Abstract: Global demand for energy shows no signs of slowing, carbon dioxide emissions keep surging to new records. More than ever, the need for a fundamental shift to a cleaner and more reliable energy system is clear. The technologies with the greatest potential for energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduction, however, are making the slowest progress. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is not seeing the necessary rates of investment into full-scale demonstration projects and nearly one-half of new coal-fired power plants are still being built with inefficient technology. The power generation sector is expected to contribute more than one-third of potential CO2 emissions reductions worldwide by 2020 under the 2DS, and almost 40% of 2050 emission reduction. Enhanced power generation efficiency, a switch to lower-carbon fossil fuels, increased use of renewable and nuclear power, and the introduction of CCS are all required to achieve cleaner power generation.