Correlation between future energy systems and industrial revolutions

The last two to three centuries have witnessed humongous technological, socio-economic and environmental transformations which have laid precedence to the swift advancements in fields of sciences, engineering, medicine, business, and economics. While researchers focus on the productivity and economic growth potential and how subsequent industrial revolution paved the way for current contemporary lifestyle, very few analogies exist on the relationship between the intervention of the technology used and the implications as per energy management concerns during that period. The authors of this paper examine the impact of the changes in the industrial structure from the first to the third industrial revolution era (Industry 1.0, 2.0, 3.0), premised on the campaigns for cost-effective manufacturing and energy conservation throughput within the time frame, and how it transitioned to existing technological innovations. The article discusses energy issues and performance from the technology utilization perspective since the eighteenth century that has led to the present engineering practices or the resolve for change, through new means and technological approach. Different industrial practices which ushered the current anthropogenic situation are assessed, and critical strategies that are pivotal to drive current reforms, innovations and future ideas to see to the unstoppable realization of the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) on a large, medium and small scale and the possible transition to Industry 4.0 plus and Society (I4.+S) are presented.