FROZEN HEAT | Volume 2

Table 1.1: Global Energy Consumption, 1860–2009, Fossil Fuel Reserves and Resources, and Renewable Energy Potential

Reserves

Resources

Consumption

2009

1860–2009 (cumulative)

EJ

GtC

EJ

GtC

EJ

EJ

Oil

Conventional Unconventional

4 200–6 200 11 300–14 900

4 000–7 600 3 800–5 600

3.3 NA

170 NA

131 NA

6 580 NA

Natural gas

7 200–8 900 40 200–122 000

5 000–7 100 20 100–67 100

1.5 NA

110 NA

50 NA

3 450 NA

Conventional Unconventional

Coal

All

291 000–435 000

17 300–21 000

3.7

140

183

7 210

All fossil fuels

Total occurrences

354 000–587 000

50 000–108 400

8.5

420

355

17 200

Renewable Energy Sources

Deployment potential in 2050 (EJ/year)

Technical potential (EJ/year)

Bioenergy Hydro Wind Solar Geothermal

160–270 5–6 1 250–2 250 62 000–280 000 8 100–1 400

145–170 18.7–2.8 170–344 1 650–1 741 23

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.

FROZEN HEAT 14