With the surge in energy demand set to rise, the world faces enormous challenges in providing sufficient energy to meet the requirements of a growing world population with rising living standards. In doing so, we must ensure a minimum disruption of our environment in order to mitigate global climate complexities, according to Mark Carne, Executive Vice President, Shell Upstream International and member of Royal Dutch Shell’s Upstream International Leadership Team. Carne’s comments came during a Tuesday lecture titled “Addressing the Global Energy Challenge and the Looming Zone of Uncertainty.”

 

Moderated by Justin Dargin, a Research Fellow with the Dubai Initiative, Fulbright Scholar of the Middle East and specialist in International Law and Energy Law, the event highlighted the growing uncertainty of conventional energy and the need for alternative sustainable energy resources to meet impending energy demands. An open discussion additionally examined how public opinion can be channelled to influence governmental energy policies.

 

Carne added: “The main approach we are adopting as a solution to the energy challenge focuses on increasing global energy supplies, innovating alternative energy resources such as renewables, and reducing the carbon intensity of existing fossil fuels. We believe that this is the role all major suppliers should follow to meet rising demand in a sustainable way.”

 

Global energy demand is set to triple by 2050 at the current rate of consumption, according to a report published by Shell on global energy use. Under its Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, Dubai plans to reduce energy imports and climate warming carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent by 2030, using its own solar power as well as nuclear power imported from Abu Dhabi. By 2030, Dubai aims to generate 71 percent of its electricity supplies from gas, 12 percent from coal, 12 percent from nuclear that would imported, mainly from Abu Dhabi, and 5 percent from solar power. The UAE expects to start its first nuclear power plant in 2017, and hopes that nuclear energy will eventually supply 25 percent of its power requirements.

 

Justin Dargin said: “Through the introduction of a carbon-management strategy, GCC countries can reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, as well as conserve their oil and gas resources for future generations. It is imperative for state governments and organisations in the GCC region to continually develop renewable and nuclear projects if they are to meet the soaring energy demands.”

 

During Mark Carne’s initial 20-year association with Shell, he led general management roles in the UK, Europe, Brunei and Oman, covering operations, engineering, commercial and business development. In 2005, he joined the BG Group as Executive Vice-President and Managing Director for the Europe and Central Asia region. Following his five-year tenure, he returned to Shell in the role of Executive Vice President, Shell Upstream International.