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
South Africa expands renewable generation as wind projects enter operational phase
11th August 2026
The wind farm site is also said to be the first utility-scale wind energy facility built in northwestern Mpumalanga Province. The project is part of a...
Start-up of solar-plus-battery facility supports grid power expansion in Sierra Leone
11th August 2026
The project as a whole aims to raise Sierra Leone's electricity access rate from 16% to 36% as operations begin, supporting national electrification g...
Southeast Asia to deliver less than one-third of planned gas-fired power capacity by 2030
11th August 2026
New research from Wood Mackenzie concludes that Southeast Asia’s gas-fired power pipeline is increasingly constrained, as project delivery struggles t...
Great Britain moves to expel speculative data centre projects from electricity connection queues
4th August 2026
This move comes as contracted demand connection applications in the national queue increased from 41GW in November 2024 to 125GW in June 2025. Out of ...
Heat network reform needed to unlock investment and consumer savings, report finds
4th August 2026
Heat networks currently supply a relatively small share of the UK’s heat demand but are expected to play a much larger role in long-term decarbonisati...
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...