Electrification is the act of consumers adopting new electric end-use technologies. In a developed economy such as the U.S., this generally implies consumers replacing fossil fuel technologies with electric technologies.
According to a recent assessment by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), electrification has the potential to provide benefits including lower costs and energy use for consumers, reduced air emissions and water use, and increased electric grid flexibility and efficiency. The following graphic from the EPRI report describes key end uses that are candidates for initial consumer electrification:
Source: Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
U.S. National Electrification Assessment
Three key end-use opportunities for initial growth in electrification arise in consumer transport, buildings, and industrial process heat:
As technologies evolve or a willingness to invest in reducing environmental impacts grows, other uses may also become good candidates for electrification.