2 | Energy trends
World final energy consumption is projected to grow by an annual average of
2,0 % until 2010 and an annual average of 1,7 % from 2010 to 2030.
1
The projection
for Europe shows a split picture. While western Europe’s energy demand is
expected to grow slower, Eastern Europe and the CIS-States show a faster increase
as result of stronger growth (see Table 2).
Governments and environmental institutions alike have stressed the importance
of an increased share of renewable energy sources in the global energy mix. This
is the result of two major streams of argument:
Non-renewable energy resources are limited. Increasing demand raises their price
level and makes countries that rely heavily on imports more vulnerable to political
pressure.
3
The employment of non-renewable energy sources pollutes the environment.
Apart from other emissions, they lead to an increase of the CO
2
-concentration in
the atmosphere.
Both effects are undesirable and make the search for replacements more
important than ever. In comparison to other renewable energy sources ambient
energy from air, ground and water – used by heat pump technology – is
particularly suitable for this task. It does not pollute, it is locally available (reducing
transport needs for oil and an expansive distribution grid for gas) and it needs
only electricity or gas to function. When used with green electricity or biogas, a
CO
2
-free energy solution is available.
Even though these are convincing arguments for an increased share of renewable
energy sources and most stakeholders agree to and support these facts, the reality
looks quiet different. In 2001 world energy demand was covered by traditional
energy sources: oil (35,1 %), coal (22,6 %), natural gas (21,7 %), nuclear energy
(6,9 %), traditional biomass (9,3 %), hydro (2,3 %) and modern biomass (1,4 %).
Renewable sources among them aerothermal, hydrothermal and geothermal
energy sources had a share of only 0,8 % (or 9 EJ).
4
The European perspective looks slightly better. For EU-27 in 2005 the share of final
energy used for heating and cooling is estimated at 49 % of the total final energy
provided. The share of renewable energies in total final energy consumption is
close to 9 %
5
. Figure 4 provides an overview on the share of renewables in gross
final energy consumption in six (out of 9) scenarios used to estimate the impact
of the EU energy and climate package. It clearly shows, that no action is no
alternative for reaching the 20 % share of renewables in total final energy
consumption by 2020. Interestingly, nearly any other combination of activities
makes the 20 % target achievable, but falls short of the currently discussed 30 %
in 2030 target.
6
7
Energy trends
Table 2: Final energy
consumption (Mtoe).
2
1 European Commission (2003: 45).
The fact that energy demand will
increase is supported by other
world energy studies by the IEA
and the US-DOE.
2 European Commission (2003):
World energy, technology and
climate policy outlook 2030
(WETO). Luxembourg
3 Europe imports 50 % of its final
energy demand. This number
is expected to increase to 70 %
in 2030.
4 UNDP (2004): World energy
assessment overview – 2004
update. New York
5 BMU (2008): Erneuerbare
Energien in Zahlen: Nationale
und internationale Entwicklung.
Internet update. Berlin 2008.
Download at www.erneuerbare-
energien.de/inhalt/2720/4590/
6 Capros et al. (2008): Model based
analysis of the 2008 EU policy
package on climate change and
renewables.
2000 2010e 2020e 2030e 2000–2010e 2010–2030e
in percent/year in percent/year
World 7120 8682 10425 12132 2,0% 1,7%
Western Europe 1164 1257 1354 1409 0,8 % 0,6 %
Eastern Europe 809 829 1123 1280 1,4% 1,6%