For the United States, the key was oil and gas. Its oil giants proved formidable geoeconomic players, whether working with U.S. friendly regimes during the Cold War or providing liquefied natural gas to Europe as it struggles with Russia today. In turn, they have shaped U.S. policy, including the country’s decades-long entanglement in the Middle East.

Geopolitical power has long been linked with literal power. Britain’s status as the world’s leading coal producer fueled not just the Industrial Revolution domestically but gave it enormous global influence.

Geopolitical power has long been linked with literal power. Britain’s status as the world’s leading coal producer fueled not just the Industrial Revolution domestically but gave it enormous global influence.

For the United States, the key was oil and gas. Its oil giants proved formidable geoeconomic players, whether working with U.S. friendly regimes during the Cold War or providing liquefied natural gas to Europe as it struggles with Russia today. In turn, they have shaped U.S. policy, including the country’s decades-long entanglement in the Middle East.

Now, some see China as a new type of energy power—an electrostate. It is not only installing renewable energy faster than any country in the world, but it is also exporting the technologies for producing renewable energy on a massive scale, according to energy think tank Ember.