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

Renewable energy in the Middle East

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
Renewable energy in the Middle East

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
Renewable energy in the Middle East

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

Report

Jan 8, 2018

Renewable energy in the Middle East

By Jean-François Seznec

Across the Middle East and North Africa, population growth is driving demand for air conditioning, water, and infrastructure, which has in turn led to more demand for electricity. While oil and gas technologies are notably developed across the Middle East and North Africa, renewable deployment and the development of a renewable technology sector, is a relatively new—and rapid—development.

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

Report

Jan 8, 2018

Energy: Driving force behind increasing female participation in the Gulf

By Bina Hussein

When global oil and gas prices fell in 2014, many oil-producing countries, including those in the Gulf, felt the consequences and began to face the stark reality that oil revenue-based economies must diversify in order to continue prospering. Due to the dominant role that energy plays in the region’s economies, the energy sector is in a position to make tremendous progress in increasing female workforce participation through their planned reforms and thus set an example for others.

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

New Atlanticist

Dec 15, 2017

Turkey Takes Important Steps Toward its Renewable Energy Future

By Grady Wilson

Twin billion dollar tenders in 2017 showcase Turkey’s renewable energy potential In 2017 Turkey has made tremendous strides in the development of its renewable energy sector, notably the allocation of over two billion dollars for the production of wind and solar energy. These sources of funding, or tenders, are part of Ankara’s ambitious plans for […]

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

Report

Sep 13, 2017

Transforming the power sector in developing countries: Indonesia’s diversification challenge

By Robert F. Ichord, Jr.

Although often overshadowed by significantly larger energy systems in India and China, Indonesia is assuming an increasingly important role in international energy markets and global efforts to address climate change. What challenges does Indonesia face in the energy sector and what can be recommendations can be made for policy makers and other stakeholders on strategic priorities?

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

Report

Mar 31, 2017

Transforming the power sector in developing countries: The critical role of China in post-Paris implementation

By Robert F. Ichord, Jr.

Since the International Energy Agency projects that almost 90 percent of world growth in electricity generation in 2014-2040 will occur in developing and non-OECD countries, increasing investment in clean energy and changing the electricity mix in these countries are of critical importance. China’s role will be central, accounting for an estimated one-third of future electricity growth in the non-OECD countries.

China East Asia

Issue Brief

Feb 15, 2017

Energiewende: From Germany’s past to Europe’s future?

By Thomas Cunningham

Germany’s historical experience explains how the energy transition (Energiewende) came about, and largely explains the resilience of the policies to abandon nuclear power and to scale-up renewables in the face of the challenges they have posed to Germany’s consumers, utilities, and international competitiveness. Whereas the success of the Energiewende to date has come from the way it takes a unifying approach to energy, environment, and labor policies, its success will require expanding the scope from a German to an EU-wide scale.

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

Issue Brief

Feb 15, 2017

Energiewende: From Germany’s past to Europe’s future?

By Thomas Cunningham

Germany’s historical experience explains how the energy transition (Energiewende) came about, and largely explains the resilience of the policies to abandon nuclear power and to scale-up renewables in the face of the challenges they have posed to Germany’s consumers, utilities, and international competitiveness. Whereas the success of the Energiewende to date has come from the way it takes a unifying approach to energy, environment, and labor policies, its success will require expanding the scope from a German to an EU-wide scale.

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

Defense Industrialist

Jan 12, 2017

The tether of fuel—a brief counterpoint

By David Foster

Unless troops live off the land again, energy efficiency can only yield so much.

Conflict Defense Policy

Defense Industrialist

Jan 11, 2017

“Unleash us from the tether of fuel”

By Greg Douquet

Mattis put his faith in the 3rd Marine Air Wing’s ability to defeat Saddam’s formations surrounding Baghdad, and accepted the risk that his force might not achieve its objectives before running out of fuel. In later testimony, Mattis reflected back on the compromising situation of the “March Up,” as well as on the cost of increased fuel demand during the counter-insurgency efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the future, he stated, the military must be “unleashed from the tether of fuel.” Mattis had seen the future imperative to change our sources of energy for military operations.

Afghanistan Conflict

Report

Jan 6, 2017

The end of Saudi Arabia’s addiction to oil: Downstream industrial development

By Jean-Francois Seznec

Saudi Arabia’s leadership recently introduced an ambitious plan called Vision 2030 to move the country away from oil and toward a more diversified, modern economy. What are the existing downstream industries in the public and private sectors, and what has made them so successful thus far?

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions
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Experts

Millennium fellow

Luis Alvarado

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

Global Leadership Center

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Olivia Azadegan

Senior Energy Manager, Global Methane Hub

Global Leadership Center

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

Global Leadership Center

Energy Transitions Germany
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