The Age of Electricity has arrived. What the IEA’s Outlook means for corporate communication

The Age of Electricity is no longer a future scenario, it’s a reality. For energy companies, that makes this shift a communication turning point, not just a technology change.

The recently published IEA World Energy Outlook sends a clear signal. The global energy supply is shifting fast and decisively toward electricity. Data centre investment now exceeds global oil investment, and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol states that the Age of Electricity has already arrived.

The expectations placed on the renewables sector are expanding, and the old narratives no longer cover the full picture. Based on the Outlook, there are three areas where companies need stronger communication.

1. Security and reliability must be part of the story

Electricity now powers more than 40% of the global economy. Renewable energy is central to that growth, supplying around one third of that electricity. But in a period marked by geopolitical tension, the corporate narrative around this energy transition cannot rely on climate benefits alone.

Governments, investors and the public are looking for reassurance that energy systems can withstand shocks and support long term stability.

This raises the bar for communication. Stakeholders want to understand how companies are strengthening energy security, resilience and dependable supply in a world where disruption carries real social and economic consequences.

Focusing on the climate befits alone, or getting us closer to the 1.5 degrees target, will fall flat because in any IEA scenario, we will exceed that threshold within a decade or less. Communication that blends climate action with clear links to future resilience will feel more in tune with the current energy discussions and build trust.

Communication that blends climate action with clear links to future resilience will feel more in tune with the current energy discussions and build trust.

Ørsted is a good example of a company doing this well. It frames the energy transition not only as a climate imperative, but as the delivery of electricity infrastructure that must be reliable at scale. Its messaging is factual and system-led, linking renewables to resilience and secure supply rather than relying on climate benefits alone.

2. The grid is the real bottleneck and the narrative must catch up

The IEA draws attention to a growing imbalance. Investment in renewable generation has risen by almost 70% since 2015. Grid investment has grown at less than half that pace. This mismatch is already shaping the transition narrative.

At the recent Zero Conference in Oslo, Bloomberg’s Colin McKerracher stated that the grid has become the biggest constraint on electric mobility, rather than the charging infrastructure. This highlights that the long-told media narrative around infrastructure challenges lags reality. It also highlights that if you don’t tell your story, someone else will.

Energy companies can lead. They can explain why grids matter, why system planning is essential and how resilience will be built. And they can do it before the public conversation is shaped by disruptions. When grid reliability is compromised, the impacts are immediate and visible: price volatility, delays, and outages. Clear communication can shift the conversation from isolated projects to a narrative about the entire energy system that enables them.

3. AI and data are redefining electricity demand

The IEA shows that electricity use in advanced economies is rising fast because of the electricity needs of the increased use of data and AI. This marks a turning point. Clean electricity is not only an environmental priority. It is the backbone of digital growth.

Clean electricity is not only an environmental priority. It is the backbone of digital growth.

For energy companies this opens a new narrative. They can position themselves as essential partners to the industries shaping the modern economy. Messages that emphasise scalable, future ready supply will resonate strongly with investors, policymakers and technology clients.

Communication for the Age of Electricity

The energy landscape is changing and the way companies tell their story must change with it. The companies that earn trust will be those that address resilience, grid readiness and digital demand with clarity and confidence.

This shift also raises the bar for corporate and public affairs. In a more electrified economy, reliability becomes political, and disruption becomes reputational. This means strengthening crisis communications as well as long-term narratives. Being transparent about risk, prepared to communicate during outages or system stress, and clear about what’s being done to prevent recurrence.

Those who rely on climate messages alone will fail the expectations of regulators, investors and the public.

At Leidar we help energy companies shape narratives that reflect the current realities. Communication that is honest, forward looking and grounded in evidence is essential. The Age of Electricity belongs to companies that understand this shift and speak to it with ambition and authority.