Energy Transformation

Sustainable Energy Future

Transitioning from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy systems. Exploring solar, wind, efficiency technologies, and the policies driving our energy transformation.

Renewable Share
30%

Global electricity generation

Cost Decline
-85%

Solar costs since 2010

Global Energy Mix 2024

Energy Sources Breakdown

Solar & Wind
30%
Fossil Fuels
45%
Renewable Technologies

Clean Energy Sources

Renewable energy technologies are rapidly becoming the cheapest source of power in most parts of the world, driving the global energy transition.

Solar Energy

Photovoltaic & Thermal

Solar photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity, while solar thermal systems use sunlight to heat water or generate steam for power.

Capacity: 1,419 GW globally (2023)
Cost: $0.048/kWh average
Growth: +73% in 2023

Key Advantages

  • • Fastest growing renewable technology
  • • Declining costs make it cheapest electricity
  • • Scalable from residential to utility-scale
  • • Minimal maintenance requirements

Wind Energy

Onshore & Offshore

Wind turbines convert kinetic energy from moving air into electricity. Offshore wind farms offer higher capacity factors and larger turbines.

Capacity: 906 GW globally (2023)
Cost: $0.033/kWh onshore
Offshore: 8.8 GW added in 2023

Key Advantages

  • • Mature technology with proven reliability
  • • Offshore wind has enormous potential
  • • Creates jobs in manufacturing and maintenance
  • • Can coexist with agriculture (onshore)

Hydroelectric

Dams & Run-of-River

Hydroelectric power harnesses flowing or falling water to generate electricity. Provides reliable baseload power and energy storage capabilities.

Capacity: 1,392 GW globally (2023)
Share: 15% of global electricity
Storage: Pumped hydro 95% of grid storage

Key Advantages

  • • Longest lifespan of any power source
  • • Provides grid stability and storage
  • • Multi-purpose: flood control, irrigation
  • • Very low operating costs

Geothermal

Earth's Internal Heat

Geothermal energy taps into Earth's internal heat to generate electricity and provide heating/cooling for buildings.

Capacity: 16 GW globally (2023)
Availability: 24/7 baseload power
Heat pumps: 88 million installed

Key Advantages

  • • Reliable 24/7 power generation
  • • Small land footprint
  • • Direct heating applications
  • • Enhanced geothermal expanding potential

Energy Storage

Batteries & Grid Storage

Battery storage systems store renewable energy when abundant and release it when needed, enabling grid stability and renewable integration.

Capacity: 15 GW added in 2023
Cost: -90% decline since 2010
EVs: 40 million on roads globally

Key Advantages

  • • Enables renewable energy integration
  • • Provides grid services and stability
  • • Rapidly declining costs
  • • Supports electric vehicle adoption

Emerging Tech

Next-Gen Solutions

Emerging technologies like green hydrogen, floating solar, tidal energy, and next-generation nuclear are expanding renewable possibilities.

Green hydrogen: 1 GW electrolysis capacity
Floating solar: 2.6 GW installed
Tidal: 500 MW operational

Innovation Areas

  • • Green hydrogen for industry & transport
  • • Advanced nuclear (SMRs, fusion)
  • • Ocean energy (tidal, wave, OTEC)
  • • Floating solar and offshore wind

Renewable Energy Capacity Growth (2015-2024)

2015
785 GW Total
35% of goal
2019
1,177 GW Total
55% of goal
2023
1,670 GW Total
75% of goal
2030
Target: 2,200 GW
Paris Agreement goal
Fossil Fuel Transition

Moving Beyond Fossil Fuels

Understanding the environmental and economic impacts of coal, oil, and natural gas while charting the path toward cleaner alternatives.

Environmental Impacts

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Fossil fuels account for 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 90% of CO₂ emissions.

36.8 billion tons CO₂ annually

Air Pollution

Burning fossil fuels releases particulates, NOx, and SO₂ causing respiratory diseases and acid rain.

7 million premature deaths/year

Environmental Degradation

Oil spills, mining, and fracking damage ecosystems, contaminate water, and destroy habitats.

Irreversible ecosystem damage

Water Contamination

Coal ash, oil spills, and fracking chemicals pollute groundwater and surface water sources.

