Mine the gap: Sourcing vanadium for the energy transition

Global 100% energy transition by 2050: A fiction in developing economies?

As decarbonization and climate policy are gaining relevance in the European Union (EU) energy policy, the present paper seeks to present both priorities and challenges for of the EU energy transition. As priorities, we outline the key targets and initiatives proposed and set by the European institutions in relation to the energy matters. The EU identifies renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and reduction of the greenhouse gas (GHG) as the three pillars to achieve its carbon neutrality. The final goal for to the EU energy and climate targets is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Nevertheless, since given energy policy is being a “shared competence” between the EU institutions and Member States, each Member State plays a critical role for the achievement of the EU energy transition. Different socioeconomic structures and the energy mix across Europe have caused the implementation process of each EU target to develop at a different pace among European countries. We illustrate this drawing on four countries: Italy, the UK, Germany and Poland. We assess their political commitment to the energy transition and their actions regarding energy transformation. These four countries are only an example of the different pace in the implementation of the EU energy and climate targets. The last part of the paper is devoted to the ambitious plan, called Green New Deal, launched by the present Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. It sets key priorities, reaffirming European commitments to the energy and climate transition. However, the plan faces significant obstacles. For example, division among Member States (North-South and West-East) might be a factor that could undermine the achievement of the European energy transition, due to multiple and divergent interests (also on the future role of the energy transition in the aftermath of COVID-19 and the resulting economic crisis). Another challenge is constituted by popular opposition, especially from those people that see the energy transition — and consequent economic and industrial transformation — as a potential threat to their well-being and jobs, as the French gilets jaunes show. Lastly, we explain that the European energy transition will impact also its external relations, for example with Russia, proposing how the two blocs can preserve their energy relationship in light of the energy transition, notably through the conversion of natural gas to hydrogen and storing/using the resulting CO2.

Experts and academics think, write, and talk extensively about energy transition, but can the same be said about the public? A comprehensive move from fossil to renewable energy implies significant structural changes and social consequences, for example linked to employment, mobility, and individual consumption patterns. Consequently, public acceptance of such an energy transition is needed for its success in democracies. However, the extent to which the concept of energy transition is familiar to the public remains poorly understood, and existing methods to gauge public opinion may overestimate the public's familiarity with energy transition pathways. Here we invite randomly selected citizens to write down the words they associate with one of the following: “oil and gas”, “energy,” and “transition,” notably not asking about “energy transition” itself. We collect 3232 textual responses in Norway, a crucial case for both energy supply and transition due to its dominant petroleum industry and hydroelectric power capacity. Overall, topics related to energy transition are not prevalent. Notably, “transition” responses center on reorganization in the workplace and government centralization, while few links are found between transition and energy. Furthermore, we find that associations with the word “transition” in the context of jobs are negative more than positive, suggesting risks related to using the same word for the movement from fossil to renewable energy in public communication. Our findings indicate that the issue of energy transition appears distant for the general public to engage in, compared to the concerns of everyday life and notably concerns connected to employment.

The provision of energy infrastructure is essential for economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability. This paper served to evaluate the challenges associated with energy development and transition across the African continent and proffer opportunities for sustainable transition. Extensive use of documents, official data and statistics on different aspects of the African society was employed for this study. Exploratory documentary research materials, extant literature, publications, journals and articles on the current status of energy generation and delivery in Africa, the concept of renewable energy pathways, the need for energy transitions and the major strategies in place in Africa and around the world were important study areas for this work. Exploratory research method and systematic review approach were used to study the energy transition techniques, challenges and opportunities across Africa. Important research points were the concept of renewable energy pathways, the need for energy transitions, the major strategies in place in Africa and around the world to meet with the zero-carbon emission strategies of 2050, the future directions in energy provision—renewable energy development, economic diversification and energy-efficiency in Africa and the effects of energy transition on the social, political, economic and cultural spheres across Africa. Results obtained showed that energy transition in Africa is rapidly growing, though differently across the region, following huge investments made into the renewable energy sector, legislations and policies on the fossil fuel usage and carbon emission and introduction of better and more efficient systems. Nevertheless, the challenges reported in this studying plaguing the African energy transition come in five spheres: social, political, economic, technological and cultural. These challenges seem to be ancient, ubiquitous and multidimensional. Harnessing the opportunities in renewable energy will surely boost the economy of the different case study countries. A willing socio-political disposition towards renewable energy sources, increased investment plan for cleaner energy, reduced emphasis on fossil fuels and private-public sector collaboration will surely be giant steps to tapping into the numerous benefits of renewable energy sources. Energy transition in African countries can only be achieved under the auspices of a strong political will, social drive, cultural motivation and technological inclination towards a sustainable transition to cleaner renewable energy sources and less focus on fossil fuels.

