Energy Transition
Projecting the future energy mix nationally and globally, and prospects for different sectors and technologies
The world’s growing appetite for energy, combined with concern about the risks of climate change, is leading nations to seek a technology mix that simultaneously lowers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enables economic growth. The search for affordable, reliable, efficient, low‑carbon energy-at-scale involves a realistic assessment of the benefits and constraints of existing and new technologies, as well as their socioeconomic implications.
Our studies inform decision‑makers, enabling them to make sound, forward‑looking choices from an expansive menu of technology and policy options aimed at lowering GHG emissions. We project, under business as usual (BAU) and other policies, the future energy mix; performance of different sectors (e.g. mobility/transportation including electric vehicles, power, industrial, agriculture); and market penetration of technologies (e.g. carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), hydrogen, renewables, intermittency (batteries, demand response, electricity markets), and negative emissions technologies (BECCS, afforestation, reforestation and geoengineering)).
To learn how your organization can benefit from funding our research, please visit the Joint Program Sponsorship page.
Publications
Morris, J. and J.M. Reilly (2025)
Uncertainty in Climate Change Research: An Integrated Approach, Springer Cham, ISBN: 978-3-031-85541-2, Chapter 16, pp. 163-176 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-85542-9)
Suto, S. (2025)
MS Thesis, System Design and Management Program
Yeh, S., S. Paltsev, J.M. Reilly, D. Daniels and P. Linares (2025)
Joule, (doi: 10.1016/j.joule.2025.101999)
News + Media
MIT CS3 researchers co-author chapter on emissions and concentration scenarios (Springer Cham, Chapter 16, pp. 163-176)
MIT Professor Jessika Trancik, a CS3 faculty affiliate, takes a big picture view of how energy systems are shaped and where there is opportunity to innovate (MIT Energy Initiative)
In one project, MIT CS3 researchers aim to create a framework for evaluating decarbonization and energy transition pathways for Africa (MIT Energy Initiative)
Research Projects
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