World energy demand

Current world hydrogen prodnction is approximately 50 milhon tons per year (45 billion kg per year), which represents 2% of world energy demand (Raman, 2003). However, cnrrent total annnal worldwide hydrogen consumption is in the range of 400-500 billion Nm Of this qnantity, approximately 97% is represented by captive or internal production and only about 3% is provided from merchant sonrces (MEDI, 2003). 

World energy demand. (Data up to 2006, projections after 2006.)... 

Thus, the D-T-Li fuel cycle is, in spite of its drawbacks, the most likely one to be used in the first fusion reactors. It fulfills the requirement of being an inexhaustible energy source since the available lithium resources which represent the limiting factor should be sufficient to meet the future world energy demands for thousands of years5). 

Indeed, the beginning of the 21st century faces a number of real new challenges to meet the world energy demand. 

The most dramatic increase in energy demand is projected to occur in the developing Asian countries, which are expected to account for between 44 and 55 percent of the increase in total world energy demand. Similarly, developing Asian countries are expected to account for more than 40 percent of the incremental demand for oil, and between 36 and 52 percent of incremental electricity demand. 

Table 1.1 Previsions of lEA for world energy demand by fuel until 2030...

World energy demand will increase approximately 50 percent above 2002 levels. (Alexis Bell)... 

World energy demand will rise to approximately two and a half times the present energy usage. (Nathan Lewis)... 

WEIRAUCH, W., Natural Gas Fastest Growing Fuel, as World Energy Demand Increases, Hydrocarbon Processing 75 (1996) November 27. 

These basic relationships between income levels and energy use illustrate that total world energy demand will increase as developing countries grow economically. Whether those countries limit per capita energy use to European levels, or emulate the United States, will greatly affect total world energy demand. 

A balance must be struck between industrial development and the energy required in order to build self-contained national economies. At one time, oil-fuel and then nuclear power were considered to be the answer to the world energy demands. These assumptions were proved to be inadequate because of (1) the unrest and armed hostile conflicts in the Middle East affecting oil supplies and (2) the catastrophic nuclear accidents in various parts of the world, which have justifiably or unjustifiably—it is not the purpose of this text to decide on the viability of energy from nuclear sources— posed serious questions on the viability and safety of the nuclear industry. 

In the same year, a total of 5500 million metric tons of coal was produced, but only a small fraction was consumed in the prodnction of snrfactants. Thus, the demand for basic petrochemicals to produce surfactant feedstocks represents a very small portion of total production, and feedstock producers find their raw material cost and supply position dictated by world energy demand and... 

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