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The international energy situation > Energy consumption
Energy consumption
Worldwide consumption of primary energy increased by around 2% in 2008. Oil consumption continues to fall, accounting for 35% of total energy needs, while natural gas may account for 24%.

Estimates of worldwide energy consumption stood at some 11.32 million Tep, up by slightly less than 2% on 2007, which in turn recorded a rise of 3 tenths of a point less than for the previous twelve months.

Natural gas maintained a share of very nearly 24% of total primary energy consumption worldwide, while coal increased its share in both absolute and relative terms, though by less than it had done during 2007. Oil accounts for a little over 35% of the world’s energy needs and remains in first position as a primary energy source, though the trend is still downwards.

WORLD PRIMARY ENERGY CONSUMPTION (1)
 
 
 
  • Coal
  • Oil
  • Natural gas
  • Nuclear (3)
  • Hydroelectricity(4)
  • WORLD TOTAL
  • OECD
2004
106 Toe.
  • 2.768,1
  • 3.823,7
  • 2.427,6
  • 625,4
  • 644,7
  • 10.289,5
  • 5.519,2
%
  • 26,9
  • 37,2
  • 23,6
  • 6,1
  • 6,3
  • 100,0
  • 53,6
2005
106 Toe.
  • 2.892,4
  • 3.871,0
  • 2.496,8
  • 627,0
  • 670,4
  • 10.557,6
  • 5.556,3
%
  • 27,4
  • 36,7
  • 23,6
  • 5,9
  • 6,3
  • 100,0
  • 52,6
2006
106 Toe.
  • 3.041,7
  • 3.910,9
  • 2.558,3
  • 634,9
  • 697,2
  • 10.843,0
  • 5.552,4
%
  • 28,1
  • 36,1
  • 23,6
  • 5,9
  • 6,4
  • 100,0
  • 51,2
2007
106 Toe.
  • 3.177,5
  • 3.952,8
  • 2.637,7
  • 622,0
  • 709,2
  • 11.099,2
  • 5.566,4
%
  • 28,6
  • 35,6
  • 23,8
  • 5,6
  • 6,4
  • 100,0
  • 50,2
2008 (2)
106 Toe.
  • 3.272,8
  • 3.996
  • 2.703,6
  • 630,0
  • 715,0
  • 11.317,7
  • 5.555,3
%
  • 28,9
  • 35,3
  • 23,9
  • 5,6
  • 6,3
  • 100,0
  • 49,1
(1) Covers only energy is sold.
(2) Estimate
(3) (4) Calculation methodology modified by BP from its June 2002 report onwards. The new methodology (applied to every year of the series) assumes a value for nuclear and hydroelectric primary energy in terms equivalent to the energy required to generate the same quantity of electricity at a conventional power station, assuming a conversion efficiency of 38%.
Previously hydroelectric generation was considered as primary energy equivalent to the electricity produced, while for nuclear energy the efficiency factor used in the conversion was 33%.
One of the consequences of this change in a methodology is an increase in the total consumption of primary energy in every area and a reduction of the relative weighting of other energy sources, including natural gas.
This new methodology employed by BP is not used by Eurostat or the IEA, which, for hydroelectric and nuclear power, equate energy output at terminals to primary energy.

Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy, Monthly Natural Gas Survey (IEA), Monthly Oil Survey (IEA) and prepared by Sedigas.

Within the European Union, official data from the European Commission indicated a slight fall in total energy consumption during 2007, following the stagnation recorded in 2006 in respect of 2005.

Estimates for 2008 are that the EU will experience a rise in consumption of around 0.6%, with natural gas attaining a share of around 24%.

