Last week (21/1) and on the occasion of the start of the new year the Institute send out a comprehensive, 25 page, Briefing Note to its members where it presented an outlook for 2019 on the global and regional energy scene.Last week (21/1) and on the occasion of the start of the new year the Institute send out a comprehensive, 25 page, Briefing Note to its members where it presented an outlook for 2019 on the global and regional energy scene. The main takeaways from the global scene included a forecast on coal demand which is predicted to remain stable over the next 5 years with China accounting for half of the world's coal consumption. On the strength of higher production the USA is slated to become an increasingly important LNG supplier to the world, in terms of both deliveries and contracts for the future.
At the same time the costs of renewable electricity will continue to fall, albite at lower a pace, after leveling off in 2014/2016, together with the costs of energy storage. A sharp increase of electric vehicle sales is also forecasted for 2019 in the order of +60% compared to last year, with the total number of plug in vehicles on the road to exceed 5,4 million by the end of this year. Global oil demand is expected to stay robust, growing at + 1,3 to 1,4 mb/d., over the coming months although this could be affected downwards if predictions for an economic slump come true.
In its second part IENE' s Briefing Note No.10 deals with the energy scene in South East Europe and forecasts likely developments in the electricity and gas markets both in terms of infrastructure and market development. Inevitably the forecast focuses on progress in the various projects associated with the "expanded south corridor"and efforts to enhance electricity and gas trading in the region, including the establishment of various gas hubs. Attention is also paid on the further development of Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Efficiency and how these fit with EU's broader efforts to promote decarbonisation in the region. Finally this latest Briefing Note contains a review of latest activity and an outlook on hydrocarbons, both in the Upstream and Downstream sectors.