The World Economic Forum (2018) has introduced a comprehensive proxy for the Energy Transition Index (ETI), which includes two main sub-indices; the energy System Performance Index (SPI) and Transition Readiness (TRI). The first sub-index measures the current state of the energy system, and the latter indicates future transition(s). Any factor that can move these two levers in a positive direction will eventually lead to improved energy transitions. Various factors affect the energy transition. Since the ETI is a comprehensive index that includes socio-economic, governance structures, and political dimensions of the energy transition, it is expected to be impacted by globalization and economic complexity. The present study seeks to answer whether the impact of globalization and economic complexity on both energy transition sub-indicators is in the same direction. Also, do the effects of these two variables vary at different levels of energy transition and its sub-indices? For this purpose, we implement a fixed-effect panel threshold model for data from the European Union. The results demonstrate that (overall) globalization significantly influences the ETI and its sub-indices at all levels. The economic complexity in all three regimes reduces TRI (at 90% or 95% confidence intervals). Nevertheless, it harms the SPI and ETI if they exceed the threshold.

The current European context, affected by the dramatic conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the related energy and food shortages, is putting a strain on the natural gas availability of the European member states. The latter are forced to new negotiations with other potential energy suppliers, to urgent internal measures to reduce energy demand and, at the same time, to fulfil their commitments to internationally agreed climate targets, where the energy transition is a key strategy. A sustainable energy transition strategy is also essential in circular economy implementation (CE), requiring the replacement of fossil energies with renewable ones. In turn, the energy transition should meet the CE principles to reduce the consumption of natural resources and the contribution to climate change. In this context, this study assesses the environmental impacts of the Italian and EU electricity mixes under different governmental and research scenarios and perspectives, by means of the Life Cycle Assessment approach (Midpoint and Endpoint LCA). Results show that the shift from the BAU electricity mix (year 2021) to the emergency Government plan scenario (2021–2023) replacing 14% of Russian natural gas by means of 42% oil and coal and 58% renewables slightly reduces the contribution to Midpoint LCA impact indicators, including global warming and fossil resource scarcity, while still contributing to particulate matter formation, terrestrial acidification, eco-toxicity and water consumption. The contribution to global warming further decreases in the other modelled scenarios, where natural gas is assumed to decrease from 30% to a high 60% in favour of renewables (Governmental plan 2030 scenario). Other impacts, in particular terrestrial and human toxicity, are instead expected to worsen, calling for much needed improvement of renewable technologies. Further, the Endpoint LCA impact indicators, expressed as DALY (human health damage), lost species potential (biodiversity damage) and increased costs for the extraction of mineral and fossil resources, improve in the Governmental Plan 2030 scenario and other modelled options. LCA shows to be a key method for the energy transition, in order to identify hotspots of modelled electricity scenarios and suggest more environmentally, circular and socially just improvement solutions. The adoption of the concept of CE in energy transition entails the expansion of the boundaries of an LCA to include the end-of-life of renewable technologies (so-called “cradle to cradle” approach) and the assessment of the most successful options to mitigate the environmental and social impacts of energy transition.

Evaluating Normandy’s sustainable development and energy transition policies

Bringing geopolitics to energy transition research

Energy transitions have always been associated with materials transitions, shaping and being shaped by the latter. Recent technological trends – renewable energy, vehicle electrification, digitalization – raise concerns about the scale and complexity of material use prospects. This chapter explores the connections between energy and materials transitions, focusing on three aspects. The first comprises fossil-fuel-based organic bulk materials, such as plastics and agrochemicals, and the substitution and/or lower use of such materials. The second refers to inorganic bulk materials, such as steel and cement, which provide the infrastructure to support low-carbon technologies. Primary metals will face declining ore grades by expanding production to lower-quality mines, requiring ever-growing energy use. The third connection between energy and materials transitions refers to critical materials for the ongoing energy transition, which include (1) minor metals, co- or by-products of a primary production; (2) locally concentrated reserves and/or production/processing capacity; and/or (3) specialty metals with low substitutability rate. Rare earth metals, such as cobalt and indium, are examples of these materials for which the shortage of supply could slow down the deployment of clean energy technologies. This chapter shows that the ongoing energy transition needs to be accompanied by a simultaneous, sustainable materials transition on many levels.

