An overview of the energy transition
To avoid the worst impacts of climate change we need an energy revolution, one that cuts our dependence on fossil fuels to power our lives.
Birth of the energy transition
The energy revolution began surprisingly long ago, in an unassuming building at 57 Holborn Viaduct, London. The year was 1882 and American inventor Thomas Edison had just powered up the first ever public electricity power station, lighting houses and businesses.
Edison tubes
Edison used a series of rigid iron tubes containing six-metre lengths of copper metal to conduct the electricity - known as Edison Tubes. Coal was used as the source of the heat to boil water, which turned to steam, which drove the electrical generator.
However, Edison's system established the electrifying method which the world needs to adopt if we are to successfully achieve our low-carbon energy transition: the wholesale move towards electricity to power our energy-hungry human activities.
We already have the technology to transition towards low-carbon sources and uses of energy. The challenge is how fast we can replace our use of high-carbon energy, which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere, with cleaner low-carbon electricity.
Wind, water and sunshine
The most important low-carbon energy sources come from harnessing the power of the elements. For example the Sun, the wind and water. Every hour the Sun sends more energy to Earth than we use in a year.
Ferranti type MST 200C solar module. (1975) by Science Museum Group Science Museum
Solar panels capture the sun's energy and transform it into low-carbon electricity. This happens either directly, through photovoltaic (PV) panels, or by concentrating sunlight with mirrors to drive a generator.
Wind
The power of the wind can turn turbine blades around a shaft connected to a generator. The generator converts the energy of movement (kinetic energy) into low-carbon electricity.
Water
Like wind, flowing water can also drive turbines to generate electricity. These can range from large hydroelectric dams tapping into rivers, to smaller ‘pumped storage’ hydroelectric power stations, which can help deliver energy when it is needed.
Hydrogen Islands
Find out how hydrogen is being used on Orkney to store energy. It’s hoped that the hydrogen technology being developed in Orkney could provide a model of a low-carbon economy that can be exported across the globe.
Quadrant of Zero Energy Thermonuclear Assembly (ZETA) (1957) by Science Museum Group Science Museum
Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy can provide another low-carbon source of electricity, predictably and reliably.
Nuclear fission
For nuclear fission – which currently powers all our nuclear reactors – there are many considerations, including the high set-up costs and the radioactive waste that is produced, but the process generates electricity without releasing carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere.
Nuclear fusion
Moreover, continued nuclear fusion experiments around the world have ignited a renewed hope for recreating the nuclear reaction that powers the Sun here on Earth and harnessing it for the production of electricity.
Mjøstårnet in Brumunddal (2019-03-19) by Science Museum Group Science Museum
Using energy
Beyond these low-carbon energy supplies, there are a few key sectors where our use of energy must also transition from high-to-low carbon.
Buildings
Creating low-carbon buildings is a crucial part of our energy transition. Whether it is in the materials we choose to build from, or how we modify existing buildings to reduce the carbon emissions associated with constructing and running a building.
Transport
Low-carbon transport includes electric cars, trains, bicycles and even walking. Some options aren’t as easily accessible as others, so transforming infrastructure to accommodate low-carbon mobility is an important enabler for successfully decarbonising transport.
The transition to our future
Other sectors, such as agriculture, fashion, waste management and many more besides – indeed all aspects of our lives – need to experience this profound energy transition if we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change on this one planet we call home.
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