EnergyGPT: in conversation with the IEA’s AI agent on its latest energy outlook

It’s that time of year again. The International Energy Agency, has published its flagship annual report on energy market projections – the World Energy Outlook (WEO) 2025.

The findings are a mixed bag. One the one hand, one of its central scenarios expects coal and oil demand to peak by 2030. In all scenarios, renewables are the fastest growing energy source. On the other hand, the report finds an incoming wave of LNG export capacity and a revival of nuclear energy.

This year the IEA also gave readers an opportunity to explore its findings through an AI agent – WEO GPT.

It is trained on the WEO 2025 dataset and the IEA claims it will ‘make it easier to explore and understand’ its latest energy report.

Is an AI-based summary of the report fair and balanced? Does it push the reader in certain directions and away from others? Since this isn’t the first climate-related report that a GPT model will digest and it almost certainly will not be the last, Net Zero Investor quizzed the AI agent to find out.

Comments in italics are editorial copy adding context. 

NZI: Under the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), oil and coal demand peak by 2030. What factors contribute to this trend?

WEO 2025 includes two scenarios, among others. A Current Policies Scenario (CPS) and Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS). The former represents policies already in place and the latter reflects policies in the pipeline.

GPT: The timing of the coal demand peak depends on the pace of renewables deployment and grid integration. Faster renewables growth accelerates the decline, while slower growth delays the peak. Oil demand peaks around 2030, driven by declining demand from passenger cars and the power sector, partially offset by increases in petrochemicals, aviation, and other industrial activities.

NZI: Does peak demand for coal and oil reflect the increasing use of nuclear energy?

The IEA’s STEPS scenario does include an emphasis on the factors GPT’s response focuses on. However, the STEPS scenario also expects nuclear generation to rise by 40% by 2035 alongside increasing demand for natural gas, making these important considerations in the context of fossil fuel demand peaks.

GPT: While nuclear energy contributes to the electricity mix and supports the transition away from fossil fuels, the primary factors behind the peak in coal and oil demand are the rise of renewables and electrification, not nuclear energy alone. Renewables play a more significant role in displacing fossil fuels than nuclear energy in the STEPS.

NZI: What does the report say about the role of nuclear energy in the energy transition

GPT: Nuclear energy is identified as a critical component for achieving secure, affordable, and low-emissions electricity supply during the energy transition. Over 40 countries have included nuclear in their energy strategies, with rising investment and a record high in nuclear power output expected in 2025.

NZI: But isn't nuclear energy not considered renewable energy because it is based on a finite resource?

GPT: Nuclear energy is not classified as renewable energy in WEO 2025. This classification is based on the fact that nuclear energy relies on finite resources, such as uranium and other fissile materials, which are limited in supply. Nuclear and renewables are presented as distinct categories throughout the report and in all scenario data tables.

NZI: Okay, so if nuclear energy is not considered renewable, it must not be beneficial for the energy transition. Is that fair?

GPT: Nuclear energy is not classified as renewable, but it is considered highly beneficial for the energy transition in WEO 2025. Its low emissions profile makes it a significant contributor to decarbonization efforts.

NZI: Summarise the report’s findings on LNG investment

This year’s WEO includes an upward revision of LNG demand. It also includes evidence of increasing investment in LNG export capacity, concentrated primarily in the US. Speaking at the report launch event, the IEA’s chief energy economist Tim Gould said, “That wave of LNG over the last 12 months has got considerably bigger. 2025 has been a really remarkable year for LNG approvals”. Crucially, there is a concern about overcapacity and questions over how this capacity will be absorbed.

GPT: By 2030, an unprecedented 300 billion cubic meters (bcm) of new annual LNG export capacity is scheduled to start operation, representing a 50% increase in available global LNG supply. Despite the increase in supply, questions remain about the destination of all new LNG volumes.

The AI agent interestingly stresses the overcapacity issue, even without the question hinting at it. 

NZI: Will these increase in LNG investment hamper the energy transition?

GPT: According to WEO 2025, increases in LNG investment do not necessarily hamper the global energy transition. The report finds that while LNG supply is expanding significantly, the deployment of renewables, nuclear energy, and efficiency policies in key regions such as Europe and China limits the potential for increased LNG demand.

NZI: Will data centres be beneficial to the energy transition or will data centres increase demand for fossil fuels? Summarise what the report says.

WEO 2025 finds a record high growth in energy demand from data centres, driven by $580bn of investment. The AI response to the effect on the transition was balanced and further enquiry yields important details.

GPT: While data centres can support the energy transition by driving investment in clean energy, they also risk increasing fossil fuel use in some regions and add pressure to electricity infrastructure and supply chains.

Overall, the majority of new electricity supply for data centres is expected to come from renewables, but the impact on fossil fuel demand will vary by region and policy context.

NZI: Compare the US against Europe

GPT: The US experiences a net increase in fossil fuel demand (mainly natural gas) from data centre-driven electricity growth, while Europe’s policy environment leads to declining fossil fuel demand despite rising data centre activity.

NZI: Okay, so if it increases demand for natural gas in the US, data centre energy demand is potentially a source of significant GHG emissions. Is that fair?

GPT: Yes, it is fair to state that data centre energy demand in the United States is potentially a significant source of GHG emissions. This is due to the dominant and growing role of natural gas in powering US data centres, with natural gas expected to provide over half of their electricity supply by 2035.

NZI: In conclusion, should this report make me feel optimistic or pessimistic about the state of the global energy transition?

GPT: The WEO 2025 highlights both progress and significant challenges in the global energy transition. There are record deployments of renewables and rapid technological advances, but fossil fuel use and energy-related CO2 emissions remain high, and climate risks are increasing. 

WEO GPT offers a rare opportunity to test AI-driven enquiry into a major energy market publication, but doing so requires a careful and delibirate line of investigation. If the use of AI agents in interpreting such reports spreads, the questions being asked will likely determine the nuance of the responses.

Disclaimer – WEO GPT does not reflect the IEA’s position on the findings. The IEA expects readers to verify responses.