World energy supply and consumption refers to the global supply of energy resources and its consumption. The system of global energy supply consists of the energy development, refinement, and trade of energy. Energy supplies may exist in various forms such as raw resources or more processed and refined forms of energy. The raw energy resources include for example coal, unprocessed oil & gas, uranium. In comparison, the refined forms of energy include for example refined oil that becomes fuel and electricity. Energy resources may be used in various different ways, depending on the specific resource (e.g. coal), and intended end use (industrial, residential, etc.). Energy production and consumption play a significant role in the global economy. It is needed in industry and global transportation. The total energy supply chain, from production to final consumption, involves many activities that cause a loss of useful energy. [3]
As of 2022, energy consumption is still about 80% from fossil fuels. [4] The Gulf States and Russia are major energy exporters. Their customers include for example the European Union and China, who are not producing enough energy in their own countries to satisfy their energy demand. Total energy consumption tends to increase by about 1–2% per year. [5] More recently, renewable energy has been growing rapidly, averaging about 20% increase per year in the 2010s. [6] [7]
In 2022, consumers worldwide spent nearly USD 10 trillion on energy, averaging more than USD 1,200 per person. This reflects a 20% increase over the previous five-year average, highlighting the significant economic impact and the increasing financial burden of energy consumption on a global scale. [8] : 13
Two key problems with energy production and consumption are greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution. Of about 50 billion tonnes worldwide annual total greenhouse gas emissions, [9] 36 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide was a result of energy use (almost all from fossil fuels) in 2021. [10] Many scenarios have been envisioned to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, usually by the name of net zero emissions.
Per capita, energy consumption in North America is very high, while in less developed countries it is low and usually more renewable. [11] [12] There is a clear connection between energy consumption per capita, and GDP per capita. [13]
A significant lack of energy supplies is called an energy crisis.
World total primary energy consumption by type in 2020 [14]
Primary Energy refers to first form of energy encountered, as raw resources collected directly from energy production, before any conversion or transformation of the energy occurs.
Energy production is usually classified as:
Primary energy assessment by IEA follows certain rules [note 1] to ease measurement of different kinds of energy. These rules are controversial. Water and air flow energy that drives hydro and wind turbines, and sunlight that powers solar panels, are not taken as PE, which is set at the electric energy produced. But fossil and nuclear energy are set at the reaction heat, which is about three times the electric energy. This measurement difference can lead to underestimating the economic contribution of renewable energy. [16]
Enerdata displays data for "Total energy / production: Coal, Oil, Gas, Biomass, Heat and Electricity" and for "Renewables / % in electricity production: Renewables, non-renewables". [4]
The table lists worldwide PE and the countries producing most (76%) of that in 2021, using Enerdata. The amounts are rounded and given in million tonnes of oil equivalent per year (1 Mtoe = 11.63 TWh (41.9 petajoules), where 1 TWh = 109 kWh) and % of Total. Renewable is Biomass plus Heat plus renewable percentage of Electricity production (hydro, wind, solar). Nuclear is nonrenewable percentage of Electricity production. The above-mentioned underestimation of hydro, wind and solar energy, compared to nuclear and fossil energy, applies also to Enerdata.
The 2021 world total energy production of 14,800 MToe corresponds to a little over 172 PWh / year, or about 19.6 TW of power generation.
