ABSTRACT
Energy is an essential precondition for human development. From the first time wood was used for light and heat thousands of years ago to the latest energy technologies, greater quality and efficiency in energy use has been an aim of and driving force behind innovation and progress. Three major transitions in the development of energy systems led to greater quality in the types of energy: the use of coal-fired steam engines allowed for new, more efficient production processes and simultaneously reduced dependence on ever scarcer ‘traditional’ fuels (wood, manure). The second transition, from coal to oil, increased mobility as the combustion engine was developed. Finally, the use of electricity (light, computers) led humankind into the age of information.
