Energy Transitions

Energy Transitions

The global energy mix is experiencing profound change, with equally profound geopolitical and market challenges and opportunities on the horizon. Policy makers and business leaders will need to develop strategies to navigate the changing global energy landscape, addressing both the challenges and opportunities the energy transition is providing.

Recent analysis

Carbon capture in Germany: Long-overdue momentum is building

Issue Brief Feb 26, 2026

Standardizing carbon accounting worldwide with a single, robust, cost-effective system

By Vincent Aussilloux, Yann Coatanlem, and Karthik Ramanna

Carbon accounting has the potential to accelerate decarbonization, improve energy resilience, and strengthen economic security. But first, countries must decide on a robust, standardized system.
Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
Carbon capture in Germany: Long-overdue momentum is building

Issue Brief Oct 3, 2025

Enhancing NATO’s operational readiness through energy interoperability

By Jason Knapp, Christopher Olson, Chamai Shahim

NATO forces are facing significant energy-related constraints that put interoperability at risk. The recent Hague Declaration committing 1.5 percent of GDP for infrastructure offers a way to address this.
Energy & Environment Energy Transitions
Carbon capture in Germany: Long-overdue momentum is building

EnergySource Sep 19, 2025

Is grid resilience possible in the hyperscale era?

By Andy Bochman

The US grid is deteriorating, and the risk for outages is high. The way toward resilience borrows from lessons learned the hard way.
Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

Programs

The Global Energy Center develops and promotes pragmatic and nonpartisan policy solutions designed to advance global energy security, enhance economic opportunity, and accelerate pathways to net-zero emissions.

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Events

New Atlanticist

Jan 12, 2020

Will climate change move the needle in 2020?

By David A. Wemer

From the release of the Green New Deal to global protests on environmental policy, “climate [has become] a prominent national issue and all the attention it received in 2019 guarantees that it will be a top issue in an American presidential election for the first time ever,” according to former US Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL).

Climate Change & Climate Action Elections

Transcript

Jan 12, 2020

The great gas debate: The role of gas in the energy transition

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council 2020 Global Energy Forum The Great Gas Debate: The Role of Gas in the Energy Transition Speakers: Fatima Al Nuaimi, Chief Executive Officer, ADNOC LNG Marco Alverà, Chief Executive Officer, Snam S.p.A. Adnan Amin, Distinguished Fellow, Global Energy Centre, Atlantic Council Tom Earl, Chief Commercial Officer, Venture Global LNG Moderated By: Ambassador Richard […]

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy Transitions

New Atlanticist

Jan 12, 2020

Gas in the energy transition: Bridge or the destination?

By David A. Wemer

“There are some who believe that gas should play no role in the global energy mix,” Ambassador Richard Morningstar, founding chairman of the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center, said at the introduction of a panel on the future of gas at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Forum hosted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on January 12, 2020. At the other end of the spectrum, he added, some have “called gas a destination fuel that provides a clean baseload energy needed for the developed world to grow.”

Energy Transitions Oil and Gas
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Content

EnergySource

Apr 13, 2021

Carbon capture in Germany: Long-overdue momentum is building

By Lee Beck

As a world leader in innovation, Germany is well positioned to commercialize carbon removal technologies, and over the past six months, momentum and support for CCUS in the country has begun to build.

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

EnergySource

Apr 2, 2021

Rapid response: President Biden’s American Jobs Plan

By Global Energy Center

Released on March 31, the Biden-Harris administration’s massive infrastructure plan, called the American Jobs Plan, is hugely ambitious. The proposal does not just look to fix crumbling US infrastructure, it aims to transform the US economy, simultaneously addressing climate change, unemployment, and historic inequities.

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

EnergySource

Apr 1, 2021

Increasing ESG practices can help Asia reach goals of carbon neutrality

By Songyee Jung

Although sustainable investment is growing rapidly, ESG investing in Asia is still at a nascent stage. To increase development, Asian governments should allow regulators to impose mandatory ESG reporting requirements, which evidence indicates is the most effective way to scale sustainable finance investment.

East Asia Energy & Environment

Report

Mar 31, 2021

Raising US climate ambition in advance of COP26: An economic and national security imperative

By Margaret Jackson, Zachary Strauss

In advance of the annual UN Climate Summit in Glasgow this November, the United States must raise its clean energy and climate ambitions and reassert global climate leadership. If left unchecked, climate change will continue to exact a heavy economic toll on the United States and threaten US national security interests and American lives.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

EnergySource

Mar 29, 2021

China’s top-down economic and social reform to achieve carbon neutrality

By Margaret Jackson

Since the approval of China's 14th Five Year Plan, Chinese government and nongovernment entities have released new policies to promote energy system transformation at an unprecedented pace. While the plan only promises incremental climate progress, President Xi Ping has made clear that China will be reforming its entire economic and social system to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.

China Energy & Environment

EnergySource

Mar 12, 2021

These three baseload technologies are critical to achieving zero-carbon electric vehicles

By Bryant Jones

As electricity demand swells as the electric vehicle market grows, it is unlikely that short-term battery storage, intermittent renewables, and efficiency improvements alone can provide all of the necessary electrons. These technologies need to be paired with distributed, zero-carbon baseload capacity, and the debate about what technologies can meet anticipated demand is just beginning. Cue geothermal, hydroelectric, and nuclear power.

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

In the News

Mar 11, 2021

Simonyi in The Hill: Life in a ‘clean’ world of autocracies is not worth living
China Democratic Transitions

EnergySource

Mar 11, 2021

Can green finance compensate for London’s post-Brexit losses?

By Paddy Ryan

Supporters of Brexit suggest that making London a “world leader” in green finance could compensate for the City’s post-Brexit losses. Green financial leadership could boost Britain’s domestic industry and transform its foreign policy. But competitive advantages for its financial sector may not materialize.

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

EnergySource

Mar 10, 2021

The pandemic and electricity transformation in the United States and the European Union: Developments in 2020

By Robert F. Ichord, Jr.

Electricity sector developments in 2020 demonstrated the key role of renewables and nuclear power in achieving President Biden’s goal of realizing “a carbon pollution-free electricity sector by 2035” and the EU’s target of 55 percent emissions reduction by 2030. But it also reinforced the magnitude of the challenge ahead, with fossil fuels still representing 60 percent of the power generation mix in the United States and 37 percent in the European Union, as well as the importance of pursuing an aggressive sustainable recovery plan to avoid a rebound in emissions.

Coronavirus Energy & Environment

In the News

Mar 5, 2021

Jackson Joins CNBC to Discuss China Climate Goals
China Energy Transitions
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Experts

Millennium fellow

Luis Alvarado

Senior Climate Advisor at the Mission Possible Partnership, World Economic Forum

Millennium Leadership Program

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Olivia Azadegan

Senior Energy Manager, Global Methane Hub

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Fellow

Morgan D. Bazilian

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Global Energy Center

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

Staff

Reed Blakemore

Director, Research and Programs

Global Energy Center

Geopolitics & Energy Security Energy Transitions

Fellow

Andrea Clabough

Nonresident Fellow

Global Energy Center

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Noel Coenraad

Strategy Advisor, Vattenfall AB

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy Transitions Germany
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