We are currently experiencing a truly global energy crisis. Globally, high fuel prices are responsible for 90% of the average cost increase in electricity generation, with natural gas alone accounting for 50%. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has amply demonstrated how geopolitics can have a profound impact on energy systems, but above all, it has revealed the reality of our pattern of energy consumption and generation. As seen in Figure 1.1, fossil fuels supplied 84.3% of global energy use, while the share of wind and solar power (after decades of heavy government subsidies) was only 3.3%, even though there was almost enough installed wind and solar power capacity to supply all their electricity if they were to generate electricity at rated output continuously. Fossil fuel support in 51 countries across the world nearly doubled to $697.2 billion in 2021, up from $362.4 billion in 2020 [1]. However, many developing countries found themselves in a situation where they cannot afford fossil fuels while renewable energy is scarce. This has resulted, on the one hand, in 75 million people who had recently gained access to electricity no longer being able to afford it, and on the other hand, in 100 million people no longer being able to cook with clean fuels, being forced to rely on wood, cow dung, and other unsafe and unhealthy sources. This implies that "much more energy will be needed over the next few generations to extend decent lives for the majority of the world's growing population" [2]. In these countries, access to affordable energy is considered at least as important as controversial climate change. This reality is shown particularly in the countries selected in Figure 1.1(b). Particularly in coal consumption, its decrease takes place mostly in the developed world, particularly in Europe and North America. However, this decline is compensated by growth in coal consumption in developing economies, particularly in Asia. More on this interesting topic at [3].
ISBN for host publication: 978-1-83953-842-1, 978-1-83953-843-8