Energy Transition Strategy Research Articles

Vietnam’s energy transition to 2050: is importing liquefied natural gas a good solution?

Abstract Energy and the environment are among the biggest challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. The issue of the energy transition has become increasingly important as countries around the world seek to shift towards cleaner, more sustainable forms of energy. For a rapidly developing economy like Vietnam, the energy challenge becomes even more urgent. A reasonable energy transition strategy will be an important prerequisite for sustainable economic development, national security, environmental improvement and climate change mitigation. One potential solution that has been proposed is to increase imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to help meet Vietnam’s energy needs while reducing its reliance on coal. In this article, the author analyses the potential for Vietnam to import LNG in the future.

Energy Communities in Urban Areas: Comparison of Energy Strategy and Economic Feasibility in Italy and Spain

Energy communities using renewable energy sources directly contributes to reduction of climate change gas emissions and energy consumption in the European Union. In addition, energy communities enable citizens to transform from (passive) consumers to prosumers (active consumers and producers) and to play a proactive role in the deployment of energy transition in urban areas. As the transposition of European rules about energy communities into the national laws of EU Member States is very articulated and differentiated, this study proposes a framework to analyze and compare regulatory and financial instruments. This framework is applied to the analysis of the cases of Italy and Spain as representative of European states in which collective actions in the energy sector are not very common, with the aim of highlighting the main critical issues affecting the effectiveness of energy transition strategies and assessing the economic feasibility of energy communities. Based on analysis of regulations and procedures, including at the local level, it appears that municipalities play an important role as promoters of initiatives among citizen communities, while complex bureaucratic procedure is the most critical issue in both countries and can significantly hinder the spread of energy communities. With respect to the different financial incentives available for the formation of energy communities in Italy and Spain, a few cases studies are hypothesized, calculating the most relevant cost-effectiveness indicators, e.g., Net Present Value. It turns out that a project with the same characteristics achieves greater economic feasibility in Italy than in Spain, depending on the type and size of incentives set by national laws and, above all, that financial incentives are necessary to make the formation of energy communities cost-effective and thus to achieve direct citizen involvement in energy transition actions.

Impact of Biomass Ratio as a Synthetic Parameter in Soft Computing Approaches for a Decision-Making Tool for Biogas Plants in Urban Areas

The EU’s energy transition strategy highlights the significance of developing innovative energy models to encourage the utilization of renewable energy sources in urban areas. Utilizing local urban biomasses, including food waste, sewage, and green waste, can contribute to the establishment of energy systems that harness bio-waste for energy generation, thereby promoting circular economy principles and urban metabolisms. This paper proposes using a pre-design tool (based on soft computing approaches) that incorporates an initial analysis of the multidisciplinary feasibility of such systems as an effective strategy and valuable support for preliminary studies. It focuses on validating three “biomass ratio” parameters, integrating urban morphology and district characteristics with the amount of bio-waste in a peri-urban district comprising multifamily buildings. These parameters can be incorporated into a pre-design tool that facilitates multi-criteria decision analyses, aiding the design of innovative models that promote renewable energy sources in urban areas. The findings suggest that synthetic parameters can guide initial considerations, but they may overestimate the energy potential and should be further investigated. Hence, future research should explore complementary strategies for estimating biomass energy potential and extend the application of this methodology to other types of districts.

Does low carbon energy transition impede air pollution? Evidence from China's coal-to-gas policy

Low carbon energy transition is deemed a viable way to fulfill the commitments outlined in the Paris Agreement and COP 26, which aims to restrict the rise in global temperature to 1.5 °C. One of the pivotal energy transition strategies in China, the coal-to-gas policy has been ambiguously executed, and its environmental impact remains unclear. In this context, this study employs the synthetic control method to examine the effects of the coal-to-gas policy on air pollution in pilot areas and explore its impact mechanism. The specific findings are as follows: (1) The concentration of PM2.5 in China experienced a declining trend, ranging from 15.684 to 15.204, while and the growth rate of PM2.5 concentration exhibited considerable fluctuations. (2) The coal-to-gas policy significantly contributed to a reduction in air pollution in pilot areas, except for Henan Province, where it exacerbated air pollution. In 2020, the policy's effects led to a decrease in air pollution levels by 1.73% in Beijing, 0.83% in Tianjin, 0.90% in Hebei, 1.63% in Shandong, and 0.64% in Shanxi, while air pollution levels in Henan Province increased by 0.34%. (3) The implementation of the coal-to-gas policy reduces air pollution by accelerating the transformation of the economic development and energy structure, as well as increasing foreign investment and technological investment.

