The world energy context, IFP

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A century of transition
- Energy challenge of the 21st century
- World energy context
- Gradual transition
- Supporting the development of alternative energies
Controlled CO2
Diversified fuels
Fuel-efficient vehicles
Clean refining
Extended reserves

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World energy context

The 21st century will be a century of energy transition. All energy experts, particularly those working at the the IFP, share this belief. A transition between:

the current situation, in which hydrocarbons and especially oil dominate world energy consumption, particularly for transport,

a time in the near future, when other energy sources gradually replace them.

This transition must be understood in the context of sustainable development, for reasons related as much to the environment as to the long-term supply of resources.

The current situation is marked by three challenges that lie at the heart of the IFP’s strategy.

An ever-increasing demand

World energy demand is expected to continue its inevitable rise, fuelled by demographic and economic growth, particularly in developing countries. According to the trend scenarios of the International Energy Agency (IEA), world primary energy demand could reach 17 Gtoe in 2030. This represents an average annual growth rate of 1.6% over the next 25 years.

Limited resources

Fossil energy resources are not infinite. Technological advances have made it possible to extend the capacity of these resources and will continue to do so. However, an era of limited oil resources must be expected, even if the date at which production will peak remains uncertain. This uncertainty stems from:

the difficulty of accessing field data held by national oil companies,
the fact that reserves which are not considered to be viable today could become viable in the future as a result of technological advances and changes in the economic context (price per barrel, tax incentives, etc.).

Fossil energy resources are not inexhaustible

Climate change

No economic and energy policy can ignore the issue of climate change resulting from greenhouse gas emissions. While it may seem that people have been slow to wake up to this issue given the challenges it poses for the planet, global awareness is real and growing.

Economic development – and the energy consumption which accompanies it – must take account of climate change. The energy sector, which is responsible for around 65% of greenhouse gases resulting from human activity, is directly concerned.