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The Future of the Energy Sector and the Global Economy: Prosumer Capitalism and What Comes Next

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  • Aleksander Jakimowicz

    (Department of World Economy, Institute of Economics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Palace of Culture and Science, 1 Defilad Square, 00-901 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

This paper describes the present and the future of the energy sector in relation to the dominant and constantly evolving form of the global economic system. These considerations have their starting point in transformations of the energy sector in prosumer capitalism, which has dramatically changed the picture of the global economy in recent years. Subsequently, a futuristic approach is applied to determine the role and importance of energy from renewable sources for further human development. The main objective of the paper is to explain the current situation of the energy sector in prosumer capitalism and to extrapolate these relationships for the future, considering the need to enter the path of sustainable development to eliminate the global warming processes and climate changes. A review of the existing scientific literature was applied as the research method. The historical wave concept, proposed by Toffler, was found to be highly useful because of its high potential in futurology, where it enables one to study megatrends. The Fourth Wave was linked to prosumer capitalism, and it provided the base for defining the next ones: the Fifth Wave of Computing (ecosocialism) and the Sixth Wave in the form of technological and energy communism (solar communism). It also turned out that the key to solving mankind’s energy problems lies in the global mean entropy budget. The literature review shows that founding the global energy system on solar radiation is the only known method for eliminating the anthropogenic greenhouse effect, which is the source of global warming and, consequently, of climate change. Therefore, the second law of thermodynamics provides a physical, economic, and logical justification for introducing a new and ultimate management form—solar communism—by 2050.

Suggested Citation

  • Aleksander Jakimowicz, 2022. "The Future of the Energy Sector and the Global Economy: Prosumer Capitalism and What Comes Next," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-26, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:23:p:9120-:d:990634
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bhandari, Khagendra P. & Collier, Jennifer M. & Ellingson, Randy J. & Apul, Defne S., 2015. "Energy payback time (EPBT) and energy return on energy invested (EROI) of solar photovoltaic systems: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 133-141.
    2. Aleksander Jakimowicz & Daniel Rzeczkowski, 2021. "The Impact of Public Administration Digitalization on the Decarbonization of the Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-45, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bożena Gajdzik & Magdalena Jaciow & Radosław Wolniak & Robert Wolny & Wieslaw Wes Grebski, 2023. "Energy Behaviors of Prosumers in Example of Polish Households," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-26, March.
    2. Aleksander Jakimowicz & Daniel Rzeczkowski, 2023. "Contact Zones in the Energy Transition: A Transdisciplinary Complex Problem," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-48, April.
    3. Aleksander Jakimowicz, 2023. "The Material Entropy and the Fourth Law of Thermodynamics in the Evaluation of Energy Technologies of the Future," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-23, April.
    4. Marian Kampik & Marcin Fice & Adam Pilśniak & Krzysztof Bodzek & Anna Piaskowy, 2023. "An Analysis of Energy Consumption in Small- and Medium-Sized Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-21, February.

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