4. From the sign to the market

4.1 Market Overview

Global energy consumption is growing faster than the population. This trend, combined with the increasing scarcity and rising cost of fossil fuels, necessitates a shift in the energy paradigm. Two non-mutually exclusive approaches are being explored: reducing energy consumption and shifting to alternative energy sources. The decline in per capita consumption is already underway, particularly in Northern countries (for example, in Canada – 17%, in the United–States – 19%, in the European Union – 16%, and in the United Kingdom – 38%) since the year 2000. Nevertheless, total global primary energy consumption continues to rise (+2.61% in 2024) across all continents, partly due to population growth and economic development. This is particularly pronounced in middle-income...