The Rise and Slowdown of Global Electricity Efficiency (1900–2017)

What is it about?

This paper looks at how the efficiency of electricity use worldwide has changed from 1900 to 2017. Using a long-term global dataset, it examines improvements in power generation and in the way electricity is used across different end uses. The results show that efficiency increased rapidly during the 20th century but has slowed in recent decades, and that overall end-use efficiency has remained almost unchanged because growth in less efficient uses offset technological improvements.

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Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Electricity demand is expected to grow strongly as economies electrify and expand renewable energy. The study shows that future efficiency gains will depend not only on better technologies but also on how electricity is used across sectors. Understanding these long-term trends helps assess the challenges of reducing emissions and highlights the need for strong policies to support the energy transition.