Design and process innovations in 
combination with the use of digital technologies have led to 
near-commercial availability of many low or zero emissions 
options in buildings, transport and industry. From 2010-2019, 
there have been sustained decreases in the unit costs of solar energy 
(by 85%), wind energy (by 55%), and lithium-ion batteries (by 85%), 
and large increases in their deployment, e.g., >10× for solar and >100× for 
electric vehicles (EVs), albeit varying widely across regions (Figure 2.4). 
Electricity from PV and wind is now cheaper than electricity from 
fossil sources in many regions, electric vehicles are increasingly 
competitive with internal combustion engines, and large-scale 
battery storage on electricity grids is increasingly viable. In 
comparison to modular small-unit size technologies, the empirical 
record shows that multiple large-scale mitigation technologies, with 
fewer opportunities for learning, have seen minimal cost reductions 
and their adoption has grown slowly. Maintaining emission-intensive 
systems may, in some regions and sectors, be more expensive than 
transitioning to low emission systems. (high conﬁdence) {WGIII SPM B.4, 
WGIII SPM B.4.1, WGIII SPM C.4.2, WGIII SPM C.5.2, WGIII SPM C.7.2, 
WGIII SPM C.8, WGIII Figure SPM.3, WGIII Figure SPM.3}
For almost all basic materials – primary metals, building materials and 
chemicals – many low- to zero-GHG intensity production processes are 
at the pilot to near-commercial and in some cases commercial stage 
but they are not yet established industrial practice. Integrated design 
in construction and retroﬁt of buildings has led to increasing examples 
of zero energy or zero carbon buildings. Technological innovation 
made possible the widespread adoption of LED lighting. Digital 
technologies including sensors, the internet of things, robotics, and 
artiﬁcial intelligence can improve energy management in all sectors; 
they can increase energy efﬁciency, and promote the adoption of many 
low-emission technologies, including decentralised renewable energy, 
while creating economic opportunities.