New technologies may change energy markets and geopolitics in three main ways: 1) President Putin argues that hydrocarbons are not ending soon and access to modern energy is important, showing Russia's reliance on oil revenues. 2) Russia's GDP closely tracks the volatile oil price, leaving their future uncertain as technologies develop. 3) Changing energy technologies could impact geopolitics and political freedom as countries reliant on oil revenues may face new challenges to their stability.

1. Will new technologies change energy
markets?—Some “macro” notes
Torbjörn Becker
Director of SITE

2. “Putin does not see the end of the era of hydrocarbons”
“…common goal is to ensure
that all people in the world have
access to modern energy
sources…
…many started saying that
the era of hydro-carbons was
coming to an end…no real
reason for such far-reaching
conclusion yet. …Mankind is
moving towards green energy.”
President Putin at World
Energy Congress in Istanbul
quotes from pravda.ru

3. Russia and oil—uncertain future?
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
GDP/cap USD Oil USD
Russian GDP and oil price

4. How will geopolitics be affected when
technologies change?
7/7
6/6
1/1
1/1
6/5
2/2
?/?
5/5
6/6
4/5
5/5
4/4
Political freedom/Civil liberty (Freedom House 1 to 7)

5. 1
Welcome to SITE’s 10th Energy day