According to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), global energy intensity (amount of energy consumed per unit of GDP) declined by 1.8% in 2015, compared to a 1.5% improvement in 2014, in spite of lower energy prices. Global GDP grew faster than energy consumption (2.7% and 0.8%, respectively). Annual energy savings in 2015 reached 450 Mtoe, or 13% of total final energy consumption in IEA countries.
This highlights the progress made by energy efficiency policies around the world in 2015, particularly in China and in other emerging economies. The energy intensity in China improved by 5.6%, up from an average 3.1%/year over the previous decade, as the GDP rose by 6.9% and primary energy consumption only increased by 0.9% (lowest rate since 1997). The IEA estimates energy efficiency investments in China at US$370bn between 2006 and 2014, reducing the needs for new (coal-fired) power capacities by US$230bn and avoiding the emission of 1.2 GtCO2eq in 2014; in addition, energy savings from efficiency policies were as large as the entire renewable power supply in 2014.
The IEA expects emerging countries to lead energy intensity gains in the future. In the IEA (2015) 450 scenario, global energy intensity should improve by an average 2.6%/year until 2030: energy intensity would fall by 2.2%/year in OECD countries and by 3.7%/year in non-OECD countries.