Energy Transition

The 200-year history of mankind's energy transitions

Solar panels in a field

Technological innovations have been the biggest drivers of the world's energy transitions. Image: Unsplash/Zbynek Burival

Govind Bhutada
Author, Visual Capitalist
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Energy Transition

An infographic showing the history of energy transition
Before 1800 some energy sources such as coal were not relied upon Image: Visual Capitalist/Vaclav Smil, BP Statistical Review of World Energy via Our World in Data
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What's the World Economic Forum doing about the transition to clean energy?

A chart showing the share of traditional biomass and share of coal in the energy mix from 1800 to 1940
Every couple of decades coal's contribution to the energy mix increased Image: Visual Capitalist

A chart showing the share of coal, the share of oil, and the share of natural gas in the energy mix from 1950 to 2000
In 1950 coal almost contributed 50% to the energy mix Image: Visual Capitalist

A chart showing how much traditional biomass, renewables, fossil fuels, and nuclear power have contributed to the energy mix, from 2000 to 2020
Renewables has seen their contribution to the energy mix grow Image: Visual Capitalist
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Related topics:
Energy TransitionClimate Change
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