# Phases of the net-zero energy transition and strategies to achieve it

**Authors:** Joche Markard, Daniel Rosenbloom  
**arXiv:** [2311.09472](https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.09472)  
**Date:** 2023-11-16  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/2311.09472v1/

## Key points

- Net-zero energy transition requires a swift, radical, and economy-wide transformation
- The transition is non-linear and cumulative, involving multiple interdependent transitions in different sectors
- Policymaking plays a crucial role in guiding these transitions
- Four overlapping phases of development: emergence of low-carbon innovations, transition of a single sector (electricity), transitions of multiple sectors based on low-carbon electricity, and transitions in difficult-to-decarbonize sectors
- Electrification is the dominant strategy, but new low-carbon fuels and more radical changes should be considered
- Sustainability transitions approach addresses complex challenges by recognizing the need for fundamental changes in socio-technical systems
- Socio-technical systems consist of actors, institutions, technologies, and infrastructures that have co-evolved over time and are resistant to change
- Past transitions provide examples of changes in infrastructure, business models, practices, and rules
- Strong policy intervention is necessary for achieving future emission targets

## Summary

The net-zero energy transition is a complex and challenging process that requires a swift, radical, and economy-wide transformation. In order to inform research and policy, this paper aims to identify the general phases of this transition and the overarching strategies that can be employed to tackle this challenge. Drawing from the literature on sustainability transition studies, the authors depict the net-zero energy transition as a non-linear and cumulative process that involves multiple interdependent transitions in different sectors. The paper highlights the crucial role of policymaking in guiding these transitions and emphasizes that future emission targets can only be achieved through strong policy intervention. To understand the increasing complexity of the policy challenge, the authors distinguish four overlapping phases of development: emergence of low-carbon innovations, transition of a single sector (electricity), transitions of multiple sectors based on low-carbon electricity, and transitions in difficult-to-decarbonize sectors. Each phase presents new policy challenges on top of existing ones. While electrification has emerged as the dominant strategy, the paper suggests that new low-carbon fuels (such as hydrogen) and more radical changes (such as substituting carbon-intensive products or lifestyle changes) should receive further attention. The paper introduces sustainability transitions as an approach to address grand sustainability challenges such as climate change. It explains that these challenges are highly complex, span across sectors and places, involve conflicting views and interests of stakeholders, and change over time. The field of sustainability transitions offers a novel approach by demonstrating that fundamental changes in socio-technical systems are necessary to address these challenges. Socio-technical systems consist of various elements including actors, institutions, technologies, and infrastructures. These systems have co-evolved over time and are resistant to radical changes due to lock-in effects. However, socio-technical transitions have occurred in the past, such as the transition from sail to steam-powered vessels or from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles. These transitions involved changes in infrastructure, business models, practices, and rules. In conclusion, the net-zero energy transition is a complex and non-linear process that requires strong policy intervention. The paper identifies four phases of development and discusses five general strategies for decarbonization. It emphasizes the importance of sustainability transitions as an approach to address grand sustainability challenges and highlights the need for fundamental changes in socio-technical systems.