In its latest energy outlook, British energy giant BP predicts that fossil fuels as a primary energy source will decline from 80 percent in 2019 to between 55 and 20 percent in 2050, with renewables rising from 10 percent to between 35 and 65 percent. 

The forecast comes as BP adjusts its expectations around the green energy transition, due to the new uncertainties brought on by the war in Ukraine. 

"Global energy policies and discussions in recent years have been focused on the importance of decarbonizing the energy system and the transition to net zero," wrote BP Chief Economist Spencer Dale in a note. "The events of the past year have served as a reminder to us all that this transition also needs to take account of the security and affordability of energy."

As the report explained, energy security and affordability are competing with sustainability for countries' attention and investment dollars. BP calls this an "energy trilemma." 

"Any successful and enduring energy transition needs to address all three elements of the trilemma," Dale wrote. 

Yet the war in Ukraine isn't the only development changing BP's outlook. Another is the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act in the U.S., which is set to invest billions into green projects. 

The most positive scenarios, in terms of the climate, that BP outlines anticipate four trends:

In all possible cases, the report forecasts that renewables will be adopted  “quicker than any previous fuel in history."

Share:
More In Science
Our Biological Connections With Plants; Mind-Controlled Bionic Hand
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: Brightseed Co-Founder breaks down what plant bioactives are, and how they're using the latest technology to study human's biological connections with plants; Esper Bionics CEO breaks down how they re creating a mind-controlled bionic hand that guest smarter the more you use it; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Capturing A Black Hole In Our Milky Way.'
NOAA Predicts Busier-Than-Usual Hurricane Season
Hurricane climatologist Jill Trepanier joined Cheddar News to discuss NOAA's announced prediction for an above-normal hurricane season and what it might mean for people in the United States. "I think it's important that people who maybe haven't been used to having extreme weather events related to say tropical cycles and tropical systems, like thinking New Jersey, Northeastern seaboard, that area may get more action than they're used to in the past," she said.
Miga Health Raises $12 Million to Combat Heart Disease
Dr. Jarrad Aguirre, Co-Founder and CEO of Miga Health, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he says his company is looking to establish the future of heart health and points to how 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable.
Cooling the Earth; How Global Warming will Impact Real Estate
On this episode of Cheddar Reveals, David Keith, Professor of Applied Physics at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and founder of Carbon Engineering outlines the viability of solar geoengineering as a solution to help reverse the effects of global warming; Lena Geraghty, Sustainability & Urban Innovation Director at National League of Cities, discusses which U.S. cities are safest from global warming and how the real estate market will be impacted from the effects of climate change; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Changing Ocean Asia.'
Artificially Cooling the Planet
David Keith, Professor of Applied Physics at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and founder of Carbon Engineering joins Cheddar Reveals to outline the viability of solar geoengineering as a solution to help reverse the effects of global warming.
Global Warming's Effect on the Real Estate Market
Lena Geraghty, Sustainability & Urban Innovation Director at National League of Cities, joins Cheddar News to discuss which U.S. cities are safest from global warming and how the real estate market will be impacted from the effects of climate change.
What Spending 665 Days in Space Feels Like
Peggy Whitson, Director of Human Space Flight, Axiom Space, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss Axiom's involvement in the first fully-private mission to the ISS, and her experience spending 665 days in space.
Living in Outer Space; A New-Age Twist on Millenia-Old Remedies
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates, Peggy Whitson, Director of Human Space Flight, Axiom Space, breaks down Axiom's involvement in the first fully-private mission to the ISS, and her experience spending 665 days in space; William Li and Danielle Chang, co-founders of The Hao Life, discuss how they're shaking up the $71 billion supplement industry by putting a modern spin on traditional natural Chinese remedies; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Sagrada Familia: Gaudi's Challenge.'
Load More