1.7

ECONOMIC GROWTH

AND POPULATION

Infinite economic growth is not possible and to maintain it, sooner or later, the renewable potential to generate energy would be exhausted in Spain. This study sets out a conservative scenario where growth is lessened and, although within the considered time-frame (2007-2050) economic growth rates remain fairly constant, the trend is zero growth by 2250. By then, welfare is maintained, but it does not depend on economic growth.

 

The energy scenarios are based on the INE's (National Statistics Institute, by its initials in Spanish) population scenarios and considers scenario- 1 of those published in 2009, according to which the population in mainland Spain will be 48.85 million people by 2050.