What is Energy Transition?

Since the former US President Jimmy Carter popularised the term in 1977 through his speech and the 1981 United Nations Conference, we have started paying closer attention to renewable fuel. Let’s explore what energy transition is and how it changed throughout the years.
Energy Transition: Definition
An energy transition is a total change of the power supply and consumption. The term went through several changes according to the history of the global power sector. The transformation we see right now is all about minimising the effect of climate change. This is based on illuminating non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels, and using renewables in the system, such as biofuels and wind energy.
Evolution of the Term
Politicians and the media founded the green energy transition term long before the environmental crisis we have now. In 1977, it was popularised by US President Jimmy Carter. In his speech, he talked about humanity running out of gas and coal. There, he also proposed we move on to renewables, motivating the total change.
After the 1981 United Nations Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy, the whole world started asking – what is energy transition? The term was globalised, and the debates supported moving on to renewable power and waste to energy technologies on the industrial level. When the agreement to limit global warming below 2 °C took place, the term sustainable energy transition meant a change of general policy.
Despite the growth of research and education in ecologically-friendly fuels, many argue that the term itself became a mere slogan. Right now, we use all forms of fuels, including fossil, solar, and wind, not just renewables.
How DTEK Supports Clean Energy Transition
DTEK started as a thermal power producer, but now focuses on renewable power in Ukraine. DTEK’s green energy transition also includes more than €2 billion of capital expenditure in investments and creating 5 GW of renewable capacity in:
- Italy;
- Romania;
- Poland;
- Croatia.
The company’s wind farms, solar plants, and battery storage parks are also prominent across the country and are building green power resilience locally.