A look to the past shows us: times that call for radical change are also times of innovation. Creativity is fuelled particularly when crises make it necessary to rethink existing structures.

With the study “Energy – Quo Vadis?” our objective is to provide decision-makers in the energy industry with professional support for the sustainable use of available opportunities. We have therefore compiled a selection of practical guidelines on future methods, diverse scenarios, wild cards, roadmaps, interesting innovations, visions and current trends. This is an enormous range, which will help you to intensively analyse and use the challenges and opportunities held by the future.

Alberto Martín Rivals, Head of Energy and Natural Resources, KPMG in Spain, explains the first scenario of the study:

There is no single, definitive future for the energy industry. For this reason we introduce four potential scenarios in “Energy – Quo Vadis?”. Each of the four possible “futures” focuses on a different aspect:

World of Energy Disruption

By the year 2035, the scarcity of resources (energy resources, water, ground surface, food) has drastically increased. Everyone is talking about “scarcity management”, especially in Europe, where it is perceived of as a productive discipline and driver of innovation. Young entrepreneurs, start-ups and inventors create such a swirl of turbulence in the European energy sector that it results in the disruption of the traditional industry structure. The energy sector is characterised by a wide range of innovative niche technologies, which display continuous and rapid growth.

World of Energy Lifestyle

The world has become extremely fast-paced. In 2035, European society strives for a modern, ethically sophisticated and expressive lifestyle. Technologies are an expression of individual lifestyle and chic. Electric mobility has become a mass market and electric vehicles are utilised as decentralized power plant fleets. Value creation in Europe is oriented towards a balance between production and service; collaborative consumption contributes significantly here.

World of the Energy Jungle

In 2035, the world looks back on years of continued unrest, wars and conflicts. The States of Europe fight against energy crimes. Pipelines are tapped and tampered with in troubled regions; the security of supply is jeopardised. Companies suffer as a result of international conflicts; their security costs become astronomical. The trend shows company groups becoming their own power plant operators, at an even higher rate than in the past.

World of the Regulated Energy Autonomy

The world has grown closer together. The EU has successfully created a high degree of stability and security. The quest for energy autonomy is strong: households, municipalities and countries want to independently cover their own energy requirements. The use of wind energy, geothermal energy and mini power plants is booming. By 2035, companies will be rewarded with tax reductions for the documented reduction of energy consumption. The European energy mix is marked by a significant percentage of renewable energies.The Energy Industry in 2035 Predict the future? Nobody is able to do that. But due to its strong focus on the transfer of the scenario results, the study “Energy – Quo Vadis?” does provide a document – with which managers can work practically and pragmatically – to design and implement a process to strategically forecast the future. This clearly differentiates the study from others, which only offer the reader a general outlook of the future.