The 200-year history of mankind's energy transitions

Apr 13, 2022

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

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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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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