STRUCTURE AND TOTAL CONSUMPTION OF PRIMARY ENERGY(1)
BY GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND SELECTED COUNTRY
 
  • North America
  • USA
  • Canada
  • Central and Sur America
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Venezuela
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Europe
  • Germany
  • Austria
  • Belgium and Luxembourg
  • Bulgaria
  • Denmark
  • Spain
  • Finland
  • France
  • Greece
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • United Kingdom
  • Czech Republic
  • Romania
  • Sweden
  • Soviet Union
  • Russian Fed.
  • Ukraine
  • Middle East
  • Iran
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Kuwait
  • Unión de Emiratos Árabes
  • Africa
  • South Africa
  • Egypt
  • Argelia
  • Asia-Oceania
  • Australia
  • South Korea
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Indonesia
  • TOTAL WORLD
  • OCDE
Oil
  • 39,0
  • 39,9
  • 31,8
  • 48,2
  • 31,9
  • 44,5
  • 57,3
  • 37,3
  • 55,7
  • 34,4
  • 39,2
  • 36,2
  • 41,4
  • 56,1
  • 26,5
  • 51,4
  • 50,9
  • 38,5
  • 35,8
  • 63,5
  • 62,3
  • 46,4
  • 53,0
  • 25,7
  • 60,3
  • 36,2
  • 22,9
  • 27,2
  • 33,5
  • 17,8
  • 18,2
  • 11,3
  • 51,1
  • 42,1
  • 59,2
  • 55,3
  • 36,1
  • 40,1
  • 20,2
  • 48,4
  • 34,5
  • 31,2
  • 34,7
  • 46,0
  • 19,7
  • 31,8
  • 44,2
  • 47,5
  • 35,6
  • 40,4
Natural gas
  • 25,4
  • 25,2
  • 26,3
  • 24,0
  • 53,9
  • 9,1
  • 31,3
  • 35,7
  • 13,9
  • 23,1
  • 24,1
  • 24,0
  • 24,5
  • 20,7
  • 13,7
  • 22,7
  • 22,8
  • 13,5
  • 14,8
  • 10,6
  • 28,5
  • 39,0
  • 36,5
  • 13,0
  • 16,3
  • 38,1
  • 18,5
  • 37,0
  • 1,8
  • 54,9
  • 57,1
  • 42,8
  • 46,9
  • 55,1
  • 40,8
  • 44,7
  • 63,9
  • 21,8
  • 0,0
  • 45,6
  • 63,2
  • 10,6
  • 18,6
  • 14,2
  • 3,3
  • 9,0
  • 15,7
  • 26,5
  • 23,8
  • 23,7
Coal
  • 22,5
  • 24,3
  • 9,4
  • 4,5
  • 0,5
  • 6,3
  • 5,9
  • 0,6
  • 11,5
  • 8,7
  • 18,8
  • 27,7
  • 9,8
  • 7,6
  • 39,7
  • 26,0
  • 14,4
  • 16,7
  • 4,7
  • 23,8
  • 7,3
  • 9,7
  • 9,6
  • 60,5
  • 13,8
  • 18,2
  • 43,6
  • 22,7
  • 4,4
  • 16,1
  • 13,7
  • 28,9
  • 1,1
  • 0,6
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 30,7
  • 76,5
  • 1,4
  • 2,0
  • 49,9
  • 43,6
  • 25,5
  • 70,4
  • 51,4
  • 24,2
  • 24,3
  • 28,6
  • 21,3
Nuclear
  • 7,9
  • 8,1
  • 6,6
  • 1,0
  • 2,2
  • 1,3
  • 1,5
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 11,0
  • 10,2
  • 0,0
  • 14,8
  • 16,2
  • 0,0
  • 10,3
  • 19,6
  • 39,1
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 0,9
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 6,5
  • 13,6
  • 4,0
  • 30,5
  • 5,8
  • 5,2
  • 15,4
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 0,9
  • 2,3
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 3,2
  • 0,0
  • 13,8
  • 0,8
  • 1,0
  • 12,2
  • 0,0
  • 5,6
  • 9,4
Hidro.
  • 5,2
  • 2,4
  • 25,9
  • 22,5
  • 11,5
  • 38,8
  • 3,9
  • 26,5
  • 18,8
  • 33,8
  • 6,8
  • 2,0
  • 24,2
  • 0,8
  • 3,9
  • 0,0
  • 1,6
  • 11,6
  • 5,6
  • 2,1
  • 2,0
  • 4,9
  • 0,0
  • 0,7
  • 9,6
  • 1,0
  • 1,4
  • 9,1
  • 29,9
  • 5,5
  • 5,9
  • 1,7
  • 0,9
  • 2,2
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 0,0
  • 6,4
  • 0,9
  • 4,6
  • 0,3
  • 5,1
  • 3,1
  • 0,5
  • 5,9
  • 6,8
  • 3,7
  • 1,7
  • 6,4
  • 5,3
%
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
  • 100,0
106 Toe.
  • 2.683,1
  • 2.361,4
  • 321,7
  • 708,6
  • 73,7
  • 216,8
  • 155,6
  • 71,8
  • 28,7
  • 29,9
  • 1.952,3
  • 311,0
  • 32,6
  • 73,5
  • 20,4
  • 18,1
  • 140,2
  • 27,5
  • 255,1
  • 34,0
  • 15,1
  • 179,6
  • 91,5
  • 94,4
  • 23,9
  • 215,9
  • 43,3
  • 39,7
  • 50,2
  • 1.035,1
  • 692,0
  • 136,0
  • 573,9
  • 182,9
  • 167,6
  • 25,3
  • 60,9
  • 344,5
  • 127,7
  • 63,2
  • 34,8
  • 3.801,7
  • 121,7
  • 234,0
  • 1.863,5
  • 404,4
  • 517,4
  • 114,6
  • 11.099,2
  • 5.566,4
Investment in new renewable energy capacity has been a constant feature of the energy sector in many countries.

