Digitalize to decarbonize

The energy accessibility and affordability challenge is of critical urgency right now , certainly in Europe but also globally . The UN predicts that the world population will hit 9.7 billion in 2050 , up from eight billion and alongside this , the global middle-class is now growing and will soon make up almost half of the world ’ s population ( 48 percent ), or 3.8 billion people , and continues to grow in number . A growing population and growing middle class is driving the growth trajectory for products and resources and is largely responsible for the 50 percent increase in global energy demand by 2050 , and 75 percent increase in electricity demand , that is predicted by the World Energy Outlook Report published by IEA . The collective economic power of these individuals is expanding , especially in Asia and the global