Energy Transition

Projecting the future energy mix nationally and globally, and prospects for different sectors and technologies

The world’s growing appetite for energy, combined with concern about the risks of climate change, is leading nations to seek a technology mix that simultaneously lowers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enables economic growth. The search for affordable, reliable, efficient, low‑carbon energy-at-scale involves a realistic assessment of the benefits and constraints of existing and new technologies, as well as their socioeconomic implications.

Our studies inform decision‑makers, enabling them to make sound, forward‑looking choices from an expansive menu of technology and policy options aimed at lowering GHG emissions. We project, under business as usual (BAU) and other policies, the future energy mix; performance of different sectors (e.g. mobility/transportation including electric vehicles, power, industrial, agriculture); and market penetration of technologies (e.g. carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), hydrogen, renewables, intermittency (batteries, demand response, electricity markets), and negative emissions technologies (BECCS, afforestation, reforestation and geoengineering)).

To learn how your organization can benefit from funding our research, please visit the Joint Program Sponsorship page. 

Publications

Journal Article
An, M., R.G. Prinn, L.M. Western, X. Zhao, B. Yao, J. Hu, A.L. Ganesan, J. Muhle, R.F. Weiss, P. B. Krummel, S. O'Doherty, D. Young and M. Rigby (2024). Nature Communications, 15(1997) (doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46084-3)
Journal Article
Gurgel, A., J. Reilly, J. Morris, C.A. Schlosser, X. Gao, M. Yuan and K. Tapia- Ahumada (2024). Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 29(27) (doi: 10.1007/s11027-024-10119-3)
Journal Article
Bistline, J., . . .  and M. Yuan (2023). Energy and Climate Change, 5, 100118 (doi: 10.1016/j.egycc.2023.100118)

News + Media

Research Projects

People

Administration, Faculty
MIT Energy Initiative; Joint Program
Collaborators
MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics; MIT Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment
Collaborators
Joint Program
Faculty
Aero-Astro; Joint Program
Research staff
Joint Program; MIT Energy Initiative
Research staff
MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change; MIT Energy Initiative
Research staff
Joint Program
Collaborators
Joint Program; MIT Energy Initiative
Faculty
Sloan; Joint Program
Collaborators
MIT Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment; MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Administration, Research staff
CEEPR
Research staff
Joint Program
Faculty
Sloan; Joint Program
Collaborators
MIT Energy Initiative
Collaborators
Joint Program
Research staff
Joint Program