Electrification
Replacing a process powered by another energy source with one using electricity.
Example
An electric heat pump can replace direct fuel combustion for heating.
The catch
The climate result depends on equipment performance and electricity supply.
Related terms
Heat pump, Energy conservation, Energy efficiency, Energy storage, Fossil fuel, Renewable energy
In more depth
Electrification, explained.
Electrification usually cuts total energy use as well as emissions, because electric motors and heat pumps waste far less energy than engines and boilers. A heat pump moves several units of heat for each unit of electricity it consumes, and an electric car turns most of its battery's energy into motion, while a petrol engine loses most of its fuel's energy as heat.
Electrified equipment also gets cleaner as the grid adds renewable energy, while a new gas boiler stays tied to fossil fuel for its whole working life. The limits sit in long-haul flights, shipping and some high-temperature industry, and in the grid itself, which needs stronger networks and energy storage to meet new peaks in demand.