Energy Consumption Growth

Human development is closely linked to energy consumption. Humans, since the dawn of time, have been able to master different forms of energy and transform them to improve their quality of life. Our ancestors had to rely on limited resources like muscle power, wood or water mills. While today, the energy mix is a trade-off between multiple sources, as we are able to convert them in many ways in order to power high-consuming societies.

Source : BP statistical review 2014; IFP School

Observing how human civilization evolved during last 2 centuries, population and energy consumption grew, intrinsically linked with each other. Economic wealth also increased significantly. Estimated by the gross domestic product in real value, economic wealth was multiplied by a factor of 40 over the last century.

Fossil Fuels

Energy systems require time to evolve. They also need heavy infrastructures, and that people should accept changes in their way of life. And specially in our times it's more difficult to go with it, because it was easier to switch from wood to coal, or from coal to oil and gas, nuclear...etc, than to go to renewable energies as primary sources. We can explain that by the following : Going from wood to coal involved better performances in industry, and fast growing of wealth, it was an easy solution. In the last choice, switching to more clean energies means compromising to industry, it also implies being more responsible regarding environment, which needs technological solutions, and so less profit. That's why fossil resources will remain the dominant fuels in the energy mix for many years ahead.

                                                           *Energy sources over the world

Source : BP statistical review 2014