History's contributions to energy research and policy

Historical research can assist those analyzing contemporary energy systems or designing energy policies. While history does not directly repeat itself or offer powers of prediction, studies of the past can draw attention to frequently overlooked features of energy systems. Through a series of case studies, this article highlights historians' efforts to identify the essential role of social and cultural considerations in shaping the successes and failures of energy regimes. In particular, energy researchers and policy makers can learn much from historians about the links between energy, culture, and society; the role of often-invisible infrastructures in limiting useful discussions about energy systems; and the need to reevaluate the traditional notion of energy transitions.