Introduction

The energy supply sector is the largest contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2010, approximately 35% of total anthropogenic GHG emissions were attributed to this sector. Despite the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, annual GHG-emissions growth from the global energy supply sector accelerated from 1.7% per year in 1990–2000 to 3.1% in 2000–2010 (Section 7.3). Rapid economic growth (with the associated higher demand for power, heat, and transport services) and an increase of the share of coal in the global fuel mix were the main contributors to this trend.

The energy supply sector, as defined in this chapter (Figure 7.1), comprises all energy extraction, conversion, storage, transmission, and distribution processes with the exception of those that use final energy to provide energy services in the end-use sectors (industry, transport, and building, as well as agriculture and forestry). Concerning energy statistics data as reported in Sections 7.2 and 7.3, power, heat, or fuels that are generated on site for own use exclusively are not accounted for in the assessment of the energy supply sector. Note that many scenarios in the literature do not provide a sectoral split of energy-related emissions; hence, the discussion of transformation pathways in Section 7.11 focuses on aggregated energy-related emissions comprising the supply and the end-use sectors.

The allocation of cross-cutting issues among other chapters allows for a better understanding of the Chapter 7 boundaries (see Figure 7.1). The importance of energy for social and economic development is reviewed in Chapters 4 and 5 and to a lesser degree in Section 7.9 of this chapter. Chapter 6 presents long-term transformation pathways and futures for energy systems.

Transport fuel supply, use in vehicles, modal choice, and the local infrastructure are discussed in Chapter 8. Building integrated power and heat generation as well as biomass use for cooking are addressed in Chapter 9. Responsive load issues are dealt with by chapters 8–10. Chapter 7 considers mitigation options in energy-extraction industries (oil, gas, coal, uranium, etc.), while other extractive industries are addressed in Chapter 10.