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
North Sea energy transition exposed as drilling reductions are not compensated by development elsewhere
29th September 2026
That figure is down from three in 2024 and sits alongside three appraisal wells drilled, according to the government regulator North Sea Transition Ag...
European Union and UNECE move to regulate data centre expansion
29th September 2026
The scheme is said to be specifically designed to address increasing power demand from artificial intelligence (AI) models and cloud computing infrast...
Rising global energy demand puts toughest climate targets further out of reach
29th September 2026
The report finds energy demand in emerging and developing economies (EMDEs) could rise by more than 60% by 2060, adding the equivalent of another Chin...
Onshore wind (excluding system costs) wins in international electricity generation cost comparison
22nd September 2026
The report, which provides comparable plant-level generation cost data for 23 technologies submitted by 21 countries, found that utility-scale onshore...
Wind turbine sets ‘world record’ with 199m hub height in Germany
22nd September 2026
A Vestas V172-7.2MW turbine has been installed at Winnberg near Sengenthal, Germany, with a hub height of 199m and a total height of 285m. The tu...
Technical guidance publications
EI 3633
Soil and groundwater risks at battery and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle energy retail sites
September 2026
EI 3633 Soil and groundwater risks at battery and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle energy retail sites examines the potential risks to soil and gro...
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...