Lessons from history about energy transitions

The historian, author and academic Jean-Baptiste Fressoz explains why he thinks that the idea of energy transition is a simplistic and flawed one, noting that what has actually happened throughout history has been different energy sources piling up on top of each other - such as more wood being used after the "switch" to coal, and more coal being used after the emergence of oil.Even if nuclear and renewables manage to decarbonise the electricity sector, he says, the big issue will be what is ...