If left unchecked, the IEA predicts energy use by new electronic gadgets will triple by 2030, jeopardising efforts to improve energy security and keep emissions of global warming gases under control.
"Despite anticipated improvements in the efficiency of electronic devices, these savings are likely to be overshadowed by the rising demand for technology," said IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka.
Electronic devices currently account for 15% of household electricity consumption, but their share is rising rapidly, mainly due to growing demand in Africa and the developing world. There are already nearly two billion television sets in use, the Paris-based agency noted, and over half the world's population already subscribe to a mobile phone service.
Over the next seven months, the number of people using a personal computer will surpass the one billion mark, according to the IEA report, 'Gadgets and Gigawatts'.
The rise in demand is expected to bring energy consumption up to 1,700 TWh by 2030, "the equivalent to the current combined total residential electricity consumption of the United States and Japan," said Mr. Tanaka. "It would also cost households around the world $200 billion in electricity bills and require the addition of approximately 280 Gigawatts (GW) of new generating capacity between now and 2030."
On the positive side, the IEA said energy-saving opportunities were considerable, noting that consumption from consumer electronics could be cut by more than half with available technologies.
To deliver these savings, strong public policies are needed, the IEA stressed. "The largest improvement opportunity must come from making hardware and software work together more effectively to ensure that energy is only used when and to the extent needed," the agency said.
"In particular, given that new devices increasingly offer a variety of functions, each of which may have differing energy needs, policies are needed that set maximum energy budgets for each function."
The EU has adopted efficiency standards for dozens of energy-consuming appliances such as TVs and freezers under its 2005 Eco-design Directive (see EurActiv LinksDossier). The text has recently been updated to include all products that have an indirect impact on energy use, such as windows, insulation materials, showers and water taps (EurActiv 27/04/09).
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