Sustainability and energy conversions

Abstract

A sustainable global energy system requires a transition away from energy sources with high greenhouse emissions. Vast energy resources are available to meet our needs, and technology pathways for making this transition exist. Lowering the cost and increasing the reliability and quality of energy from sustainable energy sources will facilitate this transition. Changing the world's energy systems is a huge challenge, but it is one that can be undertaken now with improvements in energy efficiency and with continuing deployment of a variety of technologies. Numerous opportunities exist for research in material sciences to contribute to this global-scale challenge.