01. Definition

What is the energy crisis?

The energy crisis stems from the foreseeable end of the cycle of oil, gas and coal, which, in addition, have been producing a considerable increase in greenhouse gases (GHG).

In recent years, many scientists have raised their voice to warn about climate change, caused notably by the burning of oil and coal in order to produce energy.

02. Causes

Energy crisis causes

Global energy consumption is increasing and we will face a shortage of fossil fuels in the coming decades. Therefore, the availability of reserves is an important source of concern.

Overconsumption: our current consumption model relies almost entirely on the use of non-renewable energy sources such as oil, gas, coal and uranium. At the current rate of consumption, oil will be the first fossil fuel to run out. According to projections, there would be between 40 and 60 years of proven reserves of conventional oil. Natural gas could be exploited for another 70 years. For coal, there would be around two centuries of reserves.
Overpopulation: these data are to be put into perspective because they are based on current consumption, while it is clear that it will increase considerably. Energy demands are and will be amplified by the demographic - the world’s population should reach nearly 10 billion people in 2050 - and economic boom of growing areas. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global energy demand could increase by more than 50% by 2030 in the absence of public policies in this area.
Aging infrastructure: another reason for energy shortage and scarcity is the poor infrastructure of power generating equipment. Most of energy producing companies keep on using outdated equipments that limits energy production. The need to upgrade the infrastructure and set a high standard of performance is critical.
Energy waste: mainly coming from the unnecessary use of energy resources, energy waste describes the wastage of energy sources, in particular fuels and electricity. Consequently, the reduction of waste is a colossal source of energy savings, which requires actions both on an individual and collective level.

03. Impacts

Energy crisis effects

Environmental: the massive use of traditional energy sources leads - among other things - to the increase of greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO2), resulting in global warming and harming the environment and biodiversity. Therefore, the energy crisis is closely linked to the environmental crisis.
Economic and socio-political: energy security is one of the major concerns of the main economic centers of the planet. In fact, energy conditions the possibility of growth, which is essential to the market economy and its development model. The energy crisis could thus have a dramatic impact on the global economy. Besides, when energy markets fail, an energy shortage develops. Energy shortages and resulting economic factors may create socio-political issues.

04. Solutions

Energy crisis solutions

The Solar Impulse Label is granted to innovative solutions to energy crisis that meet high standards of sustainability and profitability. Each solution goes through a strict assessment process performed by independent experts.

Feb 2021

IMEON Solar Hybrid Inverter with AI

Solar hybrid inverters and operating system housing multiple power converters in one enclosure

Buildings & Constructions
Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)

Nov 2019

Homaya PAYG

A solar home system pay as you go solution for off-grid entrepreneurs avoiding use of diesel gensets

Buildings & Constructions
Industrial Processes & Consumer Goods

Feb 2022

SOLARCAMP

A digital platform to open untapped energetic resources from car batteries through vehicle-to-grid technology.

Buildings & Constructions
Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)
Mobility

Nov 2020

Aquilon CO2 CRAC Unit

An energy efficient data center cooling unit using carbon dioxide as refrigerant

Buildings & Constructions
Industrial Processes & Consumer Goods

05. Implementations

Energy crisis solutions implementations

VG Holz by Demet'Air implemented by Toulouse Métropole in Toulouse (France) in 2019

Move Heat 2 Cold by Water Horizon implemented by Toulouse Métropole in Toulouse (France) in 2020

ElectricFeel Shared Mobility OS by ElectricFeel implemented by City of Basel (Switzerland) in Basel (Switzerland) in 2018

Coomtech Kinetic Energy Drying System by Coomtech Ltd implemented by Hive Aggregates in Retford (United Kingdom) in 2023

VoltControl Voltage Stabilizer by VoltControl implemented by Commune de Collombey-Muraz in Collombey-muraz (Switzerland) in 2021

Climkit Community by Climkit SA implemented by Société Coopérative d'Habitation Charmontey in Vevey (Switzerland) in 2018

Multidrains geothermal wells by ENGIE implemented by City of Velizy-Villacoublay (France) in Velizy-Villacoublay (France) in 2021

Enverse SkyBridge by Enverse implemented by Hinckley Recycling in Lagos (Nigeria) in 2024

WAISENSE COMFORT by Waisense implemented by Private owner, with a family of 4 members in Madrid (Spain) in 2022

SFERENO PRO by SFERENO implemented by City of Lille in Lille (France) in 2019

Eliq Utility Customer Engagement Platform by Eliq implemented by Schneider Electric in Rueil-Malmaison (France) in 2022

MOBILE DRIVES INVERTERS by Bucher Hydraulics AG implemented by GINAF TRUCKS NEDERLAND B.V. in Amsterdam (Netherlands) in 2014

Excess Materials Exchange (EME) by Excess Materials Exchange implemented by Enfield Council in Einfield (United Kingdom) in 2022

FLEXINERGY INFRASTRUCTURE by Evolution Energie implemented by Groupe ADP in Paris (France) in 2018

Tiko by tiko Energy Solutions AG implemented by Régie Immobilière de la Ville de Paris in Paris (France) in 2021

Tiko by tiko Energy Solutions AG implemented by Mobility in Zürich (Switzerland) in 2022

06. Conclusion

Energy crisis prevention

The good news is that there are ways to reduce the energy crisis:

Energy transition to renewable energy sources: unlike fossil fuels, some energy sources are totally renewable, and do not emit greenhouse gases. These clean and sustainable alternative energy solutions include solar energy, hydropower, wind energy, geothermal energy and biomass energy.
Energy efficiency and conservation: in order to prevent an energy crisis, it is also crucial that we consume less energy by improving and modernising energy infrastructure such as smart grid solutions, and smart cities. It is also important that we replace old devices by energy efficient solutions, such as replacing traditional light bulbs by LEDs.

Connect with us

Any questions

Feel free to get in touch with us
pauline.michiels@solarimpulse.com

Explorer for sustainability

Bertrand dedicates his life to demonstrate the opportunities lying in sustainable development and to raise interest in profitable solutions to protect the environment.

Pioneering vision

As a pioneer, he understood that fighting climate change with clean and efficient technologies is opening-up new industrial markets and offering a unique and profitable opportunity for economic growth.

Collaborators

The Solar Impulse Foundation has entered in close and impactful collaboration with several international institutions, corporations, states and cities around the world to facilitate the identification, assessment, funding and implementation of efficient solutions.

Supporters

The Solar Impulse Foundation is working with like-minded incubators, accelerators and organizations, creating a qualitative worldwide network to boost the adoption of efficient solutions.

The search-engine for climate action

The Explorer is a one-of-a-kind search engine that showcases profitable climate solutions from all over the world which are part of an ever-growing, curated, and publicly-accessible database.

Explore

Industrial Processes & Consumer Goods

Buildings & Construction

Utilities (Water, Energy, Waste)

Agrifood & Natural Environment

Mobility

A label focused on both environment and profitability

Assessed by independent experts, the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution label, serves as a credible marker of quality to decision-makers in business and governments.

Submit your Efficient Solution

For the first time a label assesses the economic profitability of solutions that protect the environment.
Sign up to become a Member of the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions and submit it now!

What is the Experts’ role in evaluating the Solutions?

The Experts are key in the labelling process, using their technical and professional expertise to assess and critique Solutions seeking the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label.