Electrification, that is, an increase in the role of electricity in final energy uses, is one of the key pillars of the European Union (EU) strategy to get to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (Verde et al., 2024). The rationale is apparent: over the past 20 years, PV panels, wind turbines, batteries and heat pumps have been among the low-carbon technologies which have improved the most in terms of performance and which have observed the highest cost reductions. They all produce, store or use electricity. If you combine this technological development with the several appealing properties of electricity, for instance the absence of polluting emissions at the point of use, you can then easily understand why electrification is a fundamental component of any decarbonisation roadmap, in Europe and beyond.

The European Commission (EC) has recently confirmed the importance of electrification in the Clean Industrial Deal. Ensuring consumers have access to affordable energy, be it in the form of electricity or not, is a cornerstone of that deal. According to the EC, accelerating the electrification of the economy and the transition to clean and domestically generated energy can support a reduction of energy costs and preserve the competitiveness of the European manufacturing sector.[1] Two key performance indicators are identified in this regard: 1) an increase in the economy-wide electrification rate from 21.3% in 2022 to 32% in 2030; and 2) the installation of 100 GW of renewable electricity capacity every year up to 2030.

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https://fsr.eui.eu/electrification-where-are-we/