China, India to lead energy consumption

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Economic growth in India and China were contributing factors in a prediction that world energy consumption will increase 53 percent by 2035, the EIA said.

Howard Gruenspecht, acting administrator at the U.S. Energy Information Administration, said top energy consumer China is expected to use 68 percent more energy than the United States within the next quarter century.

The EIA said the expected increase in world energy consumption by 53 percent by 2035 to be driven largely by economic growth in China and India.

"China and India account for half of the projected increase in world energy use over the next 25 years," Gruenspecht said in a statement.

World leaders are touting their push toward a green economy as concerns over conventional resources loom. The EIA said renewable energy is expected to be the fasting growing source of energy during the next 25 years.

Fossil fuels, with natural gas leading the way, are expected to remain the primary source of energy, however. The EIA said supplies of so-called unconventional natural gas, which includes shale gas, are expected to increase substantially, with the United States, Canada and China leading the way.