Introduction. The article is devoted to the current issues of global low-carbon development, the concept of the evolution of the transition between different stages of low-carbon transformation of the economy, development strategies of countries, society and the world, research into the impact of the economic development model on achieving the goal of climate neutrality and scenarios of energy and digital transitions on this path. The purpose of the article is to systematize logically consistent connections between the concept of the evolution of low-carbon transformation of global development and scenarios of energy and technological/digital transformations. Research methods. When writing the scientific article, the dialectical method of scientific cognition, methods of scientific abstraction, analysis and synthesis; systematic generalization; comparative analysis, statistical analysis were used. Results. The hypothesis of the existence of connections between the concept of evolution of lowcarbon transformation of global development and scenarios of energy and technological/digital transformations is proven on the basis of systematization and generalization of interdisciplinary research on the concepts of sustainable development, climate neutrality, low-carbon development, forecasts and scenarios of energy and digital transitions. The work summarizes the phases of low-carbon development, the connections between the categories of ―low-carbon energy‖, ―low-carbon life‖, ―low-carbon society‖, ―low-carbon city‖, ―low-carbon community‖, ―low-carbon world‖. Based on the energy transition scenarios proposed by S&P Global Commodity Insights, conclusions are drawn about possible scenarios of the transition from the initial to the developed phase of low-carbon development. The ways of digital transformations are summarized, which should ensure greater efficiency of the transition to the mature phase of low-carbon development. Conclusions. The main provisions of this article will contribute to the formation of a state policy for economic recovery based on the principles of "Build Back Better" and "Build Back Greener", taking into account the scenarios of the global energy transition and theoretical concepts of the evolution of low-carbon development. Keywords: low-carbon development, climate neutrality, energy, energy transition, digital transformation.

Fulgide Derivative-Based Solid-State Reversible Fluorescent Switches for Advanced Optical Memory

Referendum as a policy instrument to enhance energy democracy in formulating energy transition path, agenda, and policies: A case study of Taiwan's referendums in 2018 and 2021

This study examines the critical interplay between migration, climate change, energy transitions, and socioeconomic disparities, highlighting their collective influence on regional resilience and sustainable development. By analyzing the existing literature, the study investigates how migration patterns are shaped by environmental stressors, energy challenges, and economic inequalities, emphasizing the dual role of migration as both a response to and a driver of climate change. Additionally, it explores the complex relationship between energy systems and migration flows, focusing on the impact of energy access, transitions, and sustainability efforts on socioeconomic conditions, particularly in vulnerable regions. The review identifies key gaps in the literature, especially regarding the economic and social implications of these interconnected factors. It also assesses how energy transitions can either mitigate or exacerbate regional disparities and resilience to climate-induced migration. This holistic perspective aims to inform future policy and research on climate migration, energy security, and socioeconomic equity.

The energy transit constitutes one of the critical components of energy value chain, since it frequently involves transport and access issues as robust energy trade can only take place with access to a well-connected and well-managed transmission network. Issues such as feasibility of investments, non-discriminatory access to infrastructure and related legal regulations have elevated energy transit security to top of the energy security agenda. A search for reliable transit of energy goes parallel with multi-dimensional, evolving and administrative nature of energy security as well as with geostrategic calculations of the leading actors. Currently there is no internationally binding agreement which regulates the energy transit since transit provisions of World Trade Organization and Energy Charter Treaty are vogue. An international transit protocol has been discussed under the Energy Charter Treaty for decades, but the process has not reached an agreement. Various regional markets such as EU market have developed their own energy regulations and thus most of the transit issues within the union were solved. Nevertheless, there is still lack of an energy transit regulation in wider Eurasia (specifically from China to Turkey including Caspian states). In that sense, a more modest form of transit regime could be applicable for a specific region rather than an international one. In this paper, the geostrategic importance of energy transit and possibility of a new regime under the International Energy Charter will be discussed with a specific reference to energy market developments and new geopolitical realities in Eurasia where such kind of a regional transit community could be achieved.

Ready or not, here it comes: Assessing the gaps in community plans for renewable energy transitions within the United States