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FROZEN HEAT
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Table 1.1:
Global Energy Consumption, 1860–2009, Fossil Fuel Reserves and Resources, and Renewable Energy Potential
Sources: GEA(2012), WEC(1998), IEA (2012)
Top: Energy consumption versus reserves and estimated resources of oil, natural gas, and coal. Consumption is given in ZJ (zettajoules; 1 ZJ =
1000 exajoules, EJ) and GtC (gigatonnes of carbon released to the atmosphere). Conventional sources of oil and gas are those exploited to date.
Unconventional are potential sources not currently exploited.
Bottom: Potential energy from renewable sources with current technology, including approximations of the degree to which each might feasibly be
implemented by 2050.
Note: Numbers shown as ranges indicate the lowest and highest published estimates.
Consumption
Deployment potential in 2050 (EJ/year)
Technical potential (EJ/year)
Oil
Natural gas
Coal
All fossil fuels
Renewable Energy Sources
1860–2009 (cumulative)
6 580
NA
145–170
18.7–2.8
170–344
1 650–1 741
23
160–270
5–6
1 250–2 250
62 000–280 000
8 100–1 400
3 450
NA
7 210
17 200
131
NA
50
NA
183
355
170
NA
110
NA
140
420
3.3
NA
1.5
NA
3.7
8.5
4 000–7 600
3 800–5 600
5 000–7 100
20 100–67 100
17 300–21 000
50 000–108 400
4 200–6 200
11 300–14 900
7 200–8 900
40 200–122 000
291 000–435 000
354 000–587 000
EJ
EJ
GtC
GtC
EJ
EJ
Conventional
Unconventional
Conventional
Unconventional
All
Total occurrences
Bioenergy
Hydro
Wind
Solar
Geothermal
2009
Reserves
Resources