Billions affected by water pollution

Economic Transition

Renewable Cost Advantage

Solar and wind are now the cheapest sources of electricity in most regions.

Solar: $0.048/kWh
vs Coal: $0.109/kWh
Wind: $0.033/kWh
vs Gas: $0.059/kWh

Job Creation

Clean energy sector employs more people per dollar invested than fossil fuels.

13.7 million renewable energy jobs globally

Investment Shift

Global investment in clean energy exceeded fossil fuels for the first time in 2023.

$1.8T clean energy vs $1.1T fossil fuels

Stranded Assets

Fossil fuel infrastructure risks becoming economically unviable before end of life.

$1.3T in potential stranded assets

Global Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Progress

Coal

Most polluting fossil fuel, being phased out fastest in developed countries.

EU Phase-out: 2030
US Coal Plants: -50% since 2010
Global Peak: 2022

Oil

Primarily used for transportation, facing competition from electric vehicles.

EV Sales 2023: 14 million
ICE Ban Start: 2030s
Oil Demand Peak: 2025-2030

Natural Gas

"Bridge fuel" increasingly challenged by renewables and storage.

Power Generation: 22% globally
Methane Leaks: Major concern
Phase-out: 2040s-2050s

Accelerating the Energy Transition

The shift away from fossil fuels is not just an environmental imperative—it's an economic opportunity that creates jobs, improves health, and builds energy security.

Energy Transition Strategies

Building the Clean Energy System

Comprehensive strategies for transitioning to a sustainable energy system through efficiency, smart grids, electrification, and supportive policies.

Energy Efficiency

Reducing energy demand through improved efficiency is often the most cost-effective climate solution.

Building Efficiency

Better insulation, LED lighting, efficient HVAC systems, and smart building controls can reduce energy use by 30-50%.

Industrial Efficiency

Process optimization, waste heat recovery, and efficient motors can cut industrial energy use by 25%.

Transportation Efficiency

Electric vehicles are 3-4x more efficient than internal combustion engines.

Global Impact

  • • Efficiency could provide 40% of emission reductions needed by 2040
  • • $12 trillion investment could save $23 trillion in energy costs
  • • Creates 10+ million jobs in efficiency sectors

Smart Grids & Electrification

Modernizing electricity infrastructure to accommodate renewable energy and electrify all sectors.

Smart Grid Technology

Advanced metering, demand response, and grid automation enable efficient renewable integration.

Electrification

Replacing gas heating, combustion vehicles, and industrial processes with electric alternatives.

Grid Storage

Batteries, pumped hydro, and other storage technologies balance supply and demand.

Electrification Benefits

  • • 2-3x more efficient than fossil fuel alternatives
  • • Enables use of clean electricity across all sectors
  • • Reduces local air pollution and health impacts

Policy Support

Government policies drive clean energy deployment through incentives, regulations, and standards.

  • • Renewable portfolio standards
  • • Carbon pricing mechanisms
  • • Clean energy tax credits
  • • Building efficiency codes
  • • EV mandates and incentives

Investment & Finance

Massive capital mobilization needed to build clean energy infrastructure globally.

  • • $4 trillion annual investment needed
  • • Green bonds and climate finance
  • • Divestment from fossil fuels
  • • Risk reduction for clean energy
  • • Just transition funding

Innovation & R&D

Continued technology innovation essential for achieving deep decarbonization.

  • • Advanced battery technologies
  • • Green hydrogen production
  • • Carbon capture and storage
  • • Advanced nuclear reactors
  • • Power-to-X technologies

Global Energy Transition Roadmap to 2050

2025
Near-term Acceleration
  • • Triple renewable capacity
  • • Double energy efficiency
  • • Phase out coal power
  • • Scale EV adoption
2030
Midterm Targets
  • • 70% renewable electricity
  • • 50% building electrification
  • • Green hydrogen scale-up
  • • Industrial decarbonization
2040
Deep Decarbonization
  • • 90% clean electricity
  • • Full transport electrification
  • • Industrial transformation
  • • Advanced storage deployed
2050
Net-Zero Energy
  • • 100% renewable power
  • • Fully electrified economy
  • • Hydrogen for hard sectors
  • • Carbon removal at scale

Join the Energy Transition

The clean energy transition is the greatest economic opportunity of our time. Learn how individuals, businesses, and governments can accelerate progress.