Local intermediaries in energy transitions: bridging the gap from niche level to changing the regime

The energy transition represents a complex and longterm process taking place at different governance levels and representing a set of policies and structural changes. The local level, especially cities and regions, can be considered as a central level for the implementation of energy transitions. These transitions are only in part technical ones, but essentially embedded in, based on, and consisting of changes in social practices and in the organization of societal problem-solving transforming infrastructure governance. This paper demonstrates one central form of organizational change in local energy transition strategies: The creation of local intermediaries, defined by their function and position in between other actors. Based on a case study in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, and referring to the multi-level perspective on socio-technical transitions and the concept of social innovation, it analyses how systemic intermediaries can e.g. bridge the gap from niche to changing the regime.

Coal to Biomass Transition as the Path to Sustainable Energy Production: A Hypothetical Case Scenario with the Conversion of Pego Power Plant (Portugal)

Fossil fuels, especially coal, contribute to carbon emissions, hindering the EU’s decarbonization goal by 2050. This article proposes converting the Pego Coal Power Plant into a biomass plant as a potential solution. Biomass, a renewable resource abundant in Portugal, can transform the Pego plant into a sustainable energy source, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. It also reduces rural fire risks and ensures regional social and economic stability. The study explores the feasibility, limitations, and socioeconomic impacts of this scenario. This solution prevents plant closure, reduces environmental impacts, and promotes sustainability. Aligning with Portugal’s 2030 Agenda and global climate change efforts, converting the Pego plant serves as a valuable example of renewable resource utilization for climate change mitigation and regional stability. The study’s results offer insights for policymakers and stakeholders in developing sustainable energy transition strategies. Adopting such solutions can help countries achieve decarbonization goals while promoting social and economic development.

Reconfiguring the Energy Storage Landscape

The development of battery technologies is critical for energy transition strategies. This paper offers a comprehensive assessment of the trends and developments of battery innovation. Over 700,000 patents from the period of 2005-2019 are compiled and analyzed. Leading patent applicants and countries of origin are identified. Major patent applicants are mostly large East Asian companies, while Japan and South Korea are the leading countries followed by the US, Germany, and China. Different battery designs, the main battery components, and interactions with other clean technologies are examined. Based on the operative definitions for incremental/radical and product/process innovations, a battery innovation typology is set forth. The main findings are that patenting in batteries rises robustly and the lithium-ion battery is the most vibrant technology; lithium-sulfur and flow batteries are the most notable emerging technologies, while electrodes are the most salient battery component. The most significant interactions of batteries with clean energy technologies are between battery charging and photovoltaic energy as well as between battery charging and electric vehicles. Incremental innovation represents more than half of the patents, while product innovation represents approximately 70% of the total patents. This study presents findings that could be useful when making investment decisions on the development of battery and auxiliary low-carbon energy technologies.

Exploring the dynamics of stakeholders’ perspectives towards planning low-carbon energy transitions: a case of the Nigerian power sector

ABSTRACT This study uses a multi-stakeholder analysis approach to consolidate low-carbon energy planning and facilitate energy transition (ET). To do this, we assess factors that influence ET strategies in the Nigerian power sector. Here we employ both quantitative and qualitative data obtained via well-structured, and concise questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. While our study brings to light a sustainable approach to achieving a low-carbon future, it identified technology, motivation and finance as variables that are significant in accelerating the country’s transition to clean energy. It revealed that prioritising low-interest rate and tax holiday for investors’ of solar energy and consistence expansion in energy efficiency (EE) is pertinent to achieving a sustainable low-carbon future in Nigeria. We conclude that robust policy frameworks that prioritise investment in solar energy and EE through incentivising energy management solutions with appropriate financial tools and fostering active verbal support through advocacy are essential to ET in Nigeria.

