Making Clean Electrification Possible: 30 Years to Electrify the Global Economy

In its new report Making Clean Electrification Possible: 30 Years to Electrify the Global Economy, the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) states that massive clean electrification will be the primary route to decarbonisation, complemented by hydrogen in the harder-to-abate sectors. The report sets out why it is essential but also feasible and affordable to multiply the size of the global power system by 5, while shifting to renewable-based electricity provision. The report estimates electricity could represent up to 70% of final energy demand by 2050, versus 20% today.

Transitioning to clean electricity as the main source of final energy represents the cheapest and most efficient way to decarbonise the economy. The rapidly falling costs of renewables and storage solutions make it possible to achieve the required massive expansion of clean power systems at low cost, according to the report.

This report is part of the ETC’s wider Making Mission Possible Series – a series of reports outlining how to scale up clean energy provision within the next 30 years to meet the needs of a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) economy by mid-century. The reports in the series analyse and set out specific actions required in the next decade to put this net-zero by 2050 target within reach.