As the world transitions to clean energy, we’re going to be using a lot more electricity. But total energy use will actually go down. That’s because, as the International Energy Agency puts it, "electrification is efficiency."
But what does this mean and why is this true? The answer lies in the difference between burning molecules - like fossil fuels - and moving and reusing electrons which is what occurs in electrical systems. This is why electrification not only cuts emissions but also dramatically reduces overall energy use.
Moving and Reusing Electrons
In electrified systems, energy is harnessed by moving and reusing electrons through a closed circuit. Whether we’re powering an electric vehicle, running an appliance, or heating a home, the electrons flowing through the system aren’t destroyed or wasted. Instead, they are controlled, stored, and used and reused with incredible efficiency.
This is fundamentally different from burning stuff like fossil fuels. When we burn coal, oil, or gas, we break the chemical bonds in hydrocarbons to release energy. This process is inherently wasteful. A large portion of the energy is lost as heat, noise, and pollution. And once the molecules are burned, they cannot be recovered or reused.
For example, in a typical internal combustion engine (ICE) car, only about 20% of the energy from burning fuel is converted into motion, with the rest lost as heat, noise and pollution. The same inefficiency happens when burning coal in a power plant to generate electricity. Even advanced coal plants can only convert around one-third of the coal’s energy into electricity. The rest goes up the stacks.
In contrast, electric systems make far more efficient use of energy. Electric motors in cars convert up to 90% of the electrical energy into motion. Systems like heat pumps are particularly efficient because they don’t generate heat by burning fuel. Instead, they move heat from one place to another using electricity - delivering 300-400% more energy as heat than they consume in electricity. They take advantage of the thermal energy already present in the environment, making them incredibly efficient compared to traditional gas heaters. And they still work in really cold places like Norway which has more heat pumps per capita than anywhere else in Europe.
The ability of electrical systems to move and reuse energy is what makes electrification so powerful. It minimises waste and allows us to do more with less. Lowering energy demand reduces costs and this flows on to the broader economy.
Transitioning to Electricity can Lower Energy Demand
In her 2023 article Electrification is Efficiency, data analyst Hannah Ritchie showed that while switching from fossil fuels to electricity increases electricity demand, it actually decreases total energy demand. One of the most compelling visuals in Ritchie’s analysis is a graph that compares energy demand before and after electrification. It highlights that even though more sectors, like transport and heating, are shifting to electricity, overall demand for energy goes down. The reason is simple: when you replace inefficient fossil fuel systems with efficient electric ones, you need much less energy to achieve the same results.
EVs are a perfect example. Not only do they convert far more of their energy into motion than internal combustion engines, but the energy required to extract, refine, and transport fossil fuels is also eliminated.
Ritchie’s analysis shows how electrification isn’t just about using cleaner energy - it’s about using less energy overall. This is critical for climate action. As we electrify more systems, we can lower the world’s total energy demand. Oxford University analysis tells the same story. It shows that in a decarbonised world, total energy demand will actually be 40% lower.
The future isn’t only about cleaner energy - it’s about using energy far more intelligently. Electrification is, indeed, efficiency in action.
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