Global Energy Outlook
Explore the definitive comparative analysis of global energy projections
Introduction
The Global Energy Outlook (GEO) provides a unique “apples-to-apples” comparison of global energy projections by leading international organizations and corporations. It provides insight into the range of potential futures for energy at global, regional, and national levels, with projections varying due to distinct assumptions regarding energy technologies and public policies. The GEO includes projections and historical data from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Equinor, the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Shell, and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Read the 2022 GEO Report or view the press release.
Report — Apr 7, 2022
Global Energy Outlook 2022: Turning Points and Tension in the Energy Transition
RFF's annual Global Energy Outlook report examines a range of projections for the global energy system, summarizing key implications for global energy consumption, emissions, and geopolitics.
RFF Live — Apr 7, 2022
The Global Energy Outlook 2022: Turning Points and Tension in the Energy Transition
An in-depth panel discussion on some of the potential long-term outlooks for energy markets in a year marked by progress and peril
Our 2022 Global Energy Outlook is accompanied by an interactive data tool, which allows users to visualize, compare, and download harmonized data from each projection:
How the GEO Works
The Global Energy Outlook data tool allows users to explore harmonized data and projections from the world’s leading energy organizations. You can compare across or within outlooks using the following tools:
Measurement: Select which metric you want to visualize, such as primary energy consumption, CO2 emissions, electricity generation, and more.
Data series: Select how you’d like to compare the data. Select “outlooks and scenarios” to see projections from each organization on your topic of interest. Select “Regions,” “Sectors,” or “Fuels” to compare across regions, sectors, or fuels within your chosen outlook.
Filters: Find the data you're looking for by filtering between different outlooks, regions, fuel types, and sectors. Note that these options will change depending on your chosen Data Series.
Methods and Documentation
For a detailed description of our harmonization process, please see:
For additional documentation on the web tool, including definitions and details for measurements, sectoral groupings, fuels definitions, and regional groupings, please see:
Previous Global Energy Outlook Reports
Previous Global Energy Outlook reports are listed below.
Report — Jun 8, 2021
Global Energy Outlook 2021: Pathways from Paris
Global Energy Outlook 2021: Pathways from Paris
Report — May 20, 2020
Global Energy Outlook 2020: Energy Transition or Energy Addition?
Global Energy Outlook 2020: Energy Transition or Energy Addition?
Report — Jul 1, 2019
Global Energy Outlook 2019: The Next Generation of Energy
Global Energy Outlook 2019: The Next Generation of Energy
Reports from 2018 and prior:
- Global Energy Outlooks Comparison Methods: 2018 Update
- Global Energy Outlooks Comparison Methods: 2017 Update
- Global Energy Outlook 2015
- Global Energy Outlooks Comparison: Methods and Challenges (2015)
Reports for IEF Annual Symposium on Energy Outlooks
RFF President and CEO Richard Newell has partnered with the International Energy Forum (IEF) to prepare intercomparison reports in support of the IEF’s annual Symposium on Energy Outlooks. To view these reports, please visit the page below.
Feedback
If you have comments or suggestions for the GEO team, get in touch by contacting our researchers.
Daniel Raimi
Daniel Raimi is a fellow and director of the Equity in the Energy Transition Initiative at RFF where he works on a range of energy policy issues with a focus on tools to enable an equitable energy transition.
Erin Campbell
Erin Campbell graduated from the University of Rochester in May 2021 with a B.S. in Environmental Health, B.A. in Economics, and a minor in statistics. Her primary research interests are environmental justice related.
Richard G. Newell
Dr. Richard G. Newell is the President and CEO of Resources for the Future. From 2009 to 2011, he served as the administrator of the US Energy Information Administration, the agency responsible for official US government energy statistics and analysis.
Brian C. Prest
Brian Prest is an economist and Fellow at Resources for the Future specializing in climate change, oil and gas, and energy economics.
Seth Villanueva
Seth Villanueva is a senior research analyst at RFF. His current work focuses on energy projection analysis for RFF’s annual Global Energy Outlook report as well as research on the regional and distributional effects of clean energy and climate policy.
Jordan Wingenroth
Jordan Wingenroth is a research associate at RFF. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in May 2019, with an MS in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management.
BNEF. 2021. New Energy Outlook 2021.
US Energy Information Administration. 2021.International Energy Outlook 2021.
Equinor. 2021. Energy Perspectives 2021: An uncertain future.
International Energy Agency. 2021. World Energy Outlook 2021.
IRENA. 2021. World Energy Transitions Outlook: 1.5C Pathway.
OPEC. 2021. World Oil Outlook 2021.
Shell. 2021. Energy Transition Scenarios.
US Energy Information Administration. 2021. World Energy Projection System (WEPS) Module Documentation.
Koomey et al. 2019. Inside the Black Box: Understanding Key Drivers of Global Emission Scenarios. Environmental Modeling and Software (111)1.
IEA. 2019. World Energy Outlook 2019. p. 772.