Total (MToe) | Coal | Oil & Gas | Renewable | Nuclear | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
China | 2,950 | 71% | 13% | 10% | 6% |
United States | 2,210 | 13% | 69% | 8% | 10% |
Russia | 1,516 | 16% | 78% | 2% | 4% |
Saudi Arabia | 610 | 0 | 100% | 0 | 0 |
Iran | 354 | 0 | 99% | 0 | 1% |
United Arab Emirates | 218 | 0 | 99% | 0 | 1% |
India | 615 | 50% | 11% | 33% | 6% |
Canada | 536 | 5% | 81% | 10% | 4% |
Indonesia | 451 | 69% | 17% | 14% | 0 |
Australia | 423 | 64% | 33% | 3% | 0 |
Brazil | 325 | 1% | 55% | 42% | 2% |
Nigeria | 249 | 0 | 47% | 53% | 0 |
Algeria | 150 | 0 | 100% | 0 | 0 |
South Africa | 151 | 91% | 1% | 8% | 0 |
Norway | 214 | 0 | 93% | 7% | 0 |
France | 128 | 0 | 1% | 34% | 65% |
Germany | 102 | 27% | 3% | 47% | 23% |
World | 14800 | 27% | 53% | 13% | 7% |
2021 world electricity generation by source. Total generation was 28 petawatt-hours. [17]
Nation | Export minus Import in 2021 (MToe) [18] |
---|---|
Russia | 682 |
Saudi Arabia | 388 |
Australia | 296 |
Canada | 245 |
Indonesia | 226 |
Norway | 185 |
Italy | -114 |
Turkey | -118 |
Germany | -187 |
South Korea | -239 |
India | -323 |
Japan | -357 |
China | -803 |
Energy resources must be processed in order to make it suitable for final consumption. For example, there may be various impurities in raw coal mined or raw natural gas that was produced from an oil well that may make it unsuitable to be burned in a power plant.
Primary energy is converted in many ways to energy carriers, also known as secondary energy: [19]
Electricity generators are driven by steam or gas turbines in a thermal plant, or water turbines in a hydropower station, or wind turbines, usually in a wind farm. The invention of the solar cell in 1954 started electricity generation by solar panels, connected to a power inverter. Mass production of panels around the year 2000 made this economic.
Much primary and converted energy is traded among countries. The table lists countries with large difference of export and import in 2021, expressed in Mtoe. A negative value indicates that much energy import is needed for the economy. [18] Russian gas exports were reduced a lot in 2022, [20] as pipelines to Asia plus LNG export capacity is much less than the gas no longer sent to Europe. [21]
Transport of energy carriers is done by tanker ship, tank truck, LNG carrier, rail freight transport, pipeline and by electric power transmission.
TES | PE | |
---|---|---|
China | 3,650 | 2,950 |
India | 927 | 615 |
Russia | 811 | 1,516 |
Japan | 400 | 52 |
South Korea | 298 | 151 |
Canada | 289 | 536 |
Germany | 286 | 102 |
Saudi Arabia | 219 | 610 |
Year | TES |
---|---|
1990 | 8,700 |
2000 | 9,900 |
2010 | 12,600 |
2019 | 14,400 |
2020 | 13,800 |
2021 | 14,500 |
Total energy supply (TES) indicates the sum of production and imports subtracting exports and storage changes. [22] For the whole world TES nearly equals primary energy PE because imports and exports cancel out, but for countries TES and PE differ in quantity, and also in quality as secondary energy is involved, e.g., import of an oil refinery product. TES is all energy required to supply energy for end users.
The tables list TES and PE for some countries where these differ much, both in 2021 and TES history. Most growth of TES since 1990 occurred in Asia. The amounts are rounded and given in Mtoe. Enerdata labels TES as Total energy consumption. [23]
25% of worldwide primary production is used for conversion and transport, and 6% for non-energy products like lubricants, asphalt and petrochemicals. [24] In 2019 TES was 606 EJ and final consumption was 418 EJ, 69% of TES. [25] Most of the energy lost by conversion occurs in thermal electricity plants and the energy industry own use.
There are different qualities of energy. Heat, especially at a relatively low temperature, is low-quality energy, whereas electricity is high-quality energy. It takes around 3 kWh of heat to produce 1 kWh of electricity. But by the same token, a kilowatt-hour of this high-quality electricity can be used to pump several kilowatt-hours of heat into a building using a heat pump. Electricity can be used in many ways in which heat cannot. So the loss of energy incurred in thermal electricity plants is not comparable to a loss due to, say, resistance in power lines, because of quality differences.