It was wind energy that formed the focus of most activity in the European Union during 2008. Worldwide, installed capacity rose by 28.8% to a total of 120.8 GW, and some countries recorded significant advances. China, for example, now has a total of 12.2 GW of wind production installed, having doubled its capacity over the last twelve months.

PRIMARY ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION. EU 27
 
 
 
  • Coal
  • Oil
  • Natural gas
  • Nuclear
  • Renewable
  • TOTAL
2004
106 Toe.
  • 329,9
  • 676,7
  • 435,7
  • 260,1
  • 116,2
  • 1.818,6
 
%
  • 18,1
  • 37,2
  • 24,0
  • 14,3
  • 6,4
  • 100,0
2005
106 Toe.
  • 319,9
  • 677,0
  • 446,2
  • 257,4
  • 120,6
  • 1.821,1
 
%
  • 17,6
  • 37,2
  • 24,5
  • 14,1
  • 6,6
  • 100,0
2006
106 Toe.
  • 325,2
  • 673,5
  • 437,9
  • 255,3
  • 129,2
  • 1.821,1
 
%
  • 17,9
  • 37,0
  • 24,0
  • 14,0
  • 7,1
  • 100,0
2007 (1)
106 Toe.
  • 327,3
  • 672,0
  • 429,2
  • 256,0
  • 134,1
  • 1.818,6
 
%
  • 18,0
  • 37,0
  • 23,6
  • 14,1
  • 7,4
  • 100,0
2008 (2)
106 Toe.
  • 329,4
  • 658,6
  • 438,2
  • 256,7
  • 147,0
  • 1.829,9
 
%
  • 18,0
  • 36,0
  • 23,9
  • 14,0
  • 8,0
  • 100,0
(1) Provisional data obtained from Energy. Monthly statistics. Eurostat. European Commission.
(2) Estimate.

