The implications of rising greenhouse gas emissions is an issue of major public and political interest - a position reflected in the UK's 2019 legislative commitment to be "Net Zero by 2050". This Special Report explores the central themes arising from the low carbon energy transition and explains why the challenges faced in delivering Net Zero should not be underestimated. It sets out how the road to Net Zero will involve a repurposing of not only our energy system but also our own behaviour. With a focus on power generation, the report also describes how moving from 53% to 100% 'low carbon' power generation in 30 years will require investment in renewable technologies at an unprecedented level. Key questions examined in the report include: -How important is renewable technology to global and UK energy supply? Have renewable projects been successful in stabilising harmful levels of greenhouse gas emissions? -What is the Paris Agreement and Net Zero policy, where did they come from and how realistic are their goals? -What are the UK's main generation technologies? What policy drivers determine investment in renewable technology? -What new technologies will be required to deliver Net Zero? Written with both the lawyer and non-lawyer in mind, this report will appeal to those with an interest in the energy sector as well as those who are enthusiastic about the implications of the radical Net Zero ambition on the energy system as a whole.

Overview: High-Quality Energy for High-Quality Growth: China’s energy Revolution in the New Era Special Report 1: A study of China’s Energy Supply Revolution Special Report 2: Research on China’s Energy Demand Revolution Special Report 3: A Study of China’s Technology Revolution Special Report 4: China’s energy System Revolution Special Report 5: International Energy Cooperation and Governance Decarbonising Energy : The Pathway to Net Zero I. Introduction II. The global energy triumvirate: greenhouse gas emissions, global warming and green energy 1. Global energy trends – overview 2. Green shoots still to bud: carbon far from dated 3. Global green energy: an investment success story? 4. Renewable technology: now cheaper and more efficient 5. Global wrap-up III. How green is UK energy? 1. UK energy trends – overview 2. Energy versus electricity 3. The relationship between capacity and electricity generated in the UK IV. UK policy and the road to Net Zero 1. UK energy policy 2. Policy development-overview 3. The emergence of Net zero 4. The Committee on Climate Change’s 2019 Progress Report 5. Future energy scenarios 2019: Net Zero aspects 6. Delivering Net Zero V. Generation technologies: going from black to grey 1. Overview 2. Coal-fired generation 3. Nuclear generation 4. Natural gas-fired generation VI. Generation technologies: going from grey to green 1. Overview 2. Solar photovoltaic (PV) 3. Wind power VII. Net Zero and future technologies 1. Overview 2. Energy storage 3. Floating wind power 4. Hydrogen: to the rescue? 5. Carbon capture technology 6. Negative emissions 7. Advanced nuclear technologies VIII.The UK’s electricity network: electrons in balance 1. Overview 2. The electricity system: what it is and how it works 3. Balancing the electricity system: the balancing mechanism (BM) and ancillary services IX. Looking forward