In fact, the loss in thermal plants is due to poor conversion of chemical energy of fuel to electricity by combustion. Chemical energy of fuel is not inherently low-quality; for example, conversion to electricity in fuel cells can theoretically approach 100%. So energy loss in thermal plants is real loss.
Total final consumption (TFC) is the worldwide consumption of energy by end-users (whereas primary energy consumption (Eurostat) [27] or total energy supply (IEA) is total energy demand and thus also includes what the energy sector uses itself and transformation and distribution losses). This energy consists of fuel (78%) and electricity (22%). The tables list amounts, expressed in million tonnes of oil equivalent per year (1 Mtoe = 11.63 TWh) and how much of these is renewable energy. Non-energy products are not considered here. The data are of 2018. [24] [28] The world's renewable share of TFC was 18% in 2018: 7% traditional biomass, 3.6% hydropower and 7.4% other renewables. [29]
In the period 2005–2017 worldwide final consumption of coal increased by 23%, of oil and gas increased by 18%, and that of electricity increased by 41%. [24]
Fuel comes in three types: Fossil fuel is natural gas, fuel derived from petroleum (LPG, gasoline, kerosene, gas/diesel, fuel oil), or from coal (anthracite, bituminous coal, coke, blast furnace gas). Secondly, there is renewable fuel (biofuel and fuel derived from waste). And lastly, the fuel used for district heating.
The amounts of fuel in the tables are based on lower heating value.
The first table lists final consumption in the countries/regions which use most (85%), and per person as of 2018. In developing countries fuel consumption per person is low and more renewable. Canada, Venezuela and Brazil generate most electricity with hydropower.
Fuel Mtoe | of which renewable | Electricity Mtoe | of which renewable | TFC pp toe | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
China | 1,436 | 6% | 555 | 30% | 1.4 |
United States | 1,106 | 8% | 339 | 19% | 4.4 |
Europe | 982 | 11% | 309 | 39% | 2.5 |
Africa | 531 | 58% | 57 | 23% | 0.5 |
India | 487 | 32% | 104 | 25% | 0.4 |
Russia | 369 | 1% | 65 | 26% | 3.0 |
Japan | 201 | 3% | 81 | 19% | 2.2 |
Brazil | 166 | 38% | 45 | 78% | 1.0 |
Indonesia | 126 | 21% | 22 | 14% | 0.6 |
Canada | 139 | 8% | 45 | 83% | 5.0 |
Iran | 147 | 0% | 22 | 6% | 2.1 |
Mexico | 95 | 7% | 25 | 18% | 1.0 |
South Korea | 85 | 5% | 46 | 5% | 2.6 |
Australia | 60 | 7% | 18 | 21% | 3.2 |
Argentina | 42 | 7% | 11 | 27% | 1.2 |
Venezuela | 20 | 3% | 6 | 88% | 0.9 |
World | 7050 | 14% | 1970 | 30% | 1.2 |
The next table shows countries consuming most (85%) in Europe.
Country | Fuel Mtoe | of which renewable | Electricity Mtoe | of which renewable |
---|---|---|---|---|
Germany | 156 | 10% | 45 | 46% |
France | 100 | 12% | 38 | 21% |
United Kingdom | 95 | 5% | 26 | 40% |
Italy | 87 | 9% | 25 | 39% |
Spain | 60 | 10% | 21 | 43% |
Poland | 58 | 12% | 12 | 16% |
Ukraine | 38 | 5% | 10 | 12% |
Netherlands | 36 | 4% | 9 | 16% |
Belgium | 26 | 8% | 7 | 23% |
Sweden | 20 | 35% | 11 | 72% |
Austria | 20 | 19% | 5 | 86% |
Romania | 19 | 20% | 4 | 57% |
Finland | 18 | 34% | 7 | 39% |
Portugal | 11 | 20% | 4 | 67% |
Denmark | 11 | 15% | 3 | 71% |
Norway | 8 | 16% | 10 | 100% |
Some fuel and electricity is used to construct, maintain and demolish/recycle installations that produce fuel and electricity, such as oil platforms, uranium isotope separators and wind turbines. For these producers to be economical the ratio of energy returned on energy invested (EROEI) or energy return on investment (EROI) should be large enough.
