Energy is at the core of our societies and our economies. It is essential to powering appliances and equipment in our homes and offices, to moving people and goods around the world, to creating our buildings, infrastructure and consumer products.
Energy Transition
Accelerating the shift to clean energy systems
Mission Possible - the energy transition
Our energy comes primarily from fossil fuels and generates fast-increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This is not sustainable. The science is unequivocal: to have a chance of maintaining the rise of global temperatures well below 2˚C, the world needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by mid-century.
The good news is that this is Mission Possible in the energy system. But we have only a 10-year window of opportunity to shift investment flows towards clean technologies and low-carbon infrastructure to meet the Paris Agreement.
Four key changes
The energy system is a complex one, where there seldom is a one-size-fits-all solution. Its decarbonisation requires four simultaneous transitions:
- Using energy much more efficiently;
- Shifting from thermal power generation to low-carbon power sources, like wind and solar;
- Electrifying sectors powered by fossil fuels – such as road transport and building heating – to use clean power instead;
- Developing alternative forms of low-carbon energy, like hydrogen and bioenergy, for sectors that cannot be electrified, like cement production and long-haul aviation.
Changing the energy system requires collective action from governments, investors and businesses – both energy producers and energy consumers – as well as innovators and communities. Together, they can develop low-carbon technologies, create demand at scale, and support their deployment.
It is this combination that triggered the initial deployment of wind and solar, that drove cost reduction from economies of scale and learning curves, and that brought them to cost-parity with high-carbon power.
We need to bring other low-carbon technologies to this same tipping point.
Four key changes
The energy system is a complex one, where there seldom is a one-size-fits-all solution. Its decarbonisation requires four simultaneous transitions:
- Using energy much more efficiently;
- Shifting from thermal power generation to low-carbon power sources, like wind and solar;
- Electrifying sectors powered by fossil fuels – such as road transport and building heating – to use clean power instead;
- Developing alternative forms of low-carbon energy, like hydrogen and bioenergy, for sectors that cannot be electrified, like cement production and long-haul aviation.
Changing the energy system requires collective action from governments, investors and businesses – both energy producers and energy consumers – as well as innovators and communities. Together, they can develop low-carbon technologies, create demand at scale, and support their deployment.
It is this combination that triggered the initial deployment of wind and solar, that drove cost reduction from economies of scale and learning curves, and that brought them to cost-parity with high-carbon power.
We need to bring other low-carbon technologies to this same tipping point.
How are we driving change?
SYSTEMIQ is focusing on unlocking change in sectors where this tipping point has not yet been reached, especially in the harder-to-abate sectors of the economy. Our ambition is to help grow the market for low-carbon energy, in particular hydrogen, biofuels and low-methane natural gas, by developing their supply and demand.
We use our expertise and the power of collaborative networks to inspire policy-making, inform investment and nurture projects that strengthen the business case for the next wave of low-carbon technologies:
- Through the Energy Transition Commission, we bring together global leaders from across the energy landscape to define pathways to zero-carbon energy systems, galvanise leadership in the business community, and inform policy development.
- We work with smaller business coalitions to create differentiated markets for low-carbon products and services – for example, the development of a low-methane natural gas market.
- We partner with ambitious industry leaders to help them scope and seize the benefits of the low-carbon transition (e.g. assessing risks and opportunities of the energy transition for a mining company).
- We join forces with innovators who propose distinctive, low-carbon solutions to accelerate their growth, like nuclear fusion and hydrogen-based aviation.
Projects
Transforming global systems
We work towards clean energy systems, regenerative land use and oceans, and a circular economy for materials. We focus on the systems that will make the biggest impact in combating climate change, safeguarding our natural world while building human prosperity.
Materials and the circular economy
A relentless demand for materials is endangering our world. SYSTEMIQ is driving policy action and technical innovation, so companies can move to more strategic resource management.
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Regenerative land use
& oceans
Regenerative systems can accelerate economic development and safeguard the planet. Understanding the true value of our ecosystems, and how they ensure our quality of life, is the key to conserving them.
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Clean energy
systems
SYSTEMIQ works alongside policy-makers, investors and businesses, as well as innovators and communities. Together, we can develop low-carbon technologies, create demand at scale, and support their deployment.