Primary Power Analysis of a Global Electrification Scenario

Abstract

Electrification scenarios dominate most plans to decarbonize the global economy and slow down the unfolding of climate change. In this work, we evaluate from a primary power perspective the impacts of electrifying the power, transport, residential and commercial sectors of the economy. We also investigate the electrification of industrial intense heat processes. Our analysis shows that, in terms of primary power, electrification can result in significant savings of up to 28% of final power use. However, actual savings depend on the sources of electricity used. For intense heat processes, these savings are very sensitive to the electricity sources, and losses of over 70% of primary power can occur during the conversion of heat to electricity and back to heat. Overall, this study highlights the potential benefits and limitations of electrification as a tool for reducing primary power consumption and transitioning to a more sustainable energy system.