--- title: "Global and national energy scenario" subject: "Energy Environment and Society" chapter: 2 key: "semester_7/energy_environment_and_society:global-national-energy-scenario" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/global-national-energy-scenario site: BCT Engineering --- # Global and national energy scenario Energy Environment and Society · Chapter 2: Energy Basics - Asked in: 2072 Chaitra; year not given - Video: [Global Energy Scenario | B.Tech Renewable Energy Management](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7z7Jid8iiM) — Engineering Solutions A2Z - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/global-national-energy-scenario - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/chapter-2 ## Question Explain and comment on the current global and national energy scenario. Describe the energy consumption and production pattern in the world and in Nepal. ## Short answer World primary energy use is about 600 EJ per year, with fossil fuels supplying about 80%; renewables are growing fastest. Nepal consumes about 600–650 PJ, with traditional biomass about 60–65%, imported fossil fuels 25–30%, and electricity only 4–6%. Nepal has over 3,000 MW hydropower and should use it for electric cooking, EVs and industry to replace imports. ## Answer #### Global energy scenario - World primary energy use is about 600 EJ per year (roughly 14,000+ Mtoe) and keeps rising, with demand growing about 1–2% a year, mostly in Asia (China, India). - **Fossil fuels** still supply about 80% of primary energy: oil about 31%, coal about 26–27%, natural gas about 23%. Nuclear is about 4%, hydro about 6–7%, and modern renewables (wind, solar, biofuels) a growing remainder. - In electricity generation, coal is still the largest source (about one-third), while renewables supply about 30%, and solar and wind are the fastest growing. - Per-capita use is very uneven: North America uses about 6–7 toe per person, while many African and South Asian countries use less than 1 toe. - Energy use is the main source of CO₂ (about 37 Gt per year), so climate change and energy security drive the shift to renewables and efficiency. - (Figures are approximate and depend on the year and source, such as IEA and BP.) #### National (Nepal) energy scenario - Total energy consumption is about 600–650 PJ per year, of which **traditional biomass (firewood, dung, residue) is about 60–65%**. Imported fossil fuels (petroleum, coal, LPG) are about 25–30%, and electricity is only about 4–6%. Modern renewable energy is under 2%. - **Sector use:** residential about 60% or more, followed by transport, industry, commercial and agriculture. - **Production:** Nepal produces almost all its electricity from hydropower. Installed capacity is above 3,000 MW (around 3,500 MW or more by 2025, including solar), owned by NEA and private IPPs. Nepal ended load-shedding in 2018 and now exports surplus electricity to India and Bangladesh in the monsoon season, but there can still be dry-season shortages. - Nepal produces no petroleum or natural gas and only a very small amount of coal, so almost all its fossil fuel is imported (mostly from India), which makes up a large share of the trade deficit. - Electricity per capita is about 400 kWh. Access to electricity is above 95% according to national reports (including off-grid). - Potential: about 83,000 MW of hydropower (42,000 MW economically feasible), about 2,100 MW of solar, plus wind and biomass potential. #### Comment The world is still fossil-based but is moving towards renewables. Nepal's problem is the opposite: it is rich in clean hydropower but depends on biomass and imported fuel. Nepal should use its hydropower for electric cooking, electric vehicles and industry to replace imports. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Roughly what share of world primary energy do fossil fuels supply? A. About 20% B. About 80% C. About 50% D. About 95% Answer: B. Fossil fuels supply about 80% of primary energy: oil about 31%, coal 26-27%, gas 23%. (Key point: Global energy mix) 2. Which source supplies the largest share of Nepal's energy consumption? A. Electricity (about 60%) B. Imported petroleum (about 60%) C. Traditional biomass (about 60-65%) D. Solar energy (about 60%) Answer: C. Biomass is 60-65%, imported fossil fuels 25-30%, and electricity only 4-6%. (Key point: Nepal's energy mix) 3. How does Nepal produce almost all its electricity? A. From coal B. From nuclear plants C. From natural gas D. From hydropower Answer: D. Nepal has no petroleum, coal or gas production and generates electricity almost entirely from hydro. (Key point: Nepal's electricity production) 4. What is Nepal's main energy problem according to the comment? A. It is rich in clean hydropower but depends on biomass and imported fuel B. It has no hydropower potential C. It produces too much petroleum D. It has no electricity access at all Answer: A. Nepal should use hydropower for electric cooking, EVs and industry to replace imports. (Key point: Comment on Nepal's problem) ## Related in Energy Environment and Society - [World energy trend, importance of renewables](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aenergy-consumption-trend-re-importance) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 2 - [Renewable energy trend in world](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Arenewable-energy-trend-world) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 2 - [HDI and energy consumption](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Ahdi-energy-relation) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Development, energy rate, HDI of Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Adevelopment-energy-hdi-nepal) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1 - [Avoiding Nepal's energy crisis](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Anepal-energy-crisis-solutions) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 2 - [Energy sector and poverty in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aenergy-development-poverty-nepal) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 2 ## Related in other subjects - [World energy resources and consumption pattern](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fenergy_resources%3Aworld-energy-resources-consumption-pattern) — Energy Resources, chapter 8 - [World renewable energy scenario](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Aworld-renewable-scenario) — Power Plant Design, chapter 1 - [Current environmental issues: Nepal vs global](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Anepal-vs-global-env-issues) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 4 - [Global and national environmental issues](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aglobal-and-nepal-env-issues) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 4, asked 2×