Transitions to sustainable energy systems

Human well-being and social welfare depend heavily on affordable access to energy services. Yet, the availability of energy to provide these services can be limited by scarce resources, environmental constraints and political instability, which is enhanced by competition for resources. The current system of providing energy services is insufficient to cope with these system limitations and is not sustainable for the future. One of the main tasks in this century, and in particular during the next few decades, will be to manage transition processes towards a sustainable energy system.