World energy supply and consumption

World energy supply and consumption refers to the global supply of energy resources and its consumption. The system of global energy supply consists of the energy development, refinement, and trade of energy. Energy supplies may exist in various forms such as raw resources or more processed and refined forms of energy. The raw energy resources include for example coal, unprocessed oil & gas, uranium. In comparison, the refined forms of energy include for example refined oil that becomes fuel and electricity. Energy resources may be used in various different ways, depending on the specific resource (e.g. coal), and intended end use (industrial, residential, etc.). Energy production and consumption play a significant role in the global economy. It is needed in industry and global transportation. The total energy supply chain, from production to final consumption, involves many activities that cause a loss of useful energy.^[3]

As of 2022, energy consumption is still about 80% from fossil fuels.^[4] The Gulf States and Russia are major energy exporters. Their customers include for example the European Union and China, who are not producing enough energy in their own countries to satisfy their energy demand. Total energy consumption tends to increase by about 1–2% per year.^[5] More recently, renewable energy has been growing rapidly, averaging about 20% increase per year in the 2010s.^[6][7]

Two key problems with energy production and consumption are greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution. Of about 50 billion tonnes worldwide annual total greenhouse gas emissions,^[8] 36 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide was a result of energy use (almost all from fossil fuels) in 2021.^[9] Many scenarios have been envisioned to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, usually by the name of net zero emissions.

Per capita, energy consumption in North America is very high, while in less developed countries it is low and usually more renewable.^[10][11] There is a clear connection between energy consumption per capita, and GDP per capita.^[12]

A significant lack of energy supplies is called an energy crisis.