The Accelerating Energy Transitions
Fast Facts About
The Accelerating Energy Transitions
This is an exciting time for the energy industry—energy revolutions are underway and things are changing quickly. Fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and biomass have dominated the energy landscape for centuries and are the leading contributors to global climate change, hazardous environmental impacts, and human health issues. However, global energy production is now shifting to clean sources, like energy efficiency and renewables, that release little to no greenhouse gases and have fewer environmental impacts. This shift is critical to reaching net zero* goals and limiting the increase in global average temperatures, as well as improving air quality and reducing the human health effects of energy.
*Net zero - achieving a balance between the greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere and those taken out.
Why We Care About Energy
Economic
Social and private costs
Political
Foreign policy, energy security and stability
Ethical
Energy access and equity
Environmental
Immediate and legacy impacts (global and local)
Health
Medical access, diseases
World
Change in Carbon Intensity* of the
Global Energy System
52% decrease
(1980-2022)
Kilograms of CO₂ emitted per dollar** of GDP
1980: 0.61
2022: 0.29
*Carbon intensity is the measure of CO2 produced per dollar of GDP
**Dollar is measured in international-$ at 2011 prices
U.S.
Change in Carbon Intensity of the
U.S. Energy System
63% decrease
(1980-2022)
Kilograms of CO₂ emitted per dollar of GDP
1980: 0.71
2022: 0.26
Watch this UChicago visualization of Energy Transitions in US History from 1800-2021.
Energy Revolutions Happening
Today
- Energy Efficiency
- Solar PV (global generation ⬆186% 2018-2023)
- Wind (global generation ⬆56% 2018-2023)
- Energy Storage (installed capacity ⬆60% 2018-2023)
- Building Decarbonization
- Electrification of Services (buildings, transport)
Future Energy Revolution
Opportunities
- Geothermal (poised for growth)
- Hydrogen (220% growth in VC investment from 2018-2023)
- Small Modular Reactors - SMR (R&D, momentum to commercialize )
- Fusion (growth in private investment and startups)
- Pricing of GHGs (carbon markets)
- Carbon management (e.g., carbon markets)
- Regulatory: Permitting, Transmission, Markets, Incentives
Our 10-Minute Take On
The Accelerating Energy Transitions
If you're short on time, start by watching this video of key highlights from our lecture on The Accelerating Energy Transitions.
Presented by: Diana Gragg, PhD; Core Lecturer, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University; Explore Energy Managing Director, Precourt Institute for Energy
Recorded: February 7, 2025
Duration: 11 minutes
If you liked this video, watch the other 10-Minute Takes here!
Curated Videos and Readings on
The Accelerating Energy Transitions
We assign videos and readings to our Stanford students as pre-work for each lecture to help contextualize the lecture content. We strongly encourage you to review the Essential materials below before watching our lecture on The Accelerating Energy Transition. Include selections from the Optional and Useful list based on your interests and available time.
Essential
- The One UN Climate Report Graphic You Need to See. Axios. March 22, 2023. (1 page)
Energy is the number one contributor to climate change, and our choices now impact generations to come. - What Happens to Gas Stations When the World Goes Electric?. TED Countdown Dilemma Series. October 2022. (8 min)
Civil engineer and environmental sociologist Emily Grubert visualizes what a clean energy future will look like, outlining the considerations everyone needs to undertake now. - Stanford's Energy System Map. Sustainable Stanford. (website)
Stanford University's energy energy system plus the data behind it.
Optional and Useful
- Chart: Clean Energy Set to Attract Double Investment Spent on Fossil Fuels. Canary Media. June 14, 2024. (1 page)
A brief overview of global clean energy investment in 2024. - Vfx Artist Reveals How Many Solar Panels Are Needed to Power the Entire World. Corridor Crew. September 26, 2021. (21 min)
Fun video with great visuals about the transformation of the energy system from fossil fuels to renewable energy. - How China Plans to Win the Future of Energy. Bloomberg. March 15, 2022. (16 min)
Learn about China's plan to decarbonize its massive energy system and gain a sense of the scale of investment needed for the clean energy transition worldwide.