A Study on the Coupling and Coordination Relationship of Science and Technology Innovation, Higher Education, and Clean Energy Based on the Entropy Weight and Gray Correlation Analysis Method

Clean energy is the core element of China’s energy low-carbon transition strategy, and its development degree is closely link with science and technology innovation and higher education. Based on studying relevant research and analyzing data and information, we selected 11 primary indicators, such as investment in education, transformation of scientific research results, and clean energy development, and 30 secondary indicators, such as R&D investment intensity, number of patents granted for inventions, clean energy power generation, clean energy installed capacity, and clean energy consumption share, to construct an indicator evaluation system. Based on the actual data of three systems from periods 2010 to 2020, we try to use entropy weight method to calculate index weights, use coupled coordination model to calculate coupling coordination degree of three systems, and use gray correlation analysis method to in-depth analysis interaction relationships between three systems. Based on the research, we try to propose 3 countermeasures and recommendations. We hope that the research results of this paper will provide a new research method and ideas for related studies and make positive contributions to the high-quality development of China’s economy and the realization of the energy transition strategy.

Energy Transition Strategy: An Evaluation of the Harder-to-Abate Sectors of International Oil & Gas Companies and the Implications for Net Zero

Energy Transition Strategy: An Evaluation of the Harder-to-Abate Sectors of International Oil & Gas Companies and the Implications for Net Zero

Environmental assessment of multiple “cleaner electricity mix” scenarios within just energy and circular economy transitions, in Italy and Europe

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.

Evaluation of maritime industry compliance with existing environmental regulations – A benchmarking assessment from energy efficiency perspective

The present study provides an initial mapping process for the maritime industry from an energy and environmental perspective. The methodology follows a three-step evaluation process for assessing energy efficiency. At first, an initial categorization of all existing ship type and volume categories based the applied taxonomy within maritime transport sector is made. Secondly, two key energy performance indicators (EEXI & CII) are described and estimated for each individual vessel category. Lastly, an assessment between the examined KPIs values is performed in order to depict the compliance level of each vessel category with the existing environmental regulations set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The results of this paper aim to highlight the alignment of the existing vessel categories with the established environmental regulations and offer a starting point for decision-makers in maritime industry to adopt green shipping energy transition strategies, such as the usage of energy efficiency measures or green alternative fuels.

Climate change impacts on wind power generation for the Italian peninsula

Wind energy is one of the key renewable resources contributing to climate change mitigation policies in national and international energy transition strategies. However, climate change itself can affect the availability of wind resources, due to possible future changes in large-scale circulation pattern. This study aims to understand whether how and to what extent current and future climate change is affecting wind producibility in Italy. In this analysis, the 10 m wind speed from Euro-CORDEX regional climate models was bias-corrected using MERIDA meteorological reanalysis and the wind producibility is calculated, using a reference turbine chosen among the most commonly installed in Italian wind farms. The changes in the availability of wind resources from the reference period 1986–2005 for the short (2021–2050), medium (2051–2080), and long term (2071–2100) are analyzed, considering both the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. The results show a prevalently weak and not statistically significant climate signal for the RCP 4.5 scenario, while a more pronounced and significant signal is highlighted for the RCP 8.5 scenario in the medium and long term, indicating a decrease in wind producibility. Specifically, the conclusions suggest that future planning of wind producibility should mainly focus in some specific areas of the eastern Italian coast and in the south-east Italian regions, mostly in the off-shore areas. In these regions, indeed, the RCP 8.5 scenario shows the lowest decrease in the overall annual producibility, while, for the RCP 4.5 scenario, the medium and the long term foresee a slight increase in wind producibility at the annual level, while, in the short term, an increasing trend is observed mostly in the spring season.

Design of an energy vulnerability index - spatial and temporal analysis: case of study Colombia.

