délectricité

Délectricité is a term used in energy studies to describe the deliberate reduction of electrification within a system, or to indicate processes aimed at substituting electricity with non-electrical energy carriers. It denotes both demand-side reductions and technology choices that favor non-electric solutions. It is not a standard term in mainstream policy but appears in futurist, critical, or regional planning discussions.

Derived from dé- and électrique, the term is mainly used in French-language discourse and occasionally in English-language writings as a speculative concept.

In practice, délectricité encompasses strategies such as energy-efficiency measures that reduce electricity intensity, substitution with alternative carriers (natural gas, hydrogen, biofuels), or direct combustion in heating and transportation, and the redesign of industrial processes to operate with lower electrical loads. Some scenarios consider deliberate de-electrification of certain sectors or phases of development, paired with local generation or non-electric grids. It is often presented as a counterpoint to aggressive electrification in decarbonization models.

Implications include potential gains in resilience through energy carrier diversification and exposure reduction to grid constraints, but also risks of higher emissions if non-electrical fuels rely on carbon-intensive sources, as well as economic and technological trade-offs.

See also: Electrification; Decarbonization; Energy transition; Energy diversification.

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