deelectrification

Deelectrification is the reduction or reversal of electric power use in a system or sector. It covers replacing electric energy with non-electric energy carriers or decommissioning electrified infrastructure. The term appears in energy policy and infrastructure planning to describe shifts away from electricity as a primary energy vector, whether temporary or long-term.

Contexts include transportation, heating, and industry. In transport, electrified railways or electric buses may be switched to diesel or other non-electrified propulsion. In buildings, electric heating or heat pumps can be replaced by natural gas, oil, or district heating with fossil-fuel plants. In industry, electrified furnaces or processes may be substituted with fossil-fuel technologies. Deelectrification can also occur on a grid level when parts of a network are retired or left undeveloped due to cost or reliability concerns.

Motivations vary. Policymakers may seek lower upfront costs, reduced maintenance, or improved energy security. Price trends, fuel availability, and local resources can favor non-electric options in the short term. However, deelectrification has emissions implications, depending on the carbon intensity of alternatives and of the electricity supply, and may affect long-term decarbonization goals.

Planning must consider lifecycle costs, stranded assets, and opportunities to repurpose infrastructure. Re-electrification or alternative electrification strategies may follow if technology costs fall or power systems decarbonize, showing that deelectrification can be temporary or transitional rather than a fixed outcome.

Examples range from historical phasing out of electrified rail lines to regional shifts in heating or industrial energy use. In climate policy, deelectrification is discussed as a counterpoint to electrification, underscoring the need for integrated planning that weighs costs, reliability, and emissions across sectors.