Power Trip: The Story of Energy

Power Trip: The Story of Energy
TV Show · Documentary

The story of how societies rise can be told by tracing the story of energy. Power Trip: The Story of Energy explores humanity’s most important resource by revealing the energy embedded in our water, food, wealth, cities, transportation and war. As our modern world faces growing demand for and worsening environmental impacts from energy, we are at a crossroads and the stakes are high. But history shows us that energy’s great value is that it allows societies to reinvent themselves. Filmed in stunning locations around the world, Power Trip explores how energy has transformed societies of the past and offers wisdom for today’s looming energy crisis. Energy advances always come with costs, some of which won’t be seen until centuries later. Our current energy crisis is real, but it is solvable.

2020 · 54m

Season 1

  • Water
    EPISODE 1
    Water
    The story of energy begins with water. Today water and energy are interconnected. WATER traces a centuries-long journey across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the United States to show the history of energy and water.
    54m
  • Food
    EPISODE 2
    Food
    Thanks to energy, the west generally speaking has enough to eat. But when food goes from farm to table to landfill, that embedded energy is wasted. FOOD traces a centuries-long journey showing us the energy it takes to bring us our food.
    54m
  • Transportation
    EPISODE 3
    Transportation
    Innovations in energy have revolutionized transportation over time from literal horsepower for horse drawn carriages to modern combustion engines, electric vehicles, and rockets. Machines help us travel over land and across the sky but require an enormous amount of energy. TRANSPORTATION traces a centuries-long journey across the world to show us the energy that brings us modern transportation.
    49m
  • Wealth
    EPISODE 4
    Wealth
    Before modern energy, wealth was tied to land ownership. Today, wealth is tied to energy and who controls it. Energy changes the way wealth is concentrated, creating a cascade of social and economic effects. WEALTH traces a centuries-long journey across the world to show us the energy that gives us wealth.
    49m
  • Cities
    EPISODE 5
    Cities
    Energy is all around us, hidden in every aspect of our lives. The future of cities and the future of energy are closely connected. Cities shape our relationship with the natural and built environment and consume 40% of U.S. energy. CITIES traces a centuries-long journey across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and North America to show us the energy that gave us modern cities.
    49m
  • War
    EPISODE 6
    War
    Energy can prevent wars or fuel them, depending on how it is used; and major advances in energy have historically arisen during wartime.
    54m

Related

  • Deadly Science
  • Deep Time History
  • We Need to Talk About A.I
  • Shock and Awe: The Story of Electricity
  • Human Footprint
  • Becoming Martian
  • The High Frontier
  • Fortitude
  • Hannah Fry's Magic Numbers

About

Power Trip: The Story of Energy

Documentary

The story of how societies rise can be told by tracing the story of energy. Power Trip: The Story of Energy explores humanity’s most important resource by revealing the energy embedded in our water, food, wealth, cities, transportation and war. As our modern world faces growing demand for and worsening environmental impacts from energy, we are at a crossroads and the stakes are high. But history shows us that energy’s great value is that it allows societies to reinvent themselves. Filmed in stunning locations around the world, Power Trip explores how energy has transformed societies of the past and offers wisdom for today’s looming energy crisis. Energy advances always come with costs, some of which won’t be seen until centuries later. Our current energy crisis is real, but it is solvable.

Information

Studio
PBS
Released
2020
Rated
PG
© 2020 Alpheus Media

Languages

Original Audio
English (United States)
Subtitles

English (United States) (SDH)

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)

Copyright © 2025 Apple Inc. All Rights Reserved.

  • Internet Service Terms
  • Apple TV & Privacy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Support
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)