Electricity

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World electricity demand increased by 5% in 2021, with nearly 50% of the increase met by fossil fuels

Derived from the flow of electric charge, electricity has become an integral part of modern life. Many work, communication, transport and leisure activities depend on this form of energy. Given its important role in our lives, access to a secure supply of electricity is essential. Most electricity globally is produced from fossil fuels in large power plants, where heat energy from burning coal, natural gas, or oil is converted into electricity. However, low-carbon sources – nuclear energy and renewables such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass – are making up increasingly large proportions of the global generation mix as a result of efforts to mitigate climate change as well as falling technology costs. The electricity from the generators is typically fed into an electrical grid to be delivered to the consumers. Electricity first flows over large distances through the transmission network and then within regional distribution networks before finally getting delivered into our homes and businesses.

Continually matching the supply of electricity with demand is a complex task. Electricity markets are therefore designed not only to ensure ahead of time that sufficient generation capacity is available for the expected demand (typically through forward contracts) but also to perform real-time balancing using flexibility measures such as dispatchable generation, energy storage and interconnection. Nevertheless, the electricity system is transforming towards an even more complex future. While a higher share of intermittent renewables and decentralised generation in the mix disrupt the supply side, the demand side is challenged by a high level of uncertainty as electrification of heat and transport is advanced as a key decarbonisation strategy. Thus, the future will bring about additional roles for the grid, a greater need for flexibility and new business models, all of which will make electricity systems increasingly dependent upon 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?

Gone with the wind – fossil fuels lose ground in UK energy mix

20/09/2023

The study, from Imperial College London for Drax Electric Insights, has found that after more than a century of fossil fuels dominating the UK’s elect...

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MENA grows renewables by half but clings to ‘risky’ hydrogen and gas

20/09/2023

The nations of the MENA region are poised to gain considerably from a renewable energy transition and by some indicators, this transition may be just ...

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Europe’s largest concentrated solar thermal platform online

20/09/2023

Located at a packaging and materials production plant in Turnhout, Belgium, the newly commissioned CST facility features 2,240 surface mirrors, with a...

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European Parliament backs plans to boost renewable energy and SAF uptake

20/09/2023

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) agreed to update the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), raising the share of renewables in the European Union...

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UK’s largest public EV charging hub

20/09/2023

A new public EV charging hub has been developed by BP Pulse, the EV Network (EVN) and NEC Group, at the NEC Exhibition Centre in the West Midland. It ...

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Events and training

Aviation Jet Fuel - Nov 2023

14/11/2023 - 16/11/2023

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

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

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

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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A site operator's guide to electric vehicle charging equipment at filling stations

2022

This document is aimed at operators of filling stations and those responsible for deciding whether or not to install electric vehicle charging equipme...

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Waste to products – Technology and economic assessment (phase 1)

2022

This document is free to download for registered users.The EMG and Soil Wastes and Groundwater group (SWG) of the EI and Concawe have commissioned E4t...

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Best available techniques (BAT): Good practice for the oil and gas industry

2022

This guidance has been produced to inform good practice when undertaking best available techniques (BAT) assessments for offshore combustion equipment...

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Online tools and software collection

A selection of interactive maps and calculators that let you explore trends across a range of different energy topics, including electricity.

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