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The [[World Energy Council]]<ref>[http://www.worldenergy.org/publications/2013/world-energy-scenarios-composing-energy-futures-to-2050/ World energy scenarios]</ref> sees world electricity consumption increasing to more than 40,000 TWh/a in 2040. The fossil part of generation depends on energy policy. It can stay around 70% in the so-called '''Jazz''' scenario where countries rather independently "improvise" but it can also decrease to around 40% in the '''Symphony''' scenario if countries work "orchestrated" for more climate friendly policy. Carbon dioxide emissions, 32 Gt/a in 2012, will increase to 46 Gt/a in Jazz but decrease to 26 Gt/a in Symphony. Accordingly, until 2040 the renewable part of generation will stay at about 20% in Jazz but increase to about 45% in Symphony.
===Artificial intelligence power demands===
In 2024 demand for electricity, stagnant since 2004, began to surge and electric utilities raised their power-needed forecasts for 2028 by a factor of 100%. This is based on the projected number of new data centers to support the [[Artificial intelligence|artificial intelligence]] (AI) escalation, a resurgence in US manufacturing, and the prospect of more electric vehicles. The [[North American Electric Reliability Corporation]], who monitors the health of the US energy grid, has reported that, if more electrical energy generation is not available soon, significant sections of the US could face blackouts. <ref>{{cite news |last1=Plumer |first1=Brad |last2=Popovich |first2=Nadja |title=A New Surge in Power Use Is Threatening U.S. Climate Goals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/13/climate/electric-power-climate-change.html?searchResultPosition=4 |work=The New York Times |date=14 March 2024}}</ref> The [[Boston Consulting Group]] has predicted that, by 2030, electricity demand for US data centers, specifically for AI, could triple. <ref>{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Vivian |title=The Impact of GenAI on Electricity: How GenAI is Fueling the Data Center Boom in the U.S. |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/impact-genai-electricity-how-fueling-data-center-boom-vivian-lee%3FtrackingId=R1qLj6%252B8STaQuYg0aArwDQ%253D%253D/?trackingId=R1qLj6%2B8STaQuYg0aArwDQ%3D%3D |language=en}}</ref> The [[International Energy Agency]]’s forecast that carbon emissions would continue to decline remains in effect, as low carbon emission energy sources – wind, solar, nuclear and hydro - are projected to account for almost 50% of global power sources by 2026, up from 40% in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Petroni |first1=Giulia |title=Global Emissions From Electricity Set to Fall Even as Power Demand Climbs, IEA Predicts |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-emissions-from-electricity-set-to-fall-even-as-power-demand-climbs-iea-predicts-181b5227?mod=article_inline |work=WSJ}}</ref>
In 2024, it remained uncertain precisely how much increased electrical power the AI data center technology might require, but there is general agreement in technology companies that AI data centers will require so much power “…they could strain the power grid and stymie the transition to cleaner energy sources.” There is a new data center constructed globally every three days. Many US utilities are considering construction of natural gas-powered facilities which can provide the reliable power that the AI centers need. Wind and solar, because of the unpredictability of weather, cannot provide that reliability. Large enough nuclear electrical power production facilities (only one is under construction in the US in 2024) remain expensive and time-intensive to construct.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blunt |first1=Katherine |last2=Hiller |first2=Jennifer |title=Big Tech’s Latest Obsession Is Finding Enough Energy |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/big-techs-latest-obsession-is-finding-enough-energy-f00055b2 |work=WSJ}}</ref>
===Consumer reaction===
An EU survey conducted on climate and energy consumption in 2022 found that 63% of people in the European Union want energy costs to be dependent on use, with the greatest consumers paying more. This is compared to 83% in China, 63% in the UK and 57% in the US.<ref name=":82">{{Cite web |title=2022-2023 EIB Climate Survey, part 1 of 2: Majority of Europeans say the war in Ukraine and high energy prices should accelerate the green transition |url=https://www.eib.org/en/surveys/climate-survey/5th-climate-survey/eu-usa-china.htm |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=EIB.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Energy poverty |url=https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/markets-and-consumers/energy-consumer-rights/energy-poverty-eu_en |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=energy.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> 24% of Americans surveyed believing that people and businesses should do more to cut their own usage (compared to 20% in the UK, 19% in the EU, and 17% in China).<ref name=":822">{{Cite web |title=2022-2023 EIB Climate Survey, part 1 of 2: Majority of Europeans say the war in Ukraine and high energy prices should accelerate the green transition |url=https://www.eib.org/en/surveys/climate-survey/5th-climate-survey/eu-usa-china.htm |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=EIB.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Energy efficiency directive |url=https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-targets-directive-and-rules/energy-efficiency-directive_en |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=energy.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref>
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