1. Global energy context

1.1 Growing energy demand

The rapid development of shale oil and gas in the United States, with its economic and environmental consequences, has put the energy transition back in the headlines in recent years. If, as forecast, energy demand increases by 36% over the next twenty-five years, what will be the share of unconventional hydrocarbons in the future energy mix?

The energy transition began in the late 1970s in the wake of the two oil crises. It has accelerated in recent years, driven by a global awareness of the environmental impact of fossil fuel use. According to forecasts by the International Energy Agency (IEA) (figure 1 )