This report maps 100 innovative solutions for the smart electrification of end-use sectors using renewable power. It offers innovation toolboxes to guide policy makers in formulating smart electrification strategies for mobility, the heating and cooling sectors, and green hydrogen.
In order to achieve the collective goal to secure a carbon-neutral future, the global energy transition focuses not only on how energy is produced but also, importantly, on how it is consumed; both supply and demand must be simultaneously transformed to deliver the efficient and effective decarbonisation of the entire system. Innovation in end-use sectors is therefore integral to the transition.
On the supply side, wind and solar technologies have experienced rapid growth in recent years, making substantial amounts of clean electricity available to power systems; IRENA’s 2019 report, Innovation landscape for a renewable-powered future, mapped 30 key innovations for integrating high shares of variable renewable electricity in power systems. However, the demand side has not evolved in parallel. Today, the transport and heating sectors continue to largely rely on fossil fuels; yet, both direct and indirect electrification with renewable power now provide feasible solutions to electrify many end-use sectors, thanks to the sharp cost reductions for wind and solar technologies.
This report presents key innovations that can form the basis of smart electrification strategies. These strategies offer cost-effective decarbonisation pathways to electrify end-use sectors, increase system flexibility and incorporate large shares of renewable energy in power systems. The report offers pathways to end-use electrification in the areas of power to mobility; power to heat and cooling; and power to hydrogen. These are based on 100 key innovations, categorised within four dimensions: (i) technology and infrastructure; (ii) market design and regulation; (iii) system planning and operation; and (iv) business models.
This report is organised into three sections:
Each section follows the same structure:
- Status and pace of progress of electrification of end-use sector
This section provides a quick overview of where the sector is today in the electrification process, which path could lead to decarbonisation goals, and the importance of a smart electrification approach. It also summarises the main challenges and identifies the blind spots that are often overlooked and hinder the deployment of smart electrification strategies. - Toolbox for smart electrification strategy
This section includes the guidelines for implementation. Using the innovation toolbox, it illustrates how smart electrification strategies can be developed for different context specificities and needs. - Innovation landscape for smart electrification of end-use sector
This section lists and describes the key innovations for each dimension and explains why it is important. It also includes examples of how the innovation has been implemented.
