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Companies belonging to the energy sector will be affected directly and indirectly by a number of disruptive opportunities and challenges that will jeopardize their corporate longevity over the coming decades. While described in detail within Quantumrun’s special reports, these disruptive trends can be summarized along the following broad points:
- First off, the most obvious disruptive trend is the shrinking cost and increasing energy generating capacity of renewable sources of electricity, such as wind, tidal, geothermal and (especially) solar. The economics of renewables are advancing at such a rate that further investments into more traditional sources of electricity, such as coal, gas, petroleum, and nuclear, are becoming less competitive in many parts of the world.
- Concurrent with the growth of renewables is the shrinking cost and increasing energy storing capacity of utility-scale batteries that can store electricity from renewables (like solar) during the day for release during the evening.
- The energy infrastructure in much of North America and Europe is decades old and is currently in the two-decade-long process of being rebuilt and reimagined. This will result in the installation of smart grids that are more stable and resilient, and will spur the development of a more efficient and decentralized energy grid in many parts of the world.
- The growing cultural awareness and acceptance of climate change is accelerating the public’s demand for clean energy, and ultimately, their government’s investment into cleantech infrastructure projects.
- As Africa, Asia, and South America continue to develop over the next two decades, their populations’ increasing demand first world living conditions will spur demand for modern energy infrastructure that will keep energy sector building contracts going strong into the foreseeable future.
- Significant breakthroughs in Thorium and fusion energy will be made by the mid-2030s, leading to their rapid commercialization and global adoption.
These broad trends will have far-reaching effects on the energy sector that will influence the sector’s long-term development.
To stay informed about these and other trends, as well as the emerging opportunities and threats facing the energy sector, consider investing in Quantumrun Foresight sector forecast reports. Contact us today to learn more.
