Themes

Electrification

How can we accelerate the transition to electricity as the primary driver of decarbonization?

The future is electric: Electricity is expected to account for 60–85% of carbon-free final energy consumption (compared with 20% in 2020).
Variable renewable energy sources (solar, wind) are the most abundant—their large-scale integration raises significant questions
Nuclear power, advanced geothermal energy, etc., can play significant roles
Networks and storage systems are undergoing profound changes
The electrification of end-use applications requires major innovations

Hydrogen

Low-carbon hydrogen can help decarbonize certain “hard-to-abate” sectors that are too difficult or costly to electrify directly
In heavy transportation (aviation, shipping), synthetic fuels (ammonia, e-methanol, e-kerosene, etc.) may be a viable option if less expensive biofuels are too limited in supply
In industry (steel, chemicals, etc.), hydrogen and its derivatives can be used as raw materials to replace fossil fuels
Hydrogen enables long-term electricity storage and can help integrate high proportions of variable renewable energy sources

Industry

The industrial sector is at the heart of the transition: it is this sector that will have to produce all the clean technologies while simultaneously decarbonizing itself
Heavy industries (metallurgy, chemicals, construction) are difficult to decarbonize, requiring significant technological and/or behavioral changes
Light industries require a wide range of technological innovations to transition away from fossil fuels in a cost-effective manner
Industrial heat accounts for two-thirds of energy demand; decarbonizing it requires innovative electrification and storage technologies

Carbon

Industrial CO2 capture and storage can help decarbonize sectors that lack easier solutions
Carbon-based molecules will still be necessary for certain sectors (heavy transportation, chemicals, materials, negative emissions); their carbon source must be sustainable
Biomass is a convenient resource, but its environmental limitations are poorly understood and are changing rapidly as a result of climate change
Negative-emission technologies could play an important role, but they are not yet fully developed and remain highly uncertain

Request

Planetary boundaries (water, soil, pollution, etc.), most of which are in a critical state, provide the framework for any viable decarbonization strategy
Strategies for organized energy conservation must be coordinated with technological solutions, not pitted against them
Technological transitions are driving a sharp increase in demand for critical minerals; their availability is becoming a major challenge
Low-tech and energy-efficient technologies combine demand-reduction strategies with technological shifts