NEW DELHI - Continued uncertainty in the future direction of climate frameworks, political instability of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, energy price volatility, and the global economic recession are what energy leaders consider as the top ‘insomnia’ issues driving the world energy agenda this year, according to the 2013 World Energy Issues Monitor, published today by the World Energy Council (WEC).
Speaking at the launch of the report in New Delhi at the World Energy Leaders’ Summit, Pierre Gadonneix, WEC Chairman, said:
“With energy now topping the global agenda, our 2013 World Energy Issues Monitor clearly reveals that the critical issues identified by energy leaders are macroeconomic and geopolitical. In particular, uncertainties surrounding climate framework reveal the strong desire of the energy sector to have a clearer and more balanced governance. The survey also reveals the need to identify pragmatic, cost-effective, and technology-neutral policies.”
The study, which captures the view of the WEC’s energy leaders’ community, also reveals that carbon capture, (utilisation) and storage (CCS/CCUS) is the issue which has changed most radically in energy leaders’ views over the past year. Whereas CCS/CCUS was seen to have high impact, the issue has now moved down the energy sector’s priority list. Energy leaders believe that until there is clarity on the price of carbon, CCS/CCUS will continue to be seen as an additional cost on energy, especially given the current recessionary context. This is in marked contrast to previous surveys which identified CCS as a potential panacea.
Author of the report, Dr Christoph Frei, Secretary General of the World Energy Council, said:
“The report is significant and clearly shows the insomnia issues keeping energy leaders awake at night. For me the most significant change is the way CCS is now being viewed with a clear tension between the desire of energy leaders for a climate framework and the lack of confidence in some mitigating technologies. This change in perception is of considerable concern as the success of new technologies like CCS will be critical if we are to achieve the massive transition required in the energy sector.”
Concerns arising from the current depressed economic outlook have overtaken nuclear energy as one of the top critical issues. While nuclear energy continues to be closely observed and debated, its perceived uncertainty and impact have dropped to pre-Fukushima levels. This reflects the prudent re-evaluation of nuclear energy in many countries.
While unconventional fossil fuels – including shale gas and unconventional oil – are now firmly considered game changers that will impact the sector for decades to come, the WEC study finds that further action is required to realise their potential. Renewable energy and energy efficiency are also areas needing further action, as they can contribute to diversity and security of supply, as well as enabling energy access to the 1.3 billion people of the world who still do not have access.
For India in particular, the critical uncertainties are volatile energy prices, climate framework, energy-water nexus, and the impact of a weak currency given India’s dependence on energy imports. Meanwhile, developing renewable energy and energy storage requires further action.
Dr Frei added:
“Renewables and energy storage have huge potential in helping India increase energy access and enhance security of supply. But in order to do so, the sector must find the right innovations and the right investments to integrate those technologies into the Indian power system. The opportunities are huge, and having the right enabling policies are crucial to delivering those opportunities.”
The 2013 World Energy Issues Monitor is the latest of the WEC’s annual assessment of the issues impacting the global and regional energy sector based on the views of the WEC’s energy leadership community. It identifies the key uncertainties while highlighting the areas where action is most required to enable the sustainable supply and use of energy. For the first time, the study this year includes specific assessments of selected countries: Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Switzerland.
The 2013 World Energy Issues Monitor was unveiled at the World Energy Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi yesterday (6 February), where over 70 ministers and CEO’s from more than 30 countries gathered to discuss the critical issues affecting the energy world.
Dr Frei will be attending the Africa Energy Indaba this coming week in Johannesburg, South Africa and will refer to this report with a special focus on Africa and South Africa in his keynote address, titled “What keeps energy leaders awake at night in 2013.”
To download the report: www.worldenergy.org/publications
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the World Energy Council
The World Energy Council (WEC) is the principal impartial network of leaders and practitioners promoting an affordable, stable and environmentally sensitive energy system for the greatest benefit of all. Formed in 1923, WEC is the UN-accredited global energy body, representing the entire energy spectrum, with more than 3000 member organisations located in over 90 countries and drawn from governments, private and state corporations, academia, NGOs and energy-related stakeholders. WEC informs global, regional and national energy strategies by hosting high-level events, publishing authoritative studies and working through its extensive member network to facilitate the energy policy dialogue.
Further details at www.worldenergy.org and @WECouncil
World Energy Leaders’ Summit (WELS)
The World Energy Leaders’ Summit is organised twice a year by the World Energy Council (WEC) for its community of global energy leaders to engage in a high-level dialogue on the critical issues affecting the energy world.
WELS is generally held in countries critical to world energy interests, and co-hosted by the country’s energy minister and the Chair of the WEC’s Member Committee of that country. Participation is by invitation only and is exclusively for the WEC’s Patron and Global Partner CEOs, a select number of energy ministers, the WEC’s Officers and Chairs of National Member Committees, and select guests and experts.
About the Africa Energy Indaba:
The conference and exhibition is adopted by the World Energy Council (WEC) as the African regional event of the WEC and receives global recognition as the foremost event for energy professionals from across the globe. Presented by the South African National Energy Association (SANEA) in association with the World Energy Council, and supported by the African Union and the NEPAD Planning & Coordinating Agency, the forum has achieved the highest level of endorsement and support and as such is without doubt the leading energy event in Africa.
The Africa Energy Indaba 2013 will be held from the 19th - 21st February 2013, at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference continues to grow and has become the foremost forum for debating and exchanging solutions to Africa's energy challenges and focuses on: African power suppliers; alternative and renewable energies; oil and gas; the legal and regulatory framework, and investment opportunities in African energy projects, to name a few. The exhibition has become a significant marketplace for African and international stakeholders doing business in Africa's energy sector. Further details at www.africaenergyindaba.com