Can we really 'electrify everything'?
At the Energy LIVE 2024 conference in Houston, Texas, the path to a net-zero emissions future was a hot topic.
In a session titled ‘The Great Electrification Debate’, energy experts Dr Tej Gidda and Dr Peter Benyon, both from GHD, discussed whether full electrification is possible on a global or regional scale.
Speaking to an audience of industry insiders, policymakers and innovators, Gidda and Benyon presented equally ambitious but contrasting viewpoints. One championed the promise of green electricity while the other advocated for alternative renewable energy sources.
The case for electrification
Dr Peter Benyon.
Benyon, GHD’s Australian Market Leader – Power, opened with a vision of electrification across residential, commercial, industrial and transportation sectors, citing the rapid adoption of renewable energy and advancements in energy efficiency as cornerstones of a clean, sustainable future.
“We are already making significant progress toward electrifying everything. Over the past decade, electricity demand has grown at nearly twice the rate of overall energy demand, and this trend is accelerating rapidly,” he said.
“With net zero objectives in focus, green electricity — produced from abundant resources like wind and solar — stands out as the cleanest and most cost-effective energy source.
“Harnessing these natural resources, coupled with energy storage, makes transitioning to an all-electric system an obvious choice.
“The benefits are clear — cleaner air, lower noise pollution and significant cost savings. Green electricity is not simply better for the environment; it is also healthier and more affordable for communities,” he explained.
To bolster his argument, Benyon pointed to community-led projects like Electrify 2515, where 500 homes in the city of Wollongong are transitioning from gas to electric appliances.
He also highlighted progress in Australian states and territories including South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, which are well on their way to, or have already achieved, net 100% renewable electricity and have advanced electrification initiatives.
Electrification would also be economically beneficial, he said. “Every heat pump and EV we deploy brings tangible savings for households. It is not just about the planet — it is about people’s wallets.
“We’re also seeing breakthroughs in energy storage, including lithium, sodium and vanadium technologies, which will support and stabilise grids and enable deeper electrification.”
Challenges and alternatives
Dr Tej Gidda.
Gidda, GHD’s Global Leader for Future Energy, presented a different perspective, questioning whether electrifying everything is realistic in the short term.
“The power generation required for full electrification is enormous, and in many regions, it is simply not feasible today,” he argued.
Gidda said that affordability was another critical barrier, using North America as an example of a region where consumers and businesses face high costs of transitioning to electric systems even with subsidies.
“We don’t currently have enough power generation to electrify everything. The anticipated increases in demand are already outpacing our ability to generate new power, and we are struggling to meet existing needs,” he said.
“How can we possibly address the additional requirements for full electrification when we’re already behind on capacity for today’s demands?”
However, existing infrastructure in North America still offers untapped potential for decarbonisation, Gidda said.
“We have millions of miles of pipelines that can be repurposed for renewable natural gas and hydrogen. Why abandon these assets when we can use them to reduce emissions today and do so to maintain affordability?”
Gidda cited North American projects converting agricultural waste and landfill gas into biomethane, as well as Toronto’s efforts to displace natural gas with renewable sources created from food waste.
He also underscored the limitations of battery electric vehicles, particularly in heavy-duty transport.
“There are not enough lithium reserves globally to electrify all vehicles, and this is a real problem. We need complementary solutions, such as hydrogen and low-carbon fuels.”
Technological pathways
Both Gidda and Benyon agreed on the need to advance energy technologies to support the energy transition.
Benyon advocated for diverse energy storage methods, from mechanical processes like compressed air to thermal storage.
“Storage innovation is key to grid reliability and scalability. It is how we will meet growing demand without compromising stability in a renewable electricity grid,” he said.
Gidda made the case for blending hydrogen into existing natural gas systems to decarbonise without costly infrastructure overhauls.
“This approach reduces emissions immediately, with minimal disruption to consumers,” he explained.
What needs to happen now?
When asked what near-term actions are critical for achieving net zero by 2050, Benyon called for aggressive grid decarbonisation and expanded infrastructure, with targeted support for low-income communities to ensure equitable transitions.
Gidda stressed the need for comprehensive national energy policies and public–private partnerships. “This is too big for any one sector to tackle alone. Collaboration is our best shot at success,” he said.
Gidda said that solutions must be tailored to the realities of each region. “There is no single path to net zero,” he said. “For me, I do not believe ‘electrification’ is the answer on its own. It needs to be a combination of electrification and decarbonisation.”
Benyon agreed on the need for diverse approaches, adding, “What matters most is that we act decisively and collaboratively. Every step forward is a step toward a cleaner, greener world.”
Top image credit: iStock.com/kynny