If the final energy delivered for consumption is E and the EROI equals R, then the net energy available is E-E/R. The percentage available energy is 100-100/R. For R>10 more than 90% is available but for R=2 only 50% and for R=1 none. This steep decline is known as the net energy cliff. [30]
Many countries publish statistics on the energy supply and consumption of either their own country, of other countries of interest, or of all countries combined in one chart. One of the largest organizations in this field, the International Energy Agency (IEA), sells yearly comprehensive energy data which makes this data paywalled and difficult to access for internet users. [24] The organization Enerdata on the other hand publishes a free Yearbook, making the data more accessible. [4] Another trustworthy organization that provides accurate energy data, mainly referring to the USA, is the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
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Climate change mitigation |
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant decline in energy usage worldwide in 2020, but total energy demand worldwide had recovered by 2021, and has hit a record high in 2022. [31]
In World Energy Outlook 2023 the IEA notes that "We are on track to see all fossil fuels peak before 2030". [32] : 18 The IEA presents three scenarios: [32] : 17
The IEA's "Electricity 2024" report details a 2.2% growth in global electricity demand for 2023, forecasting an annual increase of 3.4% through 2026, with notable contributions from emerging economies like China and India, despite a slump in advanced economies due to economic and inflationary pressures. The report underscores the significant impact of data centers, AI, and cryptocurrency, projecting a potential doubling of electricity consumption to 1,000 TWh by 2026, which is on par with Japan's current usage. Notably, 85% of the additional demand is expected to originate from China and India, with India's demand alone predicted to grow over 6% annually until 2026, driven by economic expansion and increasing air conditioning use. Southeast Asia's electricity demand is also forecasted to climb by 5% annually through 2026. In stark contrast, Africa's per capita electricity consumption has stalled, with no expected significant growth until the end of 2026. In the United States, a decrease was seen in 2023, but a moderate rise is anticipated in the coming years, largely fueled by data centers. The European Union experienced a significant drop in consumption in 2023 to a two-decade low, with only a gradual recovery expected. The report also anticipates that a surge in electricity generation from low-emissions sources will meet the global demand growth over the next three years, with renewable energy sources predicted to surpass coal by early 2025. [33] [34]
The goal set in the Paris Agreement to limit climate change will be difficult to achieve. [35] Various scenarios for achieving the Paris Climate Agreement Goals have been developed, using IEA data but proposing transition to nearly 100% renewables by mid-century, along with steps such as reforestation. Nuclear power and carbon capture are excluded in these scenarios. [36] The researchers say the costs will be far less than the $5 trillion per year governments currently spend subsidizing the fossil fuel industries responsible for climate change. [36] : ix
In the +2.0 C (global warming) Scenario total primary energy demand in 2040 can be 450 EJ = 10,755 Mtoe, or 400 EJ = 9560 Mtoe in the +1.5 Scenario, well below the current production. Renewable sources can increase their share to 300 EJ in the +2.0 C Scenario or 330 EJ in the +1.5 Scenario in 2040. In 2050 renewables can cover nearly all energy demand. Non-energy consumption will still include fossil fuels. [36] : xxvii Fig. 5
Global electricity generation from renewable energy sources will reach 88% by 2040 and 100% by 2050 in the alternative scenarios. "New" renewables—mainly wind, solar and geothermal energy—will contribute 83% of the total electricity generated. [36] : xxiv The average annual investment required between 2015 and 2050, including costs for additional power plants to produce hydrogen and synthetic fuels and for plant replacement, will be around $1.4 trillion. [36] : 182
Shifts from domestic aviation to rail and from road to rail are needed. Passenger car use must decrease in the OECD countries (but increase in developing world regions) after 2020. The passenger car use decline will be partly compensated by strong increase in public transport rail and bus systems. [36] : xxii Fig.4
CO2 emission can reduce from 32 Gt in 2015 to 7 Gt (+2.0 Scenario) or 2.7 Gt (+1.5 Scenario) in 2040, and to zero in 2050. [36] : xxviii
Energy in the United Kingdom came mostly from fossil fuels in 2021. Total energy consumption in the United Kingdom was 142.0 million tonnes of oil equivalent in 2019. In 2014, the UK had an energy consumption per capita of 2.78 tonnes of oil equivalent compared to a world average of 1.92 tonnes of oil equivalent. Demand for electricity in 2023 was 29.6 GW on average, supplied through 235 TWh of UK-based generation and 24 TWh of energy imports.
