As the world moves towards a net-zero emissions future, a new report tackles some of the toughest questions in the transition: the maximum potential role of electrification, and how to source and manage the carbon we will still need within defined ecological limits.
LONDON, 5th November 2025 – A new major report by the Energy Transitions Commission and Systemiq, “Carbon in an Electrified Future: Technologies, trade-offs and pathways”, examines how the world can secure the carbon molecules it will still need in a low and eventually zero-emissions future, without harmful environmental effects. The study analyses emerging technologies that could further reduce the demand for carbon, or make its sustainable production and use possible, reshaping how carbon fits into tomorrow’s energy and materials systems.
“Electrification will be the backbone of the net-zero economy, but reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 does not mean zero carbon,” says Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission. “This report looks at the innovations that will determine how much carbon we will still need, and how to ensure that every molecule is used responsibly within planetary limits.”
The study examines how breakthroughs in electrification could minimise the world’s dependence on carbon-based molecules, and how new technologies for sourcing, recycling and managing carbon at end of life can ensure a sustainable use of carbon in those sectors, such as aviation and chemicals, where elimination of carbon input is impossible.
The Key Role of Electrification
The report finds that electrification is the biggest lever to eliminate the majority of carbon use in the energy and materials sectors, and that new and emerging technologies will play a central role in carbon displacement and reducing fossil fuel dependency. Eventually, as much as 77% of final energy demand could be met via the direct use of electricity, with another 6% involving the use of hydrogen or ammonia. Building the far larger clean electricity systems required to meet this demand is therefore a crucial priority.
