The Kardashev scale, conceived by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev in 1964, is a method for evaluating a civilization's technological advancement based on its capacity to harness energy. This scale comprises of three primary categories, with two additional extended categories.
Type I: Planetary Civilization
A Type I civilization, often referred to as a planetary civilization, can utilize and store all the energy available on its planet. Currently, Earth's energy consumption is around 2×10¹³ watts. For a civilization to reach Type I status, it would need to harness all the energy that falls on the planet from its parent star, approximately 1.74×10¹⁷ watts. This level is close to our contemporary terrestrial civilization's capabilities, with an energy equivalent to the solar insolation on Earth, ranging between 10¹⁶ and 10¹⁷ watts, as noted by astronomer Guillermo A. Lemarchand.
Type II: Stellar Civilization
A Type II civilization, also known as a stellar civilization, can use and control energy at the scale of its planetary system. This entails harnessing the energy radiated by its star, such as through the construction of a Dyson sphere or a Matrioshka brain. Lemarchand characterized this stage as a civilization that can utilize the entire radiation output of its star, comparable to the luminosity of the Sun, roughly 4×10²⁶ watts.
Type III: Galactic Civilization
A Type III civilization, or a galactic civilization, has control over energy at the scale of its entire host galaxy. Lemarchand described this level as a civilization with access to power comparable to the luminosity of the entire Milky Way galaxy, approximately 4×10³⁷ watts. Energy consumption at this stage would be around 10³⁷ watts.
Extended Categories: Type IV and Type Ω (or Type V) Civilizations
Beyond the primary categories, the Kardashev scale also includes two extended classifications. A Type IV civilization, referred to as a universal civilization, can control energy at the scale of its entire host universe. A Type Ω or Type V civilization, also known as a multi-universal civilization, can control energy at the scale of multiple universes and may possess the ability to create universes.
Currently, humanity has not achieved Type I civilization status. Physicist and futurist Michio Kaku suggested that if humans increase their energy consumption by an average of 3 percent annually, they may attain Type I status in 100–200 years, Type II status in a few thousand years, and Type III status in 100,000 to a million years.
In 2015, a study analyzing galactic mid-infrared emissions concluded that Kardashev Type-III civilizations are either exceedingly rare or non-existent in the local Universe. In 2016, a signal from the star HD 164595 was thought to require the power of a Type I or Type II civilization if produced by extraterrestrial life forms. However, it was later discovered in August 2016 that the signal's origin was likely a military satellite orbiting Earth.
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