Electricity

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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.

Learn more about these sources of electricity by exploring our Energy Insights on this topic.

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.

What's new?

SSE to build biofuels plant in Ireland

12/2/2025

The plant in County Kerry, in the south-west of Ireland, will run on sustainable biofuels with the potential to convert to hydrogen. Full construction...

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Welsh government backs largest consented tidal energy project in Europe

12/2/2025

Owned and managed by the Menter Môn social enterprise, Morlais will see a range of tidal energy technologies installed in a 35 km² area of the seabed ...

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‘Ambitious policy’ is needed to support decarbonisation of the global buildings sector, says ETC

12/2/2025

The global buildings sector currently contributes a third of greenhouse gas emissions (12.3 GtCO2 in 2022), according to the International Energy Agen...

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India budget aims to scale up civil nuclear power and develop local renewables supply chains

12/2/2025

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced plans to expand India’s nuclear capacity to 100 GW by 2047, building on the announcement she...

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UK government plans to overhaul nuclear power plant planning rules in a year when global nuclear generation is set to hit an all-time high

12/2/2025

The UK government said that the new planning reforms address the bureaucratic hurdles that have hindered nuclear development in the country for decade...

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Events and training

Aviation Jet Fuel - April 2024

29/4/2025 - 1/5/2025

This 3-day training course will provide delegates with an overview of aviation jet fuel, focusing on the jet engine, its underlying principles and fue...

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Technical guidance publications

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...

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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...

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EI 3556

SafetyOn Electrical safety good practice guidelines: Wind turbine generator high voltage access awareness

April 2024

This first edition of the SafetyOn good practice guidelines: Wind Turbine Generator High Voltage Access Awareness covers the minimum safety training r...

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EI 3539

Guidance on large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) system design, development and operation

August 2023

Solar photovoltaic (PV), which converts sunlight into electricity, is an important source of renewable energy in the 21st century. PV plant installati...

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EI 3499

Research report: Application of life cycle assessment methodology to the understanding of the energy balance and efficiency of hydrogen value chain building blocks

May 2022

This document is free to download for registered users.This publication explores the efficiencies of the hydrogen energy system and quantifies the ene...

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