Energy Odyssey: Glimpse into 2100

The world of 2100 will be drastically different from today, and experts warn that the decisions we make now will shape the energy landscape of the future.

With a global population expected to reach between 10 and 11 billion, the coming century promises unprecedented challenges and opportunities for energy production, consumption, and sustainability, according to The National. 

Most traditional forecasts, such as those by Opec, the International Energy Agency (IEA), or BP, run to 2050. That is not so far away now: time enough only to fit in two or at best three cycles of spending on energy megaprojects. As these projections approach their limits, there is increasing pressure to extend horizons beyond 2050, with 2100 now coming into focus.

What we do today will have lasting impacts on future generations. The world’s oldest nuclear power plant, for example, is still expected to be running in 2040, 71 years after its launch. Similarly, the Masjed-i Soleiman oil field in Iran, the first of its kind in the Middle East, has been producing for over 100 years.

The National writes that the first oilfield in the Middle East, Masjed-i Soleiman in Iran, is still producing today, 117 years later. 

This long-lasting infrastructure is a stark reminder of how pivotal today's energy choices are. Without action, up to 40% of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere now could still be affecting future generations for thousands of years. The need for sustainable energy solutions is pressing.

As energy use rises globally—especially in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, where 730 million people still live without electricity—the future demand for power is expected to increase exponentially. The people of 2100, their computers and robots, will consume much more energy than today, experts predict.

How will the world meet this surging demand? Environmentalists and energy professionals are already converging around renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower. Improved solar panel efficiency and advanced batteries are on the horizon, along with innovations like space-based solar power and long-distance electricity transmission. Solar harvesters will be everywhere: on building walls and windows, in paint, vehicles and clothes, the article says. 

In the race to innovate, nuclear power—especially small modular reactors—and fusion energy may also play crucial roles. With fusion reactors expected to become a reality by the 2040s, they could quickly take over large-scale electricity production. By the 2040s, if not earlier, practical fusion reactors should be a reality, according to the article. 

Despite these advancements, fossil fuels will remain part of the equation for the foreseeable future. While oil and gas extraction will likely decrease, they will still be needed for certain industries, particularly transportation. “Even the best batteries will not take a ship or plane across continents,” the report warns.

Meanwhile, carbon capture technology will take on an even more significant role. Every tonne of carbon dioxide they release, though, will be captured, or accounted for and removed elsewhere, says the article, with large-scale CO2 removal becoming a major industry by mid-century.

By 2100, the world may need to rely on geo-engineering to prevent disastrous climate outcomes. By the 2030s, someone will try it on a large scale.

In the end, the fate of future generations rests on the choices we make today. By 2100, humanity must evolve into responsible planetary stewards, prepared to take on the responsibility we have long ignored.

By Sabina Mammadli