As we step into 2026, the energy sector stands at a critical inflection point. Technologies, markets, policies, and people are aligning in ways that are reshaping the very architecture of global electricity systems.
The limitations of supply-side thinking have become apparent to everyone, from regulators aiming to manage the changing landscape to consumers who are increasingly concerned about the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Yet, within this pressure lies opportunity. What’s emerging now is a system where demand is no longer passive. It’s dynamic, digital, and distributed. Flexibility is no longer a buzzword but a necessity. Assets behind the meter are becoming as central to the grid as centralised power stations.
This year’s Global Energy Trends report shows a sector in rapid transition. Demand growth is accelerating beyond expectations, driven by data centres, electrification, and the rise of digital-first industries. Meanwhile, consumers are adopting technologies that turn them into active participants in the energy ecosystem.
In this webinar we explore:
- -How adaptation must now be integrated as deeply as mitigation
- -The rising role of resilient grids, dynamic pricing, and climate-proofed assets
- -How renewables are expanding, but unevenly, across regions based on policy and market structure
- -How new patterns of decentralised demand are reshaping system design
- -Why flexible, data-driven technologies will define the next generation of electricity systems.
Tune in for this fascinating discussion brought to you by Grid Beyond, recorded on February 2, 2026.
Click here to download the GridBeyond Energy Trends 2026 Whitepaper.
Chair: Giles Parkinson Panelists: Chris O’Brien & Tim Buckley
