Dynamics of a sustainable energy transition

The global energy scenario is experiencing an unprecedented transition in the 21st century. The transition is in response to the challenges such as surging energy demand, depleting fossil fuel reserves, escalating energy prices, lack of universal access to energy, and above all climate change. Since the 18th-century industrial revolution, the global energy scenario has greatly evolved to support the technological and socio-economic developments. This chapter presents an overview of the key dynamics of the ongoing energy transition, defining it to have four main dimensions: decarbonization, energy efficiency, decentralization, and digitalization. It discusses the prospects of these four dimensions of the energy transition, particularly focusing on the concerned technological and policy advancements.