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Energy Technology

Catalysing Energy Technology Transformations

Key points of orientation

• Global energy markets are changing rapidly

• Renewables supplied half of global electricity demand growth in 2016, and increase in nuclear capacity reached highest level since 1993

• Global energy intensity improved by 2.1% in 2016

• Electric car sales were up 40% in 2016, a new record year

• The energy sector remains key to sustainable economic growth

• 1.2B people lack access to electricity; 2.7B people lack access to clean cooking

• Largest source of GHG emissions today, around two-thirds of global total

• Largest source of air pollution, linked to 6.5 million premature deaths per year

• There is no single story about the future of global energy

• Fast-paced technological progress and changing energy business models

Global CO2 emissions flat for 3 years – an emerging trend?

How far can technology take us?

The potential of clean energy technology remains under-utilised

Solar PV and Wind are still leading the transition…

But can’t make up for other low-carbon generation sources

Can we push up the low-carbon power deployment pace?

Systems Integration is essential for a sustainable energy future

The value of storage is starting to drive new solutions

Can we enact a storage revolutionEVs are still on track, but need continued support

Can we change the landscape of transport ?

Enhanced buildings efficiency could also improve system flexibility

Can we produce materials more sustainably ?

Can we produce enough sustainable biomass ?

A challenging task ahead for CCSGlobal clean energy RD&D spending needs a strong boost

Conclusions

• Early signs point to changes in energy trajectories, helped by policies and technologies, but progress is too slow.

• An integrated systems approach considering all technology options must be implemented now to accelerate progress.

• Each country should define its own transition path and scale-up its RD&D and deployment support accordingly.

• Achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 would require unprecedented technology policies and investments.

• Innovation can deliver, but policies must consider the full technology cycle, and collaborative approaches can help.