Sul contesto energetico mondiale

The paper focuses on the key drivers of World’s energy demand and on the current energy market (oil, gas, coal, nuclear and renewables). In the first part, the paper analyses the key factors of the present and future energy market, with particular regard to economy, population, fuel prices and CO2 pricing. World GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and population drive the energy profile. The global economy entered a downturn since 2007, therefore primary energy consumption decreased of 1,1% in 2009. World population will reach 9 billion of person by 2040. Despite the economy recover is uneven, global energy demand will be 30 percent higher in 2040 than 2010, driven by non–OECD countries. Energy prices (especially, oil and gas) and CO2 pricing (e.g. EU ETS, Carbon Tax, cape-and-trade schemes) affect fuel consumption and the investments in energy sector. In the second part, the current energy situation is presented (estimated resources, production and consumption). At the moment, fossil fuels are still the dominant source of energy (81% of world primary supply in 2009). The role of nuclear in the power generation is affected by Fukushima accident in March 2011. All presented data are taken from the most important energy reports, such as the ones issued by IEA (World Energy Outlook 2011), EIA (International Energy Outlook 2011), REN21 (Renewables Global Status Report 2011), Exxon Mobile (The Outlook for Energy, 2012); historical energy data are based on BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2012.