The world is in the early stages of a clean energy transition. In China and many other countries, a shift is underway from the energy sources that dominated the 20th century (mainly coal and oil) to new sources. Since 2015, global wind power capacity has tripled and global solar power capacity has increased more than 10 times. The number of electric vehicles on roads around the world has doubled in just the past two years.

Yet one lesson from history is that energy transitions take time. Despite the recent growth in renewable energy and electric vehicles, fossil fuels currently provide more than 80% of primary energy worldwide. What does history teach us about energy transitions? What are the causes of the energy transition currently underway? Which technologies are most promising? How is the transition proceeding differently in different countries? What are the likely impacts of the transition?

This course will explore these questions and more. The class will consist of lectures, discussions and a field trip to an energy company headquarters in Beijing.