Energy in Thailand refers to the production, storage, import and export, and use of energy in the Southeast Asian nation of Thailand. Thailand's energy resources are modest and being depleted. The nation imports most of its oil and significant quantities of natural gas and coal. Its energy consumption has grown at an average rate of 3.3% from 2007 to 2017. Energy from renewables has only recently begun to contribute significant energy.
Electric energy consumption is energy consumption in the form of electrical energy. About a fifth of global energy is consumed as electricity: for residential, industrial, commercial, transportation and other purposes. Quickly increasing this share by further electrification is extremely important to limit climate change, because most other energy is consumed by burning fossil fuels thus emitting greenhouse gases which trap heat.
The energy policy of India is to increase the locally produced energy in India and reduce energy poverty, with more focus on developing alternative sources of energy, particularly nuclear, solar and wind energy. Net energy import dependency was 40.9% in 2021-22.
The energy policy of Australia is subject to the regulatory and fiscal influence of all three levels of government in Australia, although only the State and Federal levels determine policy for primary industries such as coal. Federal policies for energy in Australia continue to support the coal mining and natural gas industries through subsidies for fossil fuel use and production. Australia is the 10th most coal-dependent country in the world. Coal and natural gas, along with oil-based products, are currently the primary sources of Australian energy usage and the coal industry produces over 30% of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions. In 2018 Australia was the 8th highest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita in the world.
Renewable energy in Finland increased from 34% of the total final energy consumption (TFEC) in 2011 to 48% by the end of 2021, primarily driven by bioenergy (38%), hydroelectric power (6.1%), and wind energy (3.3%). In 2021, renewables covered 53% of heating and cooling, 39% of electricity generation, and 20% of the transport sector. By 2020, this growth positioned Finland as having the third highest share of renewables in TFEC among International Energy Agency (IEA) member countries.
Since 2013, total primary energy consumption in India has been the third highest in the world after China and United States. India is the second-top coal consumer in the year 2017 after China. India ranks third in oil consumption with 22.1 crore tons in 2017 after United States and China. India is net energy importer to meet nearly 47% of its total primary energy in 2019.
Energy in Mexico describes energy, fuel, and electricity production, consumption and import in Mexico.
Despite abundant natural resources and a relatively small population, New Zealand is a net importer of energy, in the form of petroleum products. The ratio of non-renewable and renewable energy sources was fairly consistent from 1975 to 2008, with about 70 per cent of primary energy supply coming from hydrocarbon fuels. This ratio decreased to about 60 per cent in 2018. The proportion of non-renewable energy varies annually, depending on water flows into hydro-electricity lakes and demand for energy. In 2018, approximately 60% of primary energy was from non-renewable hydrocarbon fuels and 40% was from renewable sources. In 2007 energy consumption per capita was 120 gigajoules. Per capita energy consumption had increased 8 per cent since 1998. New Zealand uses more energy per capita than 17 of 30 OECD countries. New Zealand is one of 13 OECD countries that does not operate nuclear power stations.
