ABSTRACT
Starting from about the mid-19th century, human societies acquired in rapid succession control over coal, steam, oil, electricity and natural gas. Along with the rise of fossil fuels, there was a decline in the use of renewable energy sources. With these shifts in primary sources of energy (as found in nature), enormous leaps in power output were achieved. Dramatic new possibilities emerged. There was growing evidence that greenhouse gases (GHGs) were accumulating in the atmosphere and that there was a real possibility of global warming and significant climate change. Even then, the non-uniform distribution of fossil fuel resources generated geopolitical and security concerns that urged reduced dependence on these sources. The oil price hikes of the 1970s aggravated the situation and led to the questioning of continued dependence on fossil fuels.
