Energy transition

An energy transition (or energy system transformation) is a major structural change to energy supply and consumption in an energy system. Currently, a transition to sustainable energy is underway to limit climate change. As much sustainable energy is renewable it is also known as the renewable energy transition. The current transition aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy quickly and sustainably, mostly by phasing-down fossil fuels and changing as many processes as possible to operate on low carbon electricity.^[2] A previous energy transition perhaps took place during the Industrial Revolution from 1760 onwards, from wood and other biomass to coal, followed by oil and later natural gas.^[3][4]

Over three-quarters of the world's energy needs are met by burning fossil fuels, but this usage emits greenhouse gases.^[5] Energy production and consumption are responsible for most human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.^[6] To meet the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, emissions must be reduced as soon as possible and reach net-zero by mid-century.^[7] Since the late 2010s, the renewable energy transition has also been driven by the rapidly falling cost of both solar and wind power.^[8] Another aim for the energy transition is to reduce the health and environmental impacts of the energy industry.^[9] Those impacts are not only about climate change but also about human toxicity, resource use, deaths from air pollution, and others.^[9]: 49

Heating of buildings is being electrified, with heat pumps being the most efficient technology by far.^[10] To improve the flexibility of electrical grids, the installation of energy storage and super grids are vital to enable the use of variable, weather-dependent technologies.^[11] However fossil-fuel subsidies are slowing the energy transition.^[12][13]