Featured

Global Energy Transition

A zero-carbon world: how fast will we get there?

Imagine a future where technology accelerates the pace of change – but a ‘2-degree world’ remains out of reach

The global energy transition is underway. The question is, how and when? Find out in Wood Mackenzie’s 4th annual carbon-constrained scenario, which provides an alternative view to our base case for the global energy transition.

Milestones

  1. Demand for oil peaks in 2031
  2. Wind and solar represent about 40% of total power supply by 2040
  3. Electric cars displace 5.5 million barrels per day of oil by 2040

1 minute read

What five factors have the potential to accelerate the global energy transition towards a decarbonised future?

Click on the infographic below to find out. 

 

http://carbon.think.woodmac.com/

Watch Senior Commodity Anlayst David Brown talk through the milestones in an accelerated energy transition  and explore its impact on commodity markets including oil. Watch the 2-part video series below now. 

How quickly can we reach a zero-carbon world?

Even with an accelerated pace of change, a ‘2-degree world’ remains out of reach. While emissions will fall faster than our base case and go beyond the Paris Agreement NDCs at a global level, we would need much more radical action to meet the ultimate 2-degree goal.

Our fourth annual Carbon Constrained Scenario pushes the boundaries of our base-case analysis. The scenario envisages a future where change happens much faster. Where the transition to cleaner energy is accelerated: renewables play an exponentially bigger role and carbon emissions are cut faster than under current pledges.

Technology quickens the pace of decarbonisation

But decarbonisation will progress despite slow progress on international climate policy. How? Because policy management has competition: technology has become a key driver of change.

The rise of renewables, growth in electric vehicles and electrification of end-use demand are already having an impact. These and other technologies – some as yet undeveloped or untested – could join and potentially outstrip policy as a key disruptive force.

Electric vehicles go mainstream

In our scenario, by 2040, the US, EU and China will see Electric Vehicles (EVs) account for 100% of new vehicle sales and other regions won’t be far behind, collectively displacing 11 million b/d of oil. As a result, EVs help accelerate peak oil to 2031. And we expect power demand from the transport sector to be over 1,900 TWh, more than 1.5 times larger than India’s power market in 2017  

The end of fossil fuels?

Coal takes the brunt of an accelerated energy transition – declining materially as lower carbon fuels expand share. Gas will be a bright spot through 2040, a key bridge fuel for the energy transition supported by the need for reliable and flexible thermal generation in the power sector.

However, we don’t see fossil fuels completely disappearing anytime soon. The drop is relative, from an 85% share in 2012 to just less than 75% in 2040. Oil, in particular, retains a keystone role in the energy system for decades to come.

Can we go further and faster?

Much more would need to happen beyond the power sector. A major improvement in the quality and costs of batteries is one potential game-changer; another is high-cost, as-yet commercially unproven, technology such as carbon capture and storage.

 

Part 1: The global energy transition is well underway

New technologies including renewable energy, the growth in electric vehicles and electrification of end-use demand are key drivers. What might be achievable if current market trends develop even faster and what will this mean for commodity markets? In our carbon-constrained scenario, we imagine a world where technology outstrips policy as the key force behind decarbonisation, accelerating the pace of the energy transition.

 

Part 2: Oil and the accelerated energy transition

In part 2, David explains that our carbon-constrained scenario is an opportunity for our analysts to ask strategic questions about the pace of change. In our study, we have pushed the boundaries of our base-case analysis to dig deeper. We quantify what an accelerated energy transition means for commodity markets, taking major market dynamics into account and forming an integrated view across the energy value chain.

Insight

What if decarbonisation accelerates?

David Brown examines how tech and policy could drive change and bring us closer to a 2-degree future

Get your complimentary copy of the report