Compared with the world's largest economies, a group of small and developed ones show more efficiency to achieve affordable, environmentally sustainable and secure energy systems, according to a report published on Wednesday by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
In its Global Energy Architecture Performance Index Report 2017, the WEF ranks 127 countries based on their abilities to provide energy.
It finds that the highest performers, which are primarily smaller countries and advanced economies, can overcome constraints if supporting policies are in place. The top 20 performers on the 2017 index represent a diverse mix, with Switzerland, Norway and Sweden taking the top spots.
However, the world's biggest energy consumers have struggled to take leading positions on the index as they grappled with inherent challenges of their large, complex energy systems and were outperformed by more nimble economies. Overall, some of the largest energy consumers, such as China, India, Japan, Russia and the United States, have either slipped in the rankings or experienced only marginal gains.
While many of the top performers are smaller countries, both by gross domestic product (GDP) and population, some larger countries including France (5th), Britain (15th) and Germany (19th) have effectively managed complex energy sectors alongside large economies. The presence of European nations among the top-ranking countries reflects advantages gained through a long history of coordination within the region.
"We've seen some significant shifts in the way energy is sourced, delivered and consumed over the past five years," explained Roberto Bocca, head of energy and basic industries and member of the executive committee at the WEF.
"Future energy demand and unprecedented technological developments will continue to present new challenges and opportunities for countries." he added.
The report suggests three principles for generating improvements in the energy sector: frame a long-term direction for the energy sector, and commit to it; enable energy transition with adaptable, co-designed policies; steward investment towards the areas with most impact.
