21st Century Energy Transition

Welcome to 21st Century Energy Transitions- how do we make it work? In this first module, we will introduce one of the great global challenges of our time: how do we deliver dependable global energy in a way that mitigates the effects of human-induced climate change, encourages sustainability, and meets the sometimes competing economic needs of many different countries? To begin answering this question, we will also dive into the past to discover how energy has transitioned throughout human history, and see how this might help us with energy transitions today.

To understand the challenges and opportunities of global energy transition, we need to be aware of the different energy sources that are used today, and those that could be more dominant in the future. From fossil fuels and established renewables like solar and wind, to more recent advances in energy sources like biomass and geothermal, in this module we'll introduce each major player in the world of energy, discuss their benefits, challenges, and see some new technology that might provide solutions to future energy issues.

Now that we've covered the major energy sources, it's time to switch focus to another important part of the energy transition- energy storage. In this module we'll look at energy storage requirements and priorities, particularly in relation to electricity. We'll also examine hydrogen as a potential source of low GHG energy, discuss its positive and negative attributes, and explore some new technologies making hydrogen more available and competitive.

Congratulations! You've made it to the second half of the course! Now that we're comfortable with energy sources and storage technologies, it's time to ask some of the tough questions for the energy transition over the next century. How do we balance rising energy demands and increasing populations with reducing GHG emissions? How do we improve energy efficiency both as populations and individuals? What are some ways that we can keep GHG emissions as low as possible in future scenarios where fossils fuels will still be required? How do we balance rapid change with continuous energy delivery? How do we reconcile the competing energy policies of different countries? As you'll see in this module, there are very few clear answers, but the 21st century energy transition starts with asking the right questions.

In this module, we will explore the two most common viewpoints on the rate of energy transition: Reality 1 and Reality 2. In Reality 1, energy transition will be a measured, gradual process focused on reducing GHG emissions, driven primarily by market forces with diverse energy portfolios. In Reality 2, transition is a more urgent process because the world is facing a climate crisis. Focus is on reducing GHG emissions, with major energy reforms, including the elimination of fossil fuels now or in the near future. We will examine both points of view, discussing their requirements, challenges and implications.

Well done on reaching the final module of the course! In this module, we will switch the focus of our discussion from the energy sectors, to the governments and policy makers enacting legislation and guidelines to steer the energy transition. We'll have a look at some current policies, and ask whether stepping stones have been put in place to achieve realistic targets. We will also discuss the many things that we can do better in terms of communication, flexible and logical thinking, and recognizing viewpoints of various stakeholders. Finally, we'll reflect on what we've learned throughout the course and hopefully, find ourselves better equipped to answer our titular question: how do we make the 21st century energy transition work?