World electricity demand is expected to increase by an average of 3.4% every year until 2026
Electricity, derived from the flow of electric charge, is vital for numerous aspects of modern life, from work and communication to transport and leisure. Most electricity is produced from fossil fuels in power plants, but low-carbon sources like nuclear and renewables (solar, wind, hydro, biomass) are increasingly contributing to the global generation mix. These efforts aim to mitigate climate change and leverage falling technology costs. Electricity generated is fed into a grid, transmitted over long distances, and distributed regionally to homes and businesses.
Balancing electricity supply with demand is complex, requiring markets to ensure sufficient generation through forward contracts and real-time balancing with flexible measures like dispatchable generation, energy storage, and interconnection. The system is evolving with more intermittent renewables and decentralized generation, creating supply-side disruptions and demand-side uncertainties. Future electricity systems will need enhanced grid roles, greater flexibility, and new business models, increasingly relying on digital technologies.
Discover UK energy professionals' views of the future of electricity, gathered in our annual Energy Barometer.
Search for articles on electric vehicles and the role of electricity in transport published in our New Energy World magazine.
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of the global electricity supply in 2024 was generated from renewables, including hydroelectricity (Statistical Review of World Energy)
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of electricity generated by coal in 2024 globally (Statistical Review of World Energy)
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estimated year-on-year rise in electricity consumption in 2024 (IEA)
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grid-scale battery electricity storage system capacity in 2024 (Statistical Review of World Energy)
New Energy World stories
COP31 presidency unveils 35% global electrification goal for 2035
15th June 2026
Organisers of this year’s Conference of the Parties (COP31) climate summit placed electrification at the centre of a new Action Agenda unveiled at the...
State commitments could lead to offshore wind farms occupying up to 11% of the North Sea by 2050, says study
15th June 2026
Such expansion would increase offshore wind coverage in the North Sea to about 58,500km² by 2050. But researchers from Heriot-Watt University, the Uni...
Chile accelerates battery storage deployment to support renewable generation
15th June 2026
Chile's renewable energy sector is increasingly pairing large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) with new generation capacity as developers s...
Workforce shortfall threatens UK government’s Warm Homes Plan, trade body warns
15th June 2026
The Warm Homes Plan aims to install 450,000 pumps annually by 2030. As of October 2025, 1,801 companies certified by the Microgeneration Certification...
HVDC link begins supplying Canadian hydropower to New York City
9th June 2026
Hydro-Québec is exporting power via the 1,250MW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link, which runs more than 600km from a substation in Hertel, La Pr...
Technical guidance publications
EI 3308
Assessing the condition and remaining life of underground electrical cables
April 2026
Approaches to assessing the condition of electrical power cables have changed considerably over time. Previously, underground cables were generally le...
EI 3299
Guidelines on earthing/grounding/bonding in the oil and gas industry
September 2025
This publication brings together the essential requirements relating to earthing/grounding and bonding for installations in hazardous areas in the oil...
EI 3582
SafetyOn and G+ workshops report: Electrical safe system of work
February 2025
SafetyOn and G+ have been working collaboratively with the EI to enhance safety protocols in the onshore and offshore wind industry through the Safe S...
EI 3021
Model Code of Safe Practice Part 21: Guidelines for the control of hazards arising from static electricity
June 2024
Essential reading for all those involved in the fuels distribution and supply chain, this document provides up to date guidance on key equipment, proc...
EI 3564
Guidance on green and low carbon hydrogen production: plant design, construction, operation and maintenance, co-location and other considerations
June 2024
‘Hydrogen economy’ is an umbrella term used to describe the role that hydrogen plays in the broader economy, including as a fuel, as an energy carrier...