As Enbridge President and CEO Greg Ebel is fond of saying, “You can’t run a full-time economy on part-time power.”
And when those economies are increasingly driven by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) applications, data center expansion and a resurgence of manufacturing, that means not only keeping pace with demand—but doing so with an energy mix that’s reliable, secure and affordable, requires a solution that works for both consumers and competitiveness, and balances economic priorities with the pace of energy transition.
The bottom line? There’s no single energy solution. Meeting energy demand reliably and affordably will take all of them.
The demand stats are staggering:
- Data center energy requirements will surpass 1,000 TWh by next year—representing load growth that’s tripled over the past decade, and is projected to double or triple again in just the next three years.
- Semiconductor factories often use as much power as an entire town.
- Capital expenditures in U.S. manufacturing are expected to grow by more than 5%.
- And while all of this is happening, emerging economies also require more energy, accounting for about 85% of additional global energy demand.
“It’s our long-held view that growing energy demand fundamentals mean that all forms of energy are going to be needed for decades to come,” says Ebel. “Enbridge’s diversified business mix is ideally positioned to be able to meet this growing demand in all of those areas—oil and natural gas, lower-carbon opportunities and renewable power.”
Together, conventional and renewable sources enhance longevity, resiliency
Combined, oil and natural gas are expected to make up nearly 50% of the energy mix over the next 25 years. Demand for natural gas alone is expected to rise by double digits through 2040.
Consider all the uses for oil beyond transportation. One in three barrels of oil goes to making everyday items like toothbrushes and birthday candles, cosmetics and polyester clothing. The other two-thirds of global oil demand is used for transportation including passenger vehicles, long-haul trucking and aviation.
Natural gas is a safe, affordable way to cook food, heat and cool homes and businesses, and fuel manufacturing and heavy industry like chemicals, steel and cement. We have an abundant supply of natural gas in North America, with enough resource to support energy needs overseas and replace higher-emission coal.
Natural gas plays an important role in the drive to electrification. It's the second-largest source of electricity globally, making up 20% of generation. And it’s a reliable partner to renewable power generation to provide permanent power solutions when the wind isn’t blowing and sun isn’t shining.
Wind and solar continue to grow, driven by lower costs, commercial and residential customer demand, and the sheer scale of electricity demand. In 2024, renewables made up almost three-quarters of overall increase in global power generation.