Geopolitical Zoom-In: How Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Impacts the Global Energy System
- Why Germany Is Hooked on Russian Gas. Vox. May 18, 2022. (8 min)
History of Russian natural gas supply to Germany. Puts into context Ukraine's importance for Russia's natural gas supply to Europe. - What Europe Showed the World About Renewable Energy. Vox. February 21, 2023. (2 pages)
How Europe's efforts to break energy ties with Russia have led to a rapid transition toward renewable energy and a focus on energy efficiency.
Our Lectures on
The Accelerating Energy Transitions
These are our Stanford University Understand Energy course lectures on the accelerating energy transitions. We strongly encourage you to watch both lectures to understand how the energy landscape is changing, the important role of electrification, and why this is a very exciting time to be learning about energy. For a complete learning experience, we also encourage you to review the Essential materials we assign to our students before watching the lecture.
Presented by: Diana Gragg, PhD; Core Lecturer, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Explore Energy Managing Director, Precourt Institute for Energy, Stanford University
Lecture 1: The Accelerating Energy Transitions
Recorded on: March 31, 2025 Duration: 39 minutes
Table of Contents
(Clicking on a timestamp will take you to YouTube.)
00:00 Where Our Energy Comes From
07:10 Why Should We Care About Energy?
21:27 How About a Revolution?
Lecture slides available upon request.
Lecture 2: Electrify Everything
Recorded on: October 24, 2025 Duration: 28 minutes
Table of Contents
(Clicking on a timestamp will take you to YouTube.)
00:00 Introduction
04:01 Electrification of Buildings: Heat Pumps
14:10 Electrification of Transportation: EVs
21:53 Additional Reasons for Electrification
Lecture slides available upon request.
Additional Resources About
The Accelerating Energy Transitions
Stanford University
- Graduate School of Business
- Omer Karaduman - Energy systems analysis, energy transition pathways
- Stephen Comello - Innovation strategy and management within the global energy transition
- Energy Science and Engineering Department
- Adam Brandt - Reducing the environmental impacts of energy systems; modeling global oil depletion, or "peak oil," and transitions to oil substitutes
- Inez Azevedo – How to transition to sustainable and low carbon energy systems
Fast Facts Sources
- GHG Emissions by Sector (World 2021): ClimateWatch. Historical GHG Emissions. 2025.
- Energy System Carbon Intensity (World 1980-2022): Our World in Data. Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP. 2025.
- Share of Global Commercial Energy Consumption by Source (1975, 2022): International Energy Agency (IEA). Global Primary Energy Demand by Fuel, 1925-2019. 2022; Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy, p. 14. 2024.
- Share of Global Electricity Generation by Source (1973, 2023): International Energy Agency (IEA). Global Share of Electricity Generation, 1973. 2022; Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy, p. 56. 2024.
- GHG Emissions by Sector (U.S. 2022): U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks. 2025.
- Energy System Carbon Intensity (U.S. 1980-2022): Our World in Data. Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP. 2025.
- Share of U.S. Energy Consumption by Source (1975, 2024): U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Monthly Energy Review. 2025.
- Share of U.S. Electricity Net Generation by Source (1973, 2024): U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Monthly Energy Review. 2025.
- Change in Solar Electricity Generation (World 2018-2023): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy. 2024.
- Change in Wind Electricity Generation (World 2018-2023): Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy. 2024.
- Change in Energy Storage Installed Capacity (World 2018-2023): China Energy Storage Alliance (CNESA). White Papers. 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. 2024.
- Change in Hydrogen Investment (2018-2023): Pitchbook. Private investment in hydrogen breaks record. 2022; S&P Global. European hydrogen market attracts private equity investment as US deals falter. 2025.
More details available on request.
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