A view to 2040
Updated each year, the Outlook analyzes the trends that will shape global energy supply and demand over the coming decades.
The Outlook for Energy is ExxonMobil’s long-term view of our shared energy future. We develop the Outlook annually to assess future trends in energy supply, demand and technology to help guide the long-term investments that underpin our business strategy.
This year’s report reveals a number of key findings about how we use energy, how much we will need in the future and what types of fuels will meet demand.
Key findings of this year’s Outlook include:
- Efficiency will continue to play a key role in solving our energy challenges.
- Energy demand in developing nations (Non OECD) will rise 65 percent by 2040 compared to 2010, reflecting growing prosperity and expanding economies.
- With this growth comes a greater demand for electricity1.
- Growth in transportation sector demand2 will be led by expanding commercial activity as our economies grow.
- Technology is enabling the safe development of once hard-to-produce energy resources, significantly expanding available supplies3 to meet the world’s changing energy needs. Oil will remain the No. 1 global fuel, while natural gas will overtake coal for the No. 2 spot.
- Evolving demand and supply patterns will open the door for increased global trade4 opportunities.
The Outlook provides a window to the future, a view that we use to help guide our own strategies and investments. Over the next five years, ExxonMobil expects to invest approximately $185 billion in energy projects. Given the magnitude of our investments, it’s critical that we take an objective and data-driven approach to ensure that we have the most accurate picture of energy trends.