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.
0%
share of total power generation was from renewables in 2023 (Statistical Review of World Energy)
Over0%
of global electricity still comes from coal-fired generation (IEA)
0%
of global electricity demand increase during 2020-25 is expected to be met by renewables (IEA)
0GW
is the grid-scale battery electricity storage system capacity in 2023 (Statistical Review of World Energy)
What's new?
Large scale drone scans could be the ‘Google Maps of thermal efficiency’
19/2/2025
The drones scan houses from a bird’s eye view at a distance of about 50 metres, quantifying within just a few minutes how much heat escapes the buildi...
Cost of renewables is forecast to continue falling globally, as China extends its manufacturing lead
19/2/2025
BNEF’s latest LCOE report suggests that ‘new wind and solar farms are already undercutting new coal and gas plants on production cost in almost every ...
UK government to halve subsidies paid to Drax power station from 2027
19/2/2025
Large-scale biomass currently provides around 5% of the UK’s annual electricity generation, with Drax’s 2.6 GW plant operating as a baseload plant run...
The challenges of electrification of industry are contemplated on both sides of the English Channel
19/2/2025
Based on research by the University of Leeds, the UKERC/Aldersgate report suggests that under a favourable policy scenario, industrial electrification...
Focus on offshore energy storage and conversion infrastructure as Danish energy island project secures €645mn of public EU funding
19/2/2025
Denmark’s Bornholm Energy Island scheme was awarded just over half (52%) of the European Commission’s (EC) latest Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) fun...
Events and training
Energy Institute East Midlands Online Lectures
11/3/2025
Energy Institute East Midlands Online Lectures
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
