As the world’s population grows, the demand for primary energy, and hence electrical energy, is growing massively with it. At the same time, the demand for individual electrical power is increasing, especially as the so-called emerging nations are seeing their energy demand soar as they strive to become industrialised. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that businesses and private households will need around 60% more energy by 2030 than they do today. With their massive populations, China and India will account for two-thirds of the increasing demand forecast.

The result, ‘More and more people needing more and more energy’, is shown in Figure 1.1. Between 2000 and 2020, world population is set to increase from six to eight billion (33%), but the demand for energy is forecast to rise at nearly twice the rate, by around 62%. This increase will mean major challenges in terms of a sustainable energy supply, based on the three-pillar concept of balancing economics, ecology and society, as set at the world summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.