
Electricity is becoming the foundation of the global economy. The global electrification ambition is to increase the share of final energy demand met by electricity from just over 20% today to 35% by 2035, signaling a fundamental shift in how economies are powered. As electrification accelerates across industry, transport, buildings and digital infrastructure - and AI and data centres drive new demand - power and water systems are moving to the centre of energy security, industrial competitiveness and sustainable growth. The defining question for governments and utilities is no longer only how to decarbonise, but how to deliver secure, affordable and reliable power and water at unprecedented speed and scale. Meeting that challenge will draw on every available resource: renewables and storage, modern and expanded grids, and firm, dispatchable generation from gas and nuclear. In an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape, governments and industry are prioritising diversification, resilience and technology-neutral pathways that keep systems both competitive and clean.
Delivering electrification at scale will require rapid infrastructure expansion and modernisation. Grid constraints, from transformer and cable lead times to interconnection backlogs and concentrated supply chains, are already limiting delivery. Expanding networks, scaling storage and flexibility, securing critical equipment and integrating distributed and firm generation will require sustained investment, stronger interconnections and modern regulation.
As investment reaches record levels, affordability and social licence are becoming equally critical. Rising costs and major capital programmes make fair cost allocation between large new loads, such as data centres, and existing customers increasingly important. Fair tariffs, transparency and fit-for-purpose utility models will be essential to maintaining public and customer support.
Water security is equally strategic, particularly in arid and water-stressed regions. The Gulf produces around 40% of the world’s desalinated water, making integrated energy-water planning, investment and regional collaboration critical to long-term resilience.
The World Utilities Congress 2027 Strategic Conference brings together governments, utilities, investors and technology leaders to address these interconnected priorities. Through cross-sector collaboration and clear delivery pathways, the conference aligns policy, capital and capability to accelerate secure, competitive, affordable and resilient power and water systems.