Source: Energy Yearly Statistics 2006 and Energy Monthly Statistics. Eurostat. European Commission. Luxembourg. 2008; Eurogas; Monthy Oil Survey (AIE) and prepared by Sedigas.
New plans to give a boost to nuclear power have also been discussed by several governments, particularly in Europe and Asia, though with notable effect in Eastern Europe, where restrictions on the gas supply coming from Russia have had a highly significant effect.
China’s plans are particularly worthy of mention. It currently has 11 operative reactors (8.6 GW) with a further five under construction. Its intention is to reach 40 GW of installed potential by 2020 and 160 GW by 2030. At the present time, coal is responsible for generating 80% of the country’s electricity needs.
EUROPEAN UNION. FINAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY SECTOR. EU 27
 
 
 
  • Industry
  • Transport
  • Residential-Commerc.
  • TOTAL
2002
106 Toe
  • 326,3
  • 346,0
  • 454,0
  • 1.126,3
 
%
  • 29,0
  • 30,7
  • 40,3
  • 100,0
2003
106 Toe
  • 332,0
  • 351,3
  • 474,8
  • 1.158,1
 
%
  • 28,7
  • 30,3
  • 41,0
  • 100,0
2004
106 Toe
  • 332,5
  • 359,8
  • 479,2
  • 1.171,5
 
%
  • 28,4
  • 30,7
  • 40,9
  • 100,0
2005
106 Toe
  • 325,6
  • 362,4
  • 484,3
  • 1.172,3
 
%
  • 27,8
  • 30,9
  • 41,3
  • 100,0
2006
106 Toe
  • 324,3
  • 370,3
  • 481,5
  • 1.176,1
 
%
  • 27,6
  • 31,5
  • 40,9
  • 100,0
Source: Energy Yearly Statistics 2006. Eurostat. European Commission. Luxembourg. 2008.Prepared by Sedigas.
The development of investment plans for nuclear and renewable energies has become quite a common issue in many countries, whether or not they currently depend on hydrocarbon imports. The fall in the price of these imports during the second half of 2008 could create problems when decisions have to be made, as such decisions require a frame of reference that is as stable as possible, as well as relatively high hydrocarbon prices to make investment a more attractive prospect.
EUROPEAN UNION. PRIMARY ENERGY EMPLOYED IN ELECTRICAL GENERATION. EU 27(1)
(GWh generated)
 
 
  • Coal
  • Oil Products
  • Natural gas
  • Hydraulic
  • Nuclear
  • Other (2)
  •   Where wind:
  • TOTAL
2003
GWh
  • 1.003.041
  • 162.980
  • 566.819
  • 338.307
  • 995.860
  • 149.025
  • 44.370
  • 3.216.032
%
  • 31,2
  • 5,1
  • 17,6
  • 10,5
  • 31,0
  • 4,6
  • - -
  • 100,0
2004
GWh
  • 982.375
  • 146.180
  • 616.050
  • 357.148
  • 1.008.437
  • 177.381
  • 58.815
  • 3.287.571
%
  • 29,9
  • 4,4
  • 18,7
  • 10,9
  • 30,7
  • 5,4
  • - -
  • 100,0
2005
GWh
  • 941.551
  • 138.919
  • 660.869
  • 341.388
  • 997.699
  • 228.680
  • 70.486
  • 3.309.106
%
  • 28,5
  • 4,2
  • 20,0
  • 10,3
  • 30,2
  • 6,9
  • - -
  • 100,0
2006
GWh
  • 961.701
  • 131.089
  • 676.541
  • 343.990
  • 989.877
  • 254.760
  • 81.960
  • 3.357.958
%
  • 28,6
  • 3,9
  • 20,1
  • 10,2
  • 29,5
  • 7,6
  • - -
  • 100,0
(1) Gross output at terminals. Includes electrical output sold by self-producers.
(2) Wind, solar, geothermal, derivative gases, biomass and urban and industrial waste.

Source: Energy Yearly Statistics 2006. Eurostat. European Commission.. Luxembourg. 2008. Prepared by Sedigas.
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Annual Report 2.008: Sedigas - The Spanish Gas Association