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

News + Media

National Carbon Capture Center test facility, Wilsonville, Alabama
In The News
Reuters
Developers face about 30% higher capital costs due to post-pandemic inflation, high interest rates and permitting difficulties, says MIT Energy Initiative Senior Research Engineer and CS3-affiliate Howard Herzog (Reuters)

People

Research staff
Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy; MIT Energy Initiative
Research staff
Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy
Research staff
Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment; Aeronautics and Astronautics
Research staff
Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy; MIT Energy Initiative
Faculty
Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy; Sloan School of Management
Research staff
Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy; MIT Energy Initiative