Key Trends and Technologies Shaping the Future Global Energy System

Global cooperation and policies are accelerating the already-rapid pace of the energy transition. In the years since the passage of the Paris Agreement, countries have increased funding for emissions-reduction programs and enacted stricter regulations around emissions. Combined with falling prices for renewable energy and increasing climate financing, a new era of the energy industry is being ushered in with firmer commitments to reaching net-zero emissions backed by investments and partnerships and an all-time high interest in energy and emissions-reducing technologies. The need to shift towards a low- or zero-carbon energy system and reducing global emissions has been well understood for decades, though there has been a step change from mostly rhetoric to tangible actions in recent years. The convergence of the political, economic, social, and technological drivers is now accelerating the energy transition and will enable the evolution of the energy system. In the past, understanding how each of these drivers individually impacted the energy industry has been key in the scale-up of renewable energy capacity, investments in novel technologies, and market entry strategies. However, moving forward, it is critical to understand how these drivers interconnectedly amplify the impact and direction of the future energy outlook. In this report, Lux Research distills the core assumptions related to political, economic, social, and technological drivers in 12 prominent energy outlooks scenarios.