Abstract:

The webinar examines how the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and electrification is driving an unprecedented increase in global electricity demand, requiring power grids to significantly expand and modernise by 2050. It explains the evolution and operation of electrical grids, the challenges posed by aging infrastructure and the need for next-generation transmission technologies. The session highlights China's large-scale grid investments, the potential of superconducting cables to improve transmission efficiency, lessons from Spain's power outage, and the role of grid-forming technologies in enhancing system stability. It also explores how decentralized mini-grids are expanding electricity access in countries such as Nigeria, demonstrating that grid innovation will be essential for supporting clean energy, economic growth and a resilient energy future.