DNV GL published its first Energy Transition Outlook (ETO): Renewables, Power and Energy Use. The industry implication report is part of DNV GL’s new suite of Energy Transition Outlook publications. The report reviews global energy demand and energy supply and summarizes the implications for the power and renewables sector and large industrial energy users.

An era of abundant and cleaner energy lies ahead of us, according to DNV GL’s modelling of the world energy system. The key findings of the report emerging globally over the forecasting period include:

• Electricity consumption increases by 140% by 2050, becoming the largest energy carrier, followed by gas. Other energy carriers such as coal experience significant reductions, while oil and gas consumption increase only slightly.
• 85% of global electricity production in 2050 comes from renewable sources‒ Solar PV will provide around a third of the world’s electricity by 2050, followed by onshore wind, hydropower and offshore wind, in that order.

Despite this optimistic outlook, the report finds that we are currently not on course to achieve the climate objectives of the Paris agreement.

DNV GL forecasts that humanity will exhaust the 2°C carbon budget (the amount of CO2 that can be emitted without triggering dangerous climate change) by 2041, pointing towards a global warming of 2.5°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, a level which is likely to force dangerous climate change.

The growth of electricity consumption is one enabler to speed up the global decarbonisation. This includes the rapid uptake of electric vehicles, generating energy savings and emissions reductions. DNV GL forecasts that electric vehicles will achieve cost parity with internal combustion vehicles in 2022 and, by 2033, half of new light vehicle sales globally will be electric.

“Our report shows that the energy industry, more than any other, has the power and knowledge to manage the world’s carbon budget in a smarter way,” said Ditlev Engel, CEO at DNV GL – Energy. “Until 2050 the electricity share of energy demand will grow from 18% to 40% yet this transformation is not happening fast enough. Speeding up the acceleration by decarbonization of heat and transport will be one vital measure to put the brakes on global warming. In fact, all industries should maximize the decarbonization of their operations.  But the climate challenge is not only an engineering challenge, but also one of governance. We call upon all stakeholders to maximise the decarbonization of their operations.”

To achieve the target of a low-carbon world, there is no single solution. Instead, multiple achievable actions must be taken both locally and globally, involving collaboration within the energy sector and across industries:

Action1: Greater and earlier adoption of renewables

• Assist the growth of offshore wind
• Drive uptake of data analysis to optimize performance of wind, solar, grids, and energy use
• Invest in testing and verification of systems to secure robust electricity supply
• Provide flexibility, balancing and cost-effective integration solutions
• Optimize grids to facilitate growth of renewables

Action 2: Greater and earlier electrification of heat and transport

• Drive the uptake of decarbonisation of heat
• Broader adoption of electric vehicles contributing to energy savings and emissions reduction

Action 3: Greater improvements in energy efficiency

• Invest in strategic energy management

Action 4: Change in personal behaviour 

• Increase the level of public acceptance to shape consumer behaviour
• Availability of subsidies

DNV GL’s ETO report was prepared by a dedicated research team, which received input from hundreds of energy experts from inside and outside the organization.

The report arms all relevant sectors with a wealth of factual ammunition to adapt strategies, and be bold in making evidence-based decisions to transform energy systems.