Post Carbon Toronto

Global Energy Use

Our industrial civilization, especially our transportation systems, is critically dependent on cheap, abundant fossil fuels.

World Energy Use

According to the US Energy Information Agency (EIA), in 2003 the world used the equivalent of 421 quadrillion BTUs of energy of which oil supplied nearly 40%, while natural gas and coal account for approximately 24% each. Nuclear provided only 6% and renewables only 9%.

Growing World Energy Demand

The EIA International Energy Outlook 2006 (IEO2006) projects strong growth for worldwide energy demand over the 27-year projection period from 2003 to 2030. Despite higher world oil prices world economic growth is expected to increase at an average annual rate of 3.8 percent over the projection period, driving a robust increase in world energy use. Total world consumption of marketed energy is expected to expand from 421 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2003 to 563 quadrillion Btu in 2015 and then to 722 quadrillion Btu in 2030, or a 71-percent increase over the 2003 to 2030 period.

Industrial Production

The industrial sector, covering everything from agriculture, mining, manufacturing and construction is the largest end use sector user of energy, consuming 50% of delivered energy world wide. In Canada the industrial sector consumes 34% of all energy, with the largest consumers being pulp and paper (34% of sector), manufacturing (22%), mining (12%), metal refining (17%). Energy is used for space, water and process heat (smelting, baking, drying etc), and running motors).

Transportation

Transportation uses 27% of global delivered energy. Transportation is 96% dependent on liquid fuels. Over 68% of North American crude oil consumption goes to create liquid fuels, gasoline, diesel, kerosene and bunker fuel the internal combustion engines that power our transportation fleet, on land, rail, on the sea or in the air.

Residential Use

This sector, globally uses about 16% of all delivered energy. The residential sector uses energy primarily for space and water heating, lighting, cooling and small appliances.

Commerical Use

The commercial sector globally uses 7.7% of all delivered energy. The commercial sector includes retailing, service business and institutional users. Energy is used primarily for space and water heating, cooling, lighting and cooking.

Petrochemical Products

Globally, about 25% of primary energy sources, in the form of oil and natural gas is used as industrial feed stock for the petrochemical industry to produce a overwhelming array of products, including chemical solvents, paints, plastics, medicines and pesticides.

Electrical Power Generation

Globally, coal accounts for about 30% of all electric power generation, while natural gas accounts for about 27% (31% of all gas production), renewables (largely hydro) 23%, nuclear 10% and oil 10% (6% of oil production).