The international community has committed to reducing the amount of greenhouse gases, including CO2, emitted into the atmosphere, to limit the extent of anthropogenic climate change. In parallel, it is starting to acknowledge the impact of particulate emissions from fossil fuels on air quality and human health.

These factors are driving countries to transform their energy systems so they are clean, smart, and affordable for the citizens they serve. A large part of the energy transformation will be through electricity systems, which are the focus of this paper. The continuing advances in renewable generation technologies, the increase in the use of ‘smart’ systems, and the further electrification of heat, transport, and cooking make electricity well placed to address current challenges.