While nine out of 10 people who currently live on planet Earth have access to electricity, in some regions an electricity grid has not yet been installed, leaving 800 million people still living in the dark.
This is one of the reasons why the electric power sector is developing, with governments spending billions on grid expansion.
However, even energy systems in developed economies can suffer blackouts, such as those in Spain and Portugal in April 2025, which pushes authorities to invest in improving grids to drive the sector's transformation.
The electricity sector continues to transform rapidly, with several technological factors driving this:
- An ongoing rapid adoption of renewable energy
- The need to modernize power grids
- The need to increase energy storage
- The need for policy reforms.
All of these factors will eventually shape the future of the sector.
Let's explore in detail the perspectives and trends of the electricity sector and analyze a shortlist of tenders in the electric power sector that you can check out in detail at Tenderwell.com.
Electric power sector forecasts
Increase in electricity consumption
Based on the latest IEA report, there is no doubt that the world’s electricity consumption will continue to increase at the fastest pace ever recorded, reaching almost 4% annually by 2027.
This growth can be explained by an increase in industrial production, the growing use of air conditioning, and more data centers operating around the globe.
Emerging economies will be responsible for the increase in electricity demand
Experts believe that emerging economies that are responsible for much of the extra demand for power will account for 85% of the growth.
- China was responsible for over 50% of global power demand growth in 2024, showing a growth of 7%, and is expected to show a 6% growth between 2025 and 2027.
- India, the second largest nation in terms of strong demand for electricity growth, is expected to register an annual increase of 6.3%, mainly due to its rapid economic growth.
Electricity generation mix by region
In 2024, according to the IEA, power production from fossil fuels rose by just over 1%, contributing less than 20% to global electricity growth but still accounting for around 60% of electric power production.
However, the power mix is evolving, and you can analyze its evolution in the graph below, which shows the energy mix by region:
Top trends in the electric power sector
Trend #1. Renewable energy adoption
Based on the IEA predictions, by 2030, the consumption of renewable energy within sectors such as power, heat, and transport will increase by 60%.
Within EU borders, in 2024, wind and hydropower accounted for more than two-thirds of the 46.9% of net power production that came from renewable sources, according to Eurostat. These changes show that more countries are committed to sustainability and energy independence, thus implying that we might expect a continuous adoption of renewable energy.
Trend #2. Continuous grid modernization
Grids are essential for transmitting electricity, balancing supply and demand, and connecting additional power sources and customers.
To achieve sustainable energy transitions and net-zero goals, the world requires expanded, smart, and modernized electricity grids.
Here is some key data on grid modernization:
- The IEA outlines that to satisfy national energy and climate targets, in the next decade, power demand must register a growth rate that is 20% faster than in the previous decade.
- More than 80 million kilometers of grids must be added or renovated by 2040, which is equal to the entire current world grid.
- By 2050, 80-90% of the increase in new electricity capacity will come from wind and solar.
Trend #3. Expanding energy storage
Energy storage systems are essential for maintaining equilibrium between supply and demand. In 2024, global investment in the low-carbon energy transition increased by 11% to an all-time high of US$2.1 trillion. Such an increase was driven by strong progress in electrified transport and renewable power sources, combined with increased investment in energy storage and modernization of the power grid.
IEA experts anticipate that global energy storage capacity could expand to 1,500 GW by the end of the decade.
Trend #4. Policy reforms and new technologies
In recent decades, many countries were able to restructure their electricity management systems to reduce costs and boost efficiency. They also started to prioritize sustainability, access to electric energy, and resilience so that power systems could withstand power shortages and natural disasters.
All these required the adoption of new technologies (storage, digital grids) and updated policies:
- In the European Union, reforms aim to decouple electricity prices from fossil fuel costs, stabilize energy bills, and encourage a greater share of green power in the market.
- The United Kingdom is exploring zonal energy pricing, where prices vary by region, which could lower costs and encourage local generation.
- In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced flexible greenhouse gas standards for power plants. Plant operators have a choice about how to adhere to emissions regulations.
The April 2025 blackout
The April 2025 blackouts in Spain and Portugal stand as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that still exist within even the most modernized power systems, with the services to millions of people being disrupted.
As one of the biggest blackouts in recent memory in Europe, this brought attention to the deficiencies of the power grid.
Some officials blamed the outage on unusual meteorological occurrences, while others cited fundamental problems with renewable integration and system management.
While investigations are still ongoing, experts and industry representatives say that to avoid similar problems in the future, the aging power grid in the EU needs an expensive upgrade costing trillions of dollars.
This situation has also brought attention to how important government tendering is to infrastructure modernization.
Government tendering in the energy sector
Government tendering (also called public procurement) is an official procedure that involves public bodies requesting bids and awarding contracts for products, services, or works.
Government tenders in the electricity supply sector from Tenderwell
Public authorities are opening bids for anything from long-term green power purchase agreements (PPAs) to regular grid electricity.
Here are some of the tenders in the electricity supply sector (09310000) in Europe that you can find on the Tenderwell platform, where each week from 40,000 to 60,000 new open tenders are published:
1. Electricity supply guaranteed to be 100% from renewable sources
Country: Spain
- Tender details: Framework agreement for the supply of 100% renewable-origin electricity to the Provincial Council of Valencia and affiliated local entities, through an open procedure with multiple criteria.
- Link to renewable energy acquisition tender in Spain.
2. Electricity procurement via the CPO LT electronic catalogue
Country: Lithuania
- Tender details: Procurement of electricity via the CPO LT electronic catalogue for a total estimated value of €4 billion, under a green public procurement framework that aims to secure a reliable supply of electricity for Lithuania over a period of 120 months (10 years), with the possibility of extension.
- Link to a Lithuanian public tender for electricity procurement.
3. Supply of electrical energy and related services, along with the provision of certificates guaranteeing renewable origin
Country: France
- Tender details: Dynamic Purchasing System for the supply of electricity and associated services, including renewable energy origin certificates, for the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes. The procurement is divided into two lots – commodity electricity and origin certificates – and remains open to qualified suppliers throughout its validity.
- Link to the Dynamic Purchasing System in the electric power sector in France tender.
4. Demand Management and Renewables
Country: UK
- Tender details: Aims to optimize energy consumption and the integration of renewable energy sources within public sector buildings and facilities. The tender will provide a route to market to support the UK public sector’s decarbonization strategies across the public sector estate.
- Link to the UK electric power sector tender.
5. Delivery of renewable electricity and carbon-offset gas
Country: Netherlands
- About the tender: Supply contract for sustainable electricity and compensated gas for Windesheim's locations in Zwolle, starting after the current agreement ends on 31 December 2025. The contract covers two electricity and two gas connections, with an estimated annual volume of 4,795 MWh and 470,000 m³ respectively, and aims to ensure clear consumption tracking and contractual flexibility.
- Link to tender.
While the shift towards renewable energy is essential for combating climate change, it also brings challenges like maintaining grid stability, upgrading infrastructure, and improving energy storage.
Europe's experience, particularly the recent Iberian blackout, highlights the need for detailed planning, investment, and policy support to ensure a reliable and sustainable energy future.