Fragile fossil chokeholds: Current events accelerating the renewable energy transition across the world

Going by the headlines, recent events in the Middle East are accelerating the ongoing energy transition to renewable energy such as water, wind and sunshine.

Energy transition also known as energy system transformation describes the major structural changes occurring in energy supply and consumption in an energy system. 

2025 had already been recognized as a turning point year in this transition for many economies and economic blocs. Demand trends had flipped from fossil fuels to renewables for electricity. At the same time, electricity is increasingly becoming the motive power for vehicles. 

Now, early March 2026, before any of these reports are renewed for this year, there are already signs of an accelerated willingness to emancipate from dependence on oil. Today, an Ecuadorian engineer penned the pointed column which outlines the current scenario. A Korean professor warns us its time to redesign energy security. 

As the conflict involving Iran intensifies, one of the most sensitive warning lights in the global energy market has begun flashing. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s seaborne crude oil shipments pass, can trigger immediate disruption in global energy supply whenever a crisis occurs. It is also a crucial gateway for the energy that flows into the Korean economy. Lee Jae-seung

A senior tutor at an Australian university goes a step further to point out the fragility of the current system and the vulnerability of path dependence on this fragility. They articulate the implications for the energy transition:

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz also raises broader questions about the relationship between energy security and climate policy. Discussions about the energy transition often focus primarily on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, reducing reliance on fossil fuels may also reduce exposure to geopolitical disruptions in global oil markets.

Renewable energy systems differ from fossil fuels in an important respect: they are less dependent on internationally traded fuels transported through strategic chokepoints. Solar, wind, and other renewable sources can be produced domestically in many countries, potentially reducing reliance on volatile global supply chains.

For countries like Australia, this raises an important policy question. Expanding renewable energy capacity and electrification may not only contribute to climate mitigation but also strengthen energy security by reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.

Seen in this light, the global energy transition is not simply an environmental imperative. It may also represent a strategic response to the economic and geopolitical risks embedded in fossil fuel systems. Hoda Asgarian

This then sums up the rationale for acceleration of the energy transition to renewable sources and for electrification. Last week, Bangladesh had already arrived at the same conclusion: Experts urge faster renewable transition as Hormuz crisis threatens energy security. India was already ahead of them by three days; experts seem to be everywhere speaking up on the benefits of independence. Europe is not far behind Asian economies feeling the pain of a chokehold. 

“This is a moment to bring investments to ramp up plans to scale up electrification of the power and transport sector faster as the ultimate solution to energy security.”

Everyone is literally singing the same song as everyone else - path dependence is now unviable, undesirable, and unfeasible. We will come back to this moment in time in 5 years.