure for it.
Ember monthly statistics through August 2026
Monthly electricity demand of the 57 reporting countries, 2025 and 2026
Month20262025
Jan2,179 TWh2,129 TWh
Feb1,980 TWh1,909 TWh
Mar2,077 TWh2,028 TWh
Apr1,957 TWh1,893 TWh
May2,051 TWh1,962 TWh
Jun2,157 TWh2,088 TWh
Jul2,388 TWh2,340 TWh
Aug2,371 TWh2,294 TWh
Sepn/a2,080 TWh
Octn/a2,020 TWh
Novn/a1,983 TWh
Decn/a2,175 TWh

Biggest Movers, August 2026 Against August 2025

countries generating at least 3 TWh in both months

Demand rose most

Countries where demand rose most, August 2026
CountryChangeDemand
1. Italy+18.2%23.9 TWh to 28.3 TWh
2. India+12.2%164 TWh to 184 TWh
3. Greece+11.1%4.50 TWh to 5.00 TWh
4. Hungary+9.9%3.64 TWh to 4.00 TWh
5. Vietnam+8.8%30.0 TWh to 32.6 TWh

Demand fell most

Countries where demand fell most, August 2026
CountryChangeDemand
1. Philippines-12.1%10.5 TWh to 9.22 TWh
2. Netherlands-6.8%10.1 TWh to 9.39 TWh
3. Japan-5.1%88.7 TWh to 84.2 TWh
4. South Africa-1.8%19.5 TWh to 19.1 TWh
5. Sweden-1.7%9.01 TWh to 8.86 TWh

Solar share rose most

Countries where the solar share rose most, August 2026
CountryChangeShare of generation
1. Romania+14.9 points17.9% to 32.8% of generation
2. Austria+8.0 points20.6% to 28.5% of generation
3. Belgium+7.9 points24.2% to 32.2% of generation
4. Portugal+5.1 points31.3% to 36.4% of generation
5. Spain+4.4 points31.5% to 35.9% of generation

Wind share rose most

Countries where the wind share rose most, August 2026
CountryChangeShare of generation
1. Belgium+7.2 points13.6% to 20.8% of generation
2. Vietnam+5.0 points3.2% to 8.2% of generation
3. New Zealand+3.0 points7.2% to 10.2% of generation
4. Germany+2.7 points20.7% to 23.5% of generation
5. Austria+2.6 points9.1% to 11.7% of generation

Carbon intensity fell most

Countries where carbon intensity fell most, August 2026
CountryChangeCarbon intensity
1. New Zealand-53.7%97 gCO2/kWh to 45 gCO2/kWh
2. Turkey-15.6%472 gCO2/kWh to 398 gCO2/kWh
3. Portugal-13.7%155 gCO2/kWh to 134 gCO2/kWh
4. Argentina-11.5%326 gCO2/kWh to 289 gCO2/kWh
5. Russia-10.6%414 gCO2/kWh to 370 gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity rose most

Countries where carbon intensity rose most, August 2026
CountryChangeCarbon intensity
1. Belgium+56.4%153 gCO2/kWh to 239 gCO2/kWh
2. France+39.5%28 gCO2/kWh to 38 gCO2/kWh
3. Czechia+32.5%291 gCO2/kWh to 386 gCO2/kWh
4. Austria+28.4%42 gCO2/kWh to 54 gCO2/kWh
5. Netherlands+17.6%237 gCO2/kWh to 278 gCO2/kWh

Cleanest and Dirtiest Grids, August 2026

large reporters, gCO2/kWh

Lowest carbon intensity

Lowest carbon intensity among large reporters, August 2026
CountryCarbon intensityGeneration
1. Sweden22 gCO2/kWh11.0 TWh generated
2. Norway31 gCO2/kWh10.1 TWh generated
3. France38 gCO2/kWh38.1 TWh generated
4. New Zealand45 gCO2/kWh3.94 TWh generated
5. Finland46 gCO2/kWh6.07 TWh generated
6. Austria54 gCO2/kWh4.87 TWh generated
7. Portugal134 gCO2/kWh3.05 TWh generated
8. Spain151 gCO2/kWh24.0 TWh generated

Highest carbon intensity

Highest carbon intensity among large reporters, August 2026
CountryCarbon intensityGeneration
1. Bangladesh758 gCO2/kWh9.14 TWh generated
2. South Africa725 gCO2/kWh18.8 TWh generated
3. Taiwan640 gCO2/kWh27.4 TWh generated
4. Philippines605 gCO2/kWh9.22 TWh generated
5. Poland599 gCO2/kWh13.2 TWh generated
6. India586 gCO2/kWh184 TWh generated
7. China550 gCO2/kWh1,023 TWh generated
8. Australia548 gCO2/kWh21.3 TWh generated

Largest Reporters by Demand, August 2026

Largest reporters by demand, August 2026
CountryDemandOn August 2025
1. China1,020 TWh+0.8%
2. United States465 TWh+8.0%
3. India184 TWh+12.2%
4. Russia86.1 TWh-0.7%
5. Japan84.2 TWh-5.1%
6. South Korea57.1 TWh+0.3%
7. Germany40.4 TWh+3.8%
8. Mexico35.9 TWh+6.1%

How This Month Is Measured

  • Coverage. 57 countries reported August 2026. 57 of them also have August 2025, and those 57 are the like for like set behind every figure above. Together they made up 81% of world demand in 2025. A month is published only when at least 10 countries and 60% of world demand are covered.
  • Not a world total. These sums cover the reporting countries only.
  • Carbon intensity. The figure for the group weights each country's monthly intensity by its generation; country rankings use Ember's own monthly intensity.

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of August 2026. Ember monthly statistics.

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2026). Electricity in August 2026: Demand, Low Carbon Share and Movers. https://worldpowermonitor.com/months/2026-08/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. Electricity in August 2026: Demand, Low Carbon Share and Movers. Data as of 2026-08. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/months/2026-08/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_months_2026_08_2026,
  title = {{Electricity in August 2026: Demand, Low Carbon Share and Movers}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Data as of 2026-08. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/months/2026-08/}
}

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