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
At nearly 11GW capacity, one of the world’s biggest renewable energy parks is expected to nearly triple in size by 2029
3rd November 2026
The Khavda site capacity is up from 7.1GW a year ago. In that time, it added 2,568MW of solar, 666MW of wind, 3,081MWh of battery storage and 321MW of...
Record CO2 levels and emission gaps affect global climate stability
3rd November 2026
The United Nation’s (UN) weather agency warned that because CO2 persists in the atmosphere for many years, this accumulation locks in long-term global...
Linux Foundation launches open-source software project to overcome global power grid upgrade bottlenecks
27th October 2026
It aims to build a neutral, flexible foundation that lets planners connect commercial and open-source software, targeting faster worldwide energy proj...
Jackdaw gas field to begin production this week
27th October 2026
According to the government, Jackdaw is expected to produce gas with an energy equivalent of around 40mn boe over its lifetime, increase UK domestic g...
Home battery storage could cut India’s rooftop solar grid loads by 85–90%
27th October 2026
Because growth in home solar without local storage creates significant grid challenges, Ember’s findings suggest that targeted financial incentives to...
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...