Mixed Signals Relating to Clean Energy Progress

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The IEA tends to publish some great research pieces, drawing attention to current trends or highlighting the potential for emerging ones. Their recently published ‘Tracking Clean Energy Progress Report’ is no exception. Here are ten info nuggets I have pilfered from it. These numbers are kinda nutty…

1) There are already more than 14 billion network-enabled devices in homes and offices today. By 2020, the number is expected to triple to more than 50 billion. By 2030 it could be 500 billion. The key element of this? Most of the energy consumed by these devices is when they are in standby, but not performing their main function

2) 750 million households have internet access, and 2.73 billion people are online globally. Global internet traffic in 2012 used 16,800 gigabytes per second. In 2017 this is set to rise to 46,500 gigabytes per second

3) Global hybrid electric vehicles could account for 15% of the vehicle market by 2025. Transport accounted for 22% of global CO2 emissions in 2011, hence the IEA’s increasing emphasis on hybrids. Electric vehicles (hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric) already account for 1% of market share in the US, the Netherlands and Norway. Sales of electric vehicles grew 50% from 2012 to 2013, but need to grow at 80%  per year, and 50% per year for hybrid-electric vehicles, for the below target to be met. This seems a little too ambitious: 4) 81% of global energy demand in 2011 was met by fossil fuels

5) Coal currently has the largest share of the global electricity generation mix by far at 41%. 134GW of coal capacity was added in 2013, at least double that of any other fuel

6) IEA believes 44% of emissions reductions to 2025 can be delivered by end-use energy efficiency. It predicts the reduction of 17 Gigatons of  CO2 (GtCO2) in buildings, 13 GtCO2 in transport, 11 GtCO2 in industry

7) Non-OECD countries account for 66% of industrial energy, up from 50% in 2000. Global industrial energy use is up 36% since 2000: 8) Installations of new wind capacity in the US in 2013 was just 1GW, compared to a record 13GW in the year prior. The drop-off can be explained away by the expiring renewable electricity production tax credit (PTC) at the end of 2012. The PTC was extended, however, and 15GW of new wind projects are expected to come online by 2015

9) Global investment in renewable power fell for a second consecutive year in 2013, falling 12% from 2012

10) Non-OECD countries account for 54% of the total of global renewable energy generation. This is led by China, India, and Brazil, and is expected to grow to 58% in 2018 Hope you found these as interesting as I did. As always, thanks for playing!