World Bank: Rising AC use might pressure energy grids in Nigeria, others 

The World Bank has warned that the rising reliance on air con (AC) to deal with rising temperatures might put extreme stress on electrical energy grids in Nigeria and different growing nations, notably these with weak or restricted energy infrastructure.

This warning comes from the World Improvement Report 2025: Requirements for Improvement, just lately launched by the World Bank.

The report notes that as world temperatures rise, demand for cooling is accelerating, particularly in quickly urbanizing and low-income areas.

Whereas lively cooling notably air con stays one of the vital efficient methods to adapt to excessive warmth, it is usually extremely vitality intensive.

“As adoption will increase, it would more and more pressure energy grids, particularly in areas with restricted electrical energy infrastructure,” the World Bank famous. 

The report additionally highlights alternatives for effectivity enhancements.

It notes, “Proof from India, Indonesia, and Nigeria reveals that doubling the vitality effectivity of room air conditioners by 2030 might scale back their life-cycle prices by 60 % and supply a further 320 million individuals with entry to them by 2050,” the report famous. 

Extra insights  

To handle this problem, the Bank emphasised the significance of coverage instruments corresponding to minimal vitality efficiency requirements (MEPS) and constructing codes. It stated combining these measures permits governments to develop versatile, context-specific options that mirror native local weather situations, housing varieties, and earnings ranges.

In March 2025, the federal authorities permitted new minimal vitality efficiency requirements for air conditioners as a part of efforts to curb rising electrical energy demand and emissions.

Based on the World Bank, these requirements are projected to save lots of about 11.5 terawatt-hours of electrical energy yearly and scale back carbon emissions by an estimated 39 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

What you must know 

Nairametrics earlier reported that the Rural Electrification Company (REA) had put plans in place to make sure rural communities have entry to energy-efficient and electric-productive gear as a part of efforts in implementing its Productive Use Tools and Equipment (PUE).

• The flagship initiative tagged Nigeria Electrification Venture (NEP) goals to offer 24,500 Micro Small and Medium Entreprises (MSMEs) with energy-efficient productive use home equipment.
• Latest knowledge from the REA signifies that the nation wants at the least 5 million off-grid photo voltaic methods to serve unpowered and underserved communities.

Consultants estimate that deploying simply half of that focus on might generate thousands and thousands of licensed emission reductions (CERs) yearly—every tradable for international alternate and funding inflows.