The energy transition
Introduction
The primary aim of the Paris Agreement of 2015 is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by, among others, holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels1 with efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The agreement encourages countries to reach a peak in global emissions and achieve a balance between emissions by sources and removals by sinks in the second half of this century.
For these goals to be met, the world needs to undergo an energy transition.
A bit of background
The main types of greenhouse gases are Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrogen oxide (N2O) and the F-Gases. Carbon dioxide and methane are primarily obtained from the production, transportation and burning of fossil fuels. Methane is also emitted through agricultural practices such as rearing livestock and decay of organic waste in landfills2.
Energy production, mainly the burning of fossil fuels, accounts for around three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest driver of climate change3.
Before the mid-19th century, traditional biomass4 was the dominant energy source. The industrial revolution saw the rise of coal, followed by oil, gas and hydropower at the beginning of the 20th century.
Globally we get the largest amount of our energy from oil, followed by coal, gas, and hydroelectric power. However, other renewable sources are now growing quickly.
So, what is the energy transition?
The energy transition refers to the global shift from energy systems based on fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and natural gas) to cleaner, renewable energy sources (such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power). This transition involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing energy efficiency5, and developing sustainable technologies to mitigate climate change and achieve net-zero emissions6.
The primary aim of the energy transition is to decarbonise all sectors of the economy. It also aims to enhance energy efficiency and improve energy access.
Decarbonisation is the reduction or removal of all human-made carbon emissions into the atmosphere7. Carbon reduction entails reducing emissions generated by combustion of fossil fuels. This can be done through the use of renewable energy sources that emit little to no emissions8. Carbon removal on the other hand is capturing the carbon dioxide that is already in the atmosphere9.
The energy transition is a gradual process
Enel10 note that the energy transition won’t happen by simply abandoning fossil fuels all at once. This process will have to be gradual and carefully handled in order to guarantee stability, resilience and efficiency.
Describe the graph below to highlight the low uptake in renewables
Enel argue that the key to a smooth energy transition is electrification i.e gradually replacing technologies that use fossil fuels to those that use electricity, generated from renewable sources of energy, in all sectors from home cooking, heating and transportation.
Electricity is one of three components that make up total energy production. The other two are transport and heating.
Globally, coal, followed by gas, is the largest source of electricity production. Of the low-carbon sources, hydropower and nuclear make the largest contribution; although wind and solar are growing quickly11.
Decarbonizing the electric grid is a central focus and often the first major step of the energy transition. Transitioning the grid to renewable energy sources like wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal is essential because it provides a clean foundation upon which other sectors, like transportation, industry, and buildings, can also decarbonize through electrification.
Another factor to consider in the transition is energy efficiency. Since we cannot quickly transition from using fossil fuels to using renewables, we could reduce the amount of energy we need and use.
Energy efficiency is a concept that allows us to use less energy and obtain the same energy service. Not only does it lead to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, it’s also cost-effective and reduces the impact on health and the environment.
Using energy-efficient appliances can help save energy and cost. They include refrigerators, washing machines, thermostats, fans, heaters, etc.
https://www.greenesa.com/blog/top-energy-efficiency-examples
The energy transition will involve decarbonising different sectors of the economy.
There are a few things that can accelerate this transition.
Policies
Technology
Climate finance
We have to ensure that the transition is just and equitable.
What’s good for the goose isn’t always good for the gander.
Haba na haba hujaza kibaba
This is a swahili saying that means consistent, small efforts eventually lead to the achievement a larger goal.
Footnotes
The IPCC uses the period 1850-1900 as the pre-industrial period because it’s the earliest period for which high-quality observations of surface temperatures over the land and ocean are available. Given that global temperature is currently rising by 0.2°C (±0.1°C) per decade, human-induced warming reached 1°C above pre-industrial levels around 2017 and, if this pace of warming continues, IPCC predicts it would reach 1.5°C around 2040.↩︎
The burning of solid fuels such as wood, crop waste, or charcoal↩︎
Energy efficiency refers to using less energy to achieve the same level of energy service or output e.g by using an energy efficient LED-bulb that provides the same amount of electricity as a traditional bulb, but uses a fraction of the electricity.↩︎
Net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed from it. Achieving net-zero emissions means that any human-caused emissions are offset by equivalent removal efforts, such as absorbing carbon dioxide through natural processes (like forests or oceans) or using technologies that capture and store carbon.↩︎