Electricity+: Electricity as the Backbone of an Integrated Energy System

The World Economic Forum introduces 'Electricity+', a framework positioning a flexible, digital electricity backbone as the core of a net-zero integrated energy system. The report argues that global final energy consumption must shift from 20% to 50-70% electricity by 2050 to limit temperature increases. It identifies six key integration areas: gas and storage, digital systems, transport, liquid fuels and chemicals, water and storage, and waste and recycling. The framework is applied through case studies in Spain, the UK, and California to identify market gaps and policy needs, such as improved permitting, digital infrastructure, and demand-side management.

• To limit global temperature increases, global final energy consumption is projected to need a shift from 20% to 50-70% electricity by 2050.
• The future net-zero energy system requires a multi-directional electricity backbone consisting of renewable capacity (large-scale and distributed), modernized transmission and distribution, storage, and the electrification of heating, transport, and industrial processes.
• The Electricity+ framework identifies six primary infrastructure integrations: gas and storage, digital systems, transport and infrastructure, liquid fuels and chemicals, water and storage, and waste and recycling.
• In Spain, the framework identifies a need for improved permitting for infrastructure and notes that renewable-energy-powered desalination is becoming essential due to increased droughts in the south.
• The UK's application of the framework highlights a target of 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, with at least half coming from green hydrogen using excess offshore wind power.
• In California, the framework notes that while companies invest in digital and cyber capabilities individually, there is a lack of central policy or backing to support the necessary digital systems for an integrated energy system.
• The transition to an integrated energy system depends on several enablers, including workforce skill development, data digitalization, technology innovation, demand dynamics, integrated system planning, sustainable supply chains, and the economic valuation of carbon.

APA

World Economic Forum (2023). Electricity+: Electricity as the Backbone of an Integrated Energy System. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Electricity_plus_2023.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Electricity+: Electricity as the Backbone of an Integrated Energy System. 2023. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Electricity_plus_2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Electricity+: Electricity as the Backbone of an Integrated Energy System |date=January 2023 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Electricity_plus_2023.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2023electricity, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Electricity+: Electricity as the Backbone of an Integrated Energy System}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Electricity_plus_2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }