Around the world

The 41 countries in our survey spanned the main regions of Asia, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa, and South America. Here we highlight some of the main differences between the regions.

What policies are needed to help meet demand by 2030?

Globally, the emphasis is on a regulatory environment that encourages network investment, the removal of strategic infrastructure planning bottlenecks, and increased interconnection between different electricity systems. The regional responses stressed the same things, except:

  • Survey participants in Asia were less concerned about interconnection between electricity systems, instead emphasising the importance of demand-side management schemes.
  • Reponses from the Middle East and Africa also place a particular emphasis on the importance of renewable energy subsidies.

Will the risk of blackouts change in the period to 2030?

Will the risk of blackouts change in the period to 2030?

2030 scenario: energy efficiency programmes

Industry opinion in North America, Asia and Europe is sceptical whether the potential of energy efficiency programmes can become reality. In contrast, in other parts of the world where the scope for improvements is greater, survey participants are more optimistic.

By 2030, energy efficiency programmes will have largely failed to fulfil their promise and will have had limited impact on dampening demand growth

2030 scenario: smart grid and smart metering

Worries about customer engagement being a barrier to realising the full potential of smart grid and smart metering technology are greatest in North American and Europe.

2030: Smart metering and smart grid technology will be successfully in place but its impact will be limited by shortcomings in customer engagement

2030 scenario: electric cars

Expectations of the development of electric vehicles are weakest in North and South America. Europe and Asia are in line with the global results but, perhaps surprisingly, optimism about the potential of electric-powered personal transport is greatest in the Middle East and Africa.

2030: Electric vehicles will be a significant proportion of the global vehicle fleet

2030 scenario: outlook for fuel poverty

Survey participants in Asia and North America are more optimistic than their counterparts in other parts of the world on the outlook for fuel poverty. Those in the Middle East and Africa are in line with the global results but European and South America response are more pessimistic.

2030 scenario: outlook for fuel poverty