Energy security in the Age of Electricity

Abstract The global energy system is being reshaped by a second major supply shock in five years, surging electricity demand and intensifying competition over the technologies needed to meet it. In today’s more uncertain geopolitical landscape, energy security and electrification should not be seen as competing priorities – instead, they are deeply intertwined. Electrification can allow countries to make greater use of their domestic resources, reduce dependence on imported fuels and lower emissions. But these benefits will not be realised automatically. Grids, flexibility, resilient supply chains, access to finance and modern energy services must advance alongside innovation in electric technologies. The COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, in November 2026 offers an opportunity to translate these priorities into tangible progress, with a proposed global ambition to raise electricity’s share of final energy consumption to 35% by 2035, while recognising different national circumstances and starting points.