35% electrification target by 2035 creates opportunities for Portuguese-speaking countries

The COP31 Presidency has announced a new global target to increase electricity’s share of final energy demand from 20% to 35% by 2035, placing electrification at the centre of the global energy transition. The initiative aims to accelerate the use of electricity across the buildings, transport and industrial sectors, contributing to the deeper integration of renewable energy into the economy.

The challenge now is to go beyond expanding access to electricity. In many countries, the priority is no longer simply to connect more consumers to the grid, but also to promote new uses of electricity that support green industrialisation, electric mobility, digitalisation, data centers and access to electric cooking appliances for clean cooking. Electrification is therefore becoming a key tool for increasing productivity, creating jobs, and generating greater local value added.

Electrification was also a key topic during the workshop organised by ALER and LACLIMA at SB64 in Bonn, where IRENA presented the report “Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels: A Roadmap Based on Renewables, Electrification and Grid Enhancement”. The target now announced by the COP31 Presidency is aligned with this roadmap, which identifies electrification, renewable energy and grid enhancement as fundamental pillars of the energy transition.

For Portuguese-speaking countries, this target is particularly significant due to the high share of renewable energy in their electricity mix, enabling electrification to promote energy independence and security while supporting decarbonisation. The latest data show that several of these markets already have renewable energy accounting for more than 50% of their installed electricity generation capacity, including Cape Verde (94%), Brazil (85%), Portugal (80%), Mozambique (78%), and Angola (65%). With continued investment in renewable energy and electricity infrastructure, this share is expected to increase further.

By recognising that different countries will follow different pathways, the 35% target by 2035 sends an important signal to governments, investors and development partners, encouraging policies and investments that accelerate electrification and strengthen the role of renewable energy in the energy transition.