Europe, Africa, and Asia on the Road to Electrification

Electrification is the cornerstone of energy transformation. From 19th-century lighting with lamps and the telegraph, electrification now serves industry, transportation, computers, telecommunications, and domestic uses. The future holds the spread of smart grids, the strengthening of multi-modal energy storage technologies (e.g., flow batteries, hydrogen), energy flow management through artificial intelligence, and the creation of international interconnections that will enhance energy resilience.

Frequent references to a "just transition" are not enough on their own; it must be remembered that electricity should be considered a universal human right. However, growing demand and investment in new technologies have led to higher costs, placing a burden on energy-intensive industries and vulnerable households, and exacerbating inequalities, particularly in rural and remote areas. Energy poverty has serious implications for health, quality of life, and social cohesion, especially for the elderly and the unemployed. At the same time, the loss of traditional jobs in polluting industries is creating social tensions, while the retraining of workers is progressing slowly.

The European horizon

Although the EU has introduced the Just Transition Mechanism, the results so far have not lived up to expectations. The transition to a fully electrified energy system faces serious obstacles. Consumption forecasting and grid flexibility remain inadequate, with installed storage capacity in Europe reaching only 4.5 GW, while needs require 11–14 GW per year. Although sales of electric vehicles and buses are increasing, the development of charging infrastructure is lagging significantly. Technologies such as high-temperature heat pumps, electric boilers, electric plasma, and storage solutions such as hydrogen are still in the early stages of implementation. The necessary tripling of the rate of electrification by 2050 requires huge investments, particularly in transmission and distribution networks.

Its implementation would require a transition away from imported fuels through research and exploitation of European energy sources, including hydrocarbons, a development that does not appear to be on the European horizon at present.

Beyond the European dome: Electrification in Africa and Asia

Looking beyond the European horizon, it is clear that Africa and Asia are moving at different speeds, adopting solutions tailored to their own circumstances and needs. The progress of electrification across the three continents reflects the evolution of societies and the technological transitions that have shaped the modern world. In Europe, electricity was a pillar of the industrial revolution and post-war recovery. Asia, with its dynamic economic growth, harnessed electrification to develop urban centers and boost production. Africa, despite the challenges, is now entering a new era of electrical expansion, with an emphasis on sustainable and decentralized solutions. Electrification has been and remains a driving force for social progress and the reduction of inequalities. In conclusion, the timelessness of electrification encompasses the transitions from lignite to natural gas, the exploitation of air, sun, water, and ultimately nuclear energy and storage. The path to electrification is not only technical, it is also political, cultural, and economic, but at its core will be people and their desire for access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy.

Ευρώπη, Αφρική και Ασία στον Δρόμο του Εξηλεκτρισμού

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