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Development Costs Energy
Given rising populations, a growing economy and new products – no development is
possible without energy. And it is principally electrical energy – that is power – which
is needed for the production and transportation of merchandise, products and services.
Competitive economic systems rely on a healthy mixture of various fuels and a raised
level of energy efficiency. Most of the electricity is generated in the world by fossil
fuel-fired power plants – after all, they are tried-and-tested, reliable under continuous
operations and economical to run. In particular, the latest generation of coal, lignite and
gas-fired power plants ensure that environmental pollution is kept well down. An added
plus: fossil fuels, such as coal and lignite, are available for supply in many politically and
socially stable countries and their reserves will last for literally hundreds of years.
DEVELOPMENT OF COAL CONSUMPTION (in million tons)
3,646
World 5,522
China
1,317
2,543
India
279
504
OECD*
1,451
1,735
1995 2007 *30 primarily Western industrial countries
Source: IEA, estimated figures for 2007
Currently, the world has a population of approx. 6.8 billion people. The world’s population
has doubled within the last 50 years and will continue to increase. Moreover, a
quarter of mankind is still without electricity. For this very reason electricity consumption
is set to rise more rapidly than all the other forms of energy consumption. Experts expect
a doubling of electricity requirements by 2030. Hence, the challenge facing companies,
the political world and society in general is quite clear: everything must be done to
ensure that energy is generated sustainably, reliably and economically.
THE SHARE OF COAL IN THE GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY (%)
Poland
Australia
China
India
Czech Republic
USA
50
Germany 47
59
69
80
78*
93
Source: IEA, all figures for 2006 except * for 2005
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