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Built 2026-11-12 (12 November 2026)

Electricity in August 2026: Demand Up 3.2% on August 2025

Demand in the 63 countries with data for both August 2026 and August 2025 was 2,493 TWh in August 2026, up 3.2% on August 2025. Those 63 countries cover 86% 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 45.6% of their generation in August 2026.

August 2026 at a Glance

63 countries, Ember monthly
Demand, 63 countries2,493 TWhup 3.2% on August 2025
Low carbon share45.6%up 1.9 points on August 2025
Solar and wind share20.5%
Share of world demand86%63 countries, 2025 basis

Key Facts

  • Demand in the 63 countries with data for both August 2026 and August 2025 was 2,493 TWh in August 2026, up 3.2% on August 2025.
  • Those 63 countries cover 86% 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 45.6% of generation in these countries in August 2026, up 1.9 points on August 2025.
  • Solar supplied 12.4% and wind 8.1% of their generation in August 2026.
  • Their generation weighted carbon intensity was 456 gCO2/kWh in August 2026, against 472 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 63 countries, TWh per month
Monthly electricity demand of the 63 reporting countries, 2025 and 2026 Demand in the 63 countries with data for August 2026 and August 2025: 2,493 TWh in August 2026 against 2,415 TWh in August 2025. A month shows only when every one of these countries has a figure for it. 0 750 1,500 2,250 3,000 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Demand in the 63 countries with data for August 2026 and August 2025: 2,493 TWh in August 2026 against 2,415 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 63 reporting countries, 2025 and 2026
Month20262025
Jan2,322 TWh2,272 TWh
Feb2,111 TWh2,043 TWh
Mar2,216 TWh2,165 TWh
Apr2,082 TWh2,016 TWh
May2,174 TWh2,082 TWh
Jun2,276 TWh2,204 TWh
Jul2,511 TWh2,463 TWh
Aug2,493 TWh2,415 TWh
Sepn/a2,198 TWh
Octn/a2,143 TWh
Novn/a2,111 TWh
Decn/a2,316 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. Ecuador+17.8%3.15 TWh to 3.71 TWh
3. India+12.5%164 TWh to 185 TWh
4. Greece+11.1%4.50 TWh to 5.00 TWh
5. Hungary+9.9%3.64 TWh to 4.00 TWh

Demand fell most

Countries where demand fell most, August 2026
CountryChangeDemand
1. Philippines-12.1%10.5 TWh to 9.22 TWh
2. Japan-7.5%88.7 TWh to 82.1 TWh
3. Netherlands-6.8%10.1 TWh to 9.39 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. Brazil-24.2%126 gCO2/kWh to 95 gCO2/kWh
3. Turkey-15.6%472 gCO2/kWh to 398 gCO2/kWh
4. Portugal-13.7%155 gCO2/kWh to 134 gCO2/kWh
5. Argentina-11.5%326 gCO2/kWh to 289 gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity rose most

Countries where carbon intensity rose most, August 2026
CountryChangeCarbon intensity
1. Colombia+112.7%116 gCO2/kWh to 246 gCO2/kWh
2. Belgium+56.7%152 gCO2/kWh to 238 gCO2/kWh
3. France+39.5%28 gCO2/kWh to 38 gCO2/kWh
4. Czechia+32.5%291 gCO2/kWh to 386 gCO2/kWh
5. Austria+28.4%42 gCO2/kWh to 54 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. Brazil95 gCO2/kWh65.2 TWh generated
8. Portugal134 gCO2/kWh3.05 TWh generated

Highest carbon intensity

Highest carbon intensity among large reporters, August 2026
CountryCarbon intensityGeneration
1. Bangladesh758 gCO2/kWh9.14 TWh generated
2. South Africa726 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. India585 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 States461 TWh+7.2%
3. India185 TWh+12.5%
4. Russia86.1 TWh-0.7%
5. Japan82.1 TWh-7.5%
6. Brazil65.2 TWh+6.5%
7. South Korea57.1 TWh+0.3%
8. Canada47.6 TWh+0.3%

How This Month Is Measured

  • Coverage. 63 countries reported August 2026. 63 of them also have August 2025, and those 63 are the like for like set behind every figure above. Together they made up 86% 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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