Historical data about energy use tell us a lot about expected trends as well as the impact of policy changes, economic growth and projected prices. The 2018 issue of the influential BP Statistical Review of World Energy is preceded by a detailed review of energy developments in 2017. Energy in transition is what we have been used to hearing for more than two decades due to changes in the energy mix fuelling economies. This transition is said to be progressing less rapidly than expected, or desired, by stakeholders. BP cites the increase in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions and the sudden increase in coal consumption as examples of the less expected in 2017. “Global energy demand grew by 2.2 per cent in 2017, up from 1.2 per cent last year and above its 10- year average of 1.7 per cent”, it reads. This higher-than-expected growth is a result of lower […]