Global CO2 emissions remained constant between 1750 and approximately 1840, after which they began to increase rapidly due to industrial activities and the use of fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal) account for 85% of global primary energy consumption.
The combustion of fossil fuels in power plants, vehicles, industry, and buildings releases pollutants such as sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds, which contaminate the air and can lead to ozone layer depletion.
Sustainable energy transitions require the formulation of effective policies that promote biomass resources, increase the use of renewable and low-carbon energy sources, and penalize or discourage the use of fossil fuels and unsustainable natural resource practices.
The combustion of fossil fuels produces greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and nitrous oxides (NOx), which contribute to global warming.
The main challenges facing sustainable energy technologies include a lack of public acceptance, the need for behavioral changes, cost limitations, and the availability of cheap fossil fuels, according to Hildingsson and Johansson (2016).
Gaseous fuel accounted for 18.5% of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels in 2014, totaling approximately 1,823 million metric tons.
A sustainable energy transition involves increasing energy efficiency to reduce total demand and wastage of fossil fuels in an optimized system where the grid absorbs all variable renewables.
Fossil fuels, specifically gas and coal, account for over 60% of global electricity generation.
In 2017, fossil fuels supplied 16,947 TWh (63%) of total global electricity generation, while hydropower supplied 4,222 TWh (16%).
Emissions from gas flaring reduced from about 2% of global emissions during the 1970s to less than 1% of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels.
S. A. Solarin, M. O. Bello, and F. V. Bekun published a study in 2021 examining the possibility of substituting fossil fuels for hydropower and solar energy in Italy.
Replacing fossil fuel-based energy with carbon dioxide-free renewable energy and energy efficiency is a long-term, costly, and difficult venture.
Strategies to reduce electricity-related pollution and losses include reducing fossil fuel usage, increasing the adoption of renewable energy sources like photovoltaics and wind, utilizing fuel cells, integrating battery storage systems, and adopting plug-in electric vehicles.
Smart grids facilitate the increased absorption of variable renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, by providing the necessary infrastructure and capacity to displace fossil fuels from the grid.
Substituting polluting fossil fuels with renewable and low-carbon energy sources provides environmental and socioeconomic benefits, including the creation of jobs and social capital.
Fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) contributed 61.3% of global electricity generation in 2020.
Moriarty and Honnery (2019) assert that solar energy, wind, bioenergy, and geothermal will play a leading role in the global energy transition away from a century of fossil fuel dominance.
Methane is generated through natural processes like anaerobic digestion and anthropogenic activities including the production and transport of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil.
Growing electricity demand and increased economic activity have driven higher consumption of fossil fuels, which has contributed to the growth of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
Kumar and Okedu (2019) argue that renewable energy projects generate more local economic benefits than imported fossil fuels or grid power by utilizing local labor, materials, and businesses, and reinvesting revenue into the community.
Mohamad and Anuge (2021) argue that replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources in electricity generation is an important measure for reducing carbon emissions.
Fossil fuels, specifically coal, natural gas, and oil, contributed 61.3% of global electricity generation in 2020.
Sustainable energy reduces dependence on fossil fuels and increases the use of renewable energy sources, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Fossil fuels offer energy security and grid stability due to their steady release of energy, but their high carbon footprint, finite supply, price volatility, and supply interruptions make them an unreliable and unsustainable energy source.
The United States Department (2015) and Owusu and Asumadu-Sarkodie (2016) observe that global population and economic growth drive increased energy demand, which leads to higher consumption of conventional energy sources like fossil fuels.
In 2020, global electricity production sources were distributed as follows: fossil fuels (61.3%), a combination of nuclear, hydro, and solar (35.2%), other renewables (2.6%), and other sources (0.9%).
Sustainable energy transition strategies consist of three primary technological changes: energy savings on the demand side, increased generation efficiency at the production level, and the substitution of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources and low-carbon nuclear power.
Hydrogen is expected to play a leading role in the development of fuel cells and as a fuel source to replace fossil fuels.
Sustainable energy transition measures include shifting from fossil fuels to renewable and low-carbon sources, implementing efficient conversion technologies, electrifying transport using renewable electricity, and adopting energy conservation measures to eliminate unnecessary demand.
In 2020, fossil fuels generated 61% of global electricity, while the combination of nuclear, wind, and solar accounted for 35% of global electricity generation.
Fossil fuels will continue to supplement intermittent and unpredictable wind and solar energy in a highly optimized electricity generation and supply system.
Fossil fuels dominate current global energy systems and contribute significantly to the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Hydropower enhances energy security by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and provides additional benefits such as irrigation, water supply for industrial and domestic use, flood control, and employment opportunities.
Fossil fuels are currently key to a stable and reliable electricity grid because they are price competitive, provide a steady release of energy, and allow power plants to operate at high load and capacity factors.
Wanga et al. (2020) state that renewable energy resources are ideal substitutes for fossil fuels to achieve sustainability in energy use.
The harvesting and processing of bioenergy feedstocks (including harvest, drying, and transportation) emits greenhouse gases, though in significantly lower quantities than fossil fuels.
Sasmaz et al. (2020) note that the substitution of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources may negatively impact human development.
Many countries' economies are heavily dependent on the production and export of fossil fuels like oil and gas.
Just transition considerations must be addressed at both macro and micro levels from the beginning to create structures that allow parties dependent on fossil fuel dynamics to participate effectively in the benefits of the energy transition.
Sustainable energy transition strategies typically involve three major technological changes: energy savings on the demand side, generation efficiency at the production level, and the substitution of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources and low-carbon nuclear power.
The carbon footprint of fossil fuels used in power generation can be minimized by adopting efficient conversion technologies such as cogeneration and trigeneration, which reduce fuel consumption and maximize generation from limited energy resources.
Fossil fuels are not sustainable because they take millions of years to form but are returned to the atmosphere in a few years.
Regulatory and policy frameworks for energy transition should create economic incentives aligned with the environmental and social costs of fossil fuels and remove barriers to the deployment of low-carbon energy systems, according to Mullen and Dong (2021).
Industrialization, specifically the use of fossil fuels in transportation, industry, and power generation, is the primary cause of the steady rise in carbon dioxide concentration between 1970 and 2020.
In 2020, hydropower contributed 16% of global electricity generation, while fossil fuels supplied 61.3% of global electricity.
The United States government subsidizes pipelines and supports military actions in the Middle East as a strategy to ensure a stable and reliable supply of fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels are the primary class of energy sources causing severe environmental pollution and are the main target for substitution with renewable and low-carbon energy sources.
The depletion of fossil fuel reserves, price volatility of fossil fuels, and global climate change are driving increased attention toward renewable energy sources and other low-carbon, cost-effective power generation methods.
Fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, and oil, accounted for 61.3% of global electricity generation in 2020.
The reduction in the cost of solar and wind power generation significantly affects their ability to compete with traditional generation options like fossil fuels, according to the United States Department (2015).
Fossil fuels were used to generate 16,947 TWhrs of electricity in 2017, representing 63% of total global electricity generation, according to Solarin et al. (2021).
Renewable and low carbon energy sources improve power supply, enhance long-term access and utility in energy production, decrease dependence on fossil fuels, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to Rathor and Saxena (2020a) and Nguyen et al. (2020).
The carbon footprint of fossil fuel sources can be reduced through the use of highly efficient conversion technology, clean coal, and carbon capture and sequestration.
Bioenergy sources, including biogas, biofuels, energy crops, plant waste, and animal waste, can serve as renewable, low-carbon substitutes for fossil fuels in domestic, industrial, transport, and power generation sectors.