Energy in Finland describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Finland. Energy policy of Finland describes the politics of Finland related to energy. Electricity sector in Finland is the main article regarding electricity in Finland.
The energy mix is a group of different primary energy sources from which secondary energy for direct use - such as electricity - is produced. Energy mix refers to all direct uses of energy, such as transportation and housing, and should not be confused with power generation mix, which refers only to generation of electricity, as electricity only accounts for 20 % of the world's final energy consumption.
Energy in Italy comes mostly from fossil fuels. Among the most used resources are petroleum, natural gas, coal and renewables. Italy has few energy resources, and most supplies are imported.
Energy in Australia is the production in Australia of energy and electricity, for consumption or export. Energy policy of Australia describes the politics of Australia as it relates to energy.
In 2019, the total energy production in Indonesia is 450.79 million tonnes of oil equivalent, with a total primary energy supply of 231.14 million tonnes of oil equivalent and electricity final consumption of 263.32 terawatt-hours. From 2000 to 2021, Indonesia's total energy supply increased by nearly 60%.
Energy in Algeria encompasses the production, consumption, and import of energy. As of 2009, the primary energy use in Algeria was 462 TWh, with a per capita consumption of 13 TWh. Algeria is a significant producer and exporter of oil and gas and has been a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) since 1969. It also participates in the OPEC+ agreement, collaborating with non-OPEC oil-producing nations. Historically, the country has relied heavily on fossil fuels, which are heavily subsidized and constitute the majority of its energy consumption. In response to global energy trends, Algeria updated its Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Development Plan in 2015, aiming for significant advancements by 2030. This plan promotes the deployment of large-scale renewable technologies, such as solar photovoltaic systems and onshore wind installations, supported by various incentive measures.
Energy consumption per person in Turkey is similar to the world average, and over 85 per cent is from fossil fuels. From 1990 to 2017 annual primary energy supply tripled, but then remained constant to 2019. In 2019, Turkey's primary energy supply included around 30 per cent oil, 30 per cent coal, and 25 per cent gas. These fossil fuels contribute to Turkey's air pollution and its above average greenhouse gas emissions. Turkey mines its own lignite but imports three-quarters of its energy, including half the coal and almost all the oil and gas it requires, and its energy policy prioritises reducing imports.
Total primary energy supply (TPES) in Slovenia was 6.80 Mtoe in 2019. In the same year, electricity production was 16.1 TWh, consumption was 14.9 TWh.
An energy transition is a major structural change to energy supply and consumption in an energy system. Currently, a transition to sustainable energy is underway to limit climate change. As much sustainable energy is renewable it is also known as the renewable energy transition. The current transition aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy quickly and sustainably, mostly by phasing-down fossil fuels and changing as many processes as possible to operate on low carbon electricity. A previous energy transition perhaps took place during the Industrial Revolution from 1760 onwards, from wood and other biomass to coal, followed by oil and later natural gas.
Uzbekistan had a total primary energy supply (TPES) of 48.28 Mtoe in 2012. Electricity consumption was 47.80 TWh. The majority of primary energy came from fossil fuels, with natural gas, coal and oil the main sources. Hydroelectricity, the only significant renewable source in the country, accounted for about 2% of the primary energy supply. Natural gas is the source for 73.8% of electricity production, followed by hydroelectricity with 21.4%.
Denmark is a leading country in renewable energy production and usage. Renewable energy sources collectively produced 81% of Denmark's electricity generation in 2022, and are expected to provide 100% of national electric power production from 2030. Including energy use in the heating/cooling and transport sectors, Denmark is expected to reach 100% renewable energy in 2050, up from the 34% recorded in 2021.
Global energy consumption continues to grow, but it does seem to be slowing – averaging around 1% to 2% per year.