Energy in a Globalised World - Energy and Climate: How to Achieve a Successful Energy Transition - page 4

Figure 1.2 Distribution of the global energy demand (final energy consumption)
(Source: IEA)
- Transport (road, air, rail, sea) accounts for a share of 28%.
- Industry consumes 36% of the final energy.
In the residential and tertiary sectors, energy is mainly consumed for
heating and the supply of hot sanitary water, as well as for air-condition-
ing. Much of this demand is therefore seasonal. Fossil energies, which
are easily stored, are ideal for this type of irregular demand. This is less
true of the other forms of energy, apart from hydraulic. In particular,
energies exploited directly as electricity are difficult to store. Solar
contributions are intermittent and offset with respect to the demand,
in particular as regards heating requirements.
Road and air transport poses a highly critical problem, considering
the rocketing increase of the demand in these sectors and the limited
possibilities of turning to substitute fuels.
Improved standards of living are accompanied throughout the world by
a rapid rise in the number of vehicles and increasing use of air transport.
Simultaneously, goods transport by road has developed considerably
at the expense of rail traffic. This trend is related to the undeniable
advantages of road transport in terms of shipment flexibility and imple-
mentation of 'just in time' production lines, with minimisation of stocks.
It has also been favoured by the state, which has paid for most of the road
infrastructure costs and done little to encourage rail freight transport.
Between 2000 and 2050, road passenger traffic is expected to increase
by 150%and goods traffic by 200%. Air traffic, for passengers and goods,
is also increasing sharply, at an annual rate of about 5%. This trend will
inevitably have an impact on oil demand.