The Long and Winding Road of Energy Development

International Energy Outlook - 2011

   

   As the world progresses in the next century, the total energy consumption is projected to increase substantially. We will utilize more energy than we do today, and much of this increase will be in developing countries, almost doubling in non-OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.) This means that it is very likely that these countries will follow a similar path to that which was taken by most currently developed countries during their own development, a raging torrent of energy consumption which will most likely rest upon the foundation of unclean energy sources, such as coal or fossil fuels. While many developed countries may begin to transition to cleaner burning energy sources, the developing world is still very likely to utilize unsustainable sources for their energy needs in the near future. Why is this almost bound to happen? Because it is cheaper to do so. Thus, if we are to avoid the catastrophic effects that will be caused by an almost two-fold increase in energy consumption in developing countries drawing on unclean sources, we have no choice but to lead the charge toward creating cheap, sustainable energy sources that can be utilized in the developing world in the face of these drastic increases in energy use. Unless it is the cheaper option, it will not be used. So the task now comes in front of us to develop practical sources of sustainable energy in order to avoid the storm of climate change consequences travelling at full speed in our direction.