Climate change might affect energy production and therefore the energy security of a country or region. This situation may impact renewable energy sources such as hydro power, leading to consequences on energy transition strategies. This might be critical in sensitive regions to climate change, one of them being the Caribe and northern South America. Since there are numerous energy systems based on sensitive technologies worldwide, it is necessary to introduce techniques to analyze the effects of climate change on different possible energy transition paths. The goal of this study is to develop and assess a method to analyze one of the most critical effects faced by climate change for societies worldwide: the sensitivity of the energy systems to climate change. This is especially critical in developing countries, in locations where temperatures will strongly increase in the following years. To assess this effect, this study proposes a vulnerability index (VI) to evaluate the vulnerability of an on-grid electricity system to climate change at the national and regional scales. This index was assessed using a Monte-Carlo method for uncertainty. The case of Colombia, a country with a system based on hydropower (> 70%) is used to illustrate the method. VI is based on variables related to climate change, the energy matrix, and vulnerability. Results show that the regions with the larger vulnerability correspond to the more energy-demanding ones. The VI for these regions is greater than 50% of the maximum possible vulnerability; meanwhile, the vulnerability of the whole country was estimated as 43%.

Digital Platforms for Renewable Energy Communities Projects: An Overview

The European Union energy policy agenda of achieving the transition to carbon neutrality has been established by an important legislative package called "Clean Energy for all Europeans". A novel approach introduced was to put the citizen at the center of the energy transition. On one side, by powering his freedom of action and, on the other side, by asking him an exceptional engagement in energy consumption reduction activities and in participating in the investments for new distributed Renewable Energy Sources (RES) power plants. The Renewable Energy Communities (REC) is the policy framework used to implement this strategy introduced by the Renewable Energy Directive Recast (RED II). In particular, RECs promote citizen’s active role by encouraging energy consumption reduction and energy demand flexibility while reducing the Not In My Bachyard (NIMBY) effect towards RES. Each member state is transposing the RED II directive, adapting it to national legislation and energy transition strategy. Pioneers countries like Italy have already started the experimentation of this framework and developing the first pilot projects. The citizens’ interest and their will to participate in REC projects indicate the need for supporting tools guiding them along all the project development stages: “design”, “creation”, and “operation”. This work presents three categories of supporting digital tools and platforms required to develop REC projects: Commercial, EU Founded and Freeware. We analyzed 30 tools, evaluating the services provided in each of the different stages of REC project implementation.

The impact of building energy codes evolution on the residential thermal demand

The building stock decarbonization by 2050 requires the implementation of an energy transition strategy. Building energy codes must be considered to minimize the energy consumption of the residential sector. This paper aims to evaluate the evolution of the building energy codes of Spain based on energy simulation. A quantitative assessment of the residential thermal demand according to the new energy efficiency requirements introduced in national regulations over the years was performed. Heating, cooling, and domestic hot water demands were assessed for 60 cases modeled in DesignBuilder, combining different building geometric typologies, energy codes, and climate zones. Heating presented the largest contribution to the total energy demand reaching up to 75%. The codes’ evolution led to a significant reduction in heating and a slighter decrease in cooling. The results showed an average energy demand improvement of 50% from the first regulatory release to the latest one.

Multifaceted Analysis of Landfill Gas Use for Energy Purposes

This paper assesses the use of gas from a landfill located in Kiełcz for energy purposes, considering energy, environmental and socioeconomic aspects. The literature review contains information on waste management methods in various regions of the world and the legal acts regulating them. The reference was also made to the methods of degassing landfills and the methods of reducing pollutants from this process. The research methodology describes, among other things, the method of measuring exhaust gas quality and temperature or gas composition. This section also presents the catalyst that was used as a reducer of flue gas emissions. The use of a catalyst in the flue gas duct allowed for the reduction in CO emissions by 85%, NOX by 53%, SO2 by 95%, and PM by 82%. For the socio-economic analysis, formulas and quantities were given that allow for the parameterization of profits. Three leading indicators were selected, i.e., the impact of the energy produced on the producer, the reduction in greenhouse gases, and the responsibility for the product. The section of results graphically presents the efficiency of using the catalyst. This part also contains a summary table of the socioeconomic analysis on the basis of which the social profit index SROI was determined, which amounted to 7.57. This analysis may be helpful for landfill managers/owners who may consider the potential commercial use of landfill gas for energy purposes, as well as for governments, which, amid the current global fuel crisis, can benefit from this analysis and include the use of landfill gas in their energy transition strategies.

Digital platforms for Renewable Energy Communities projects: an overview.

The European Union energy policy agenda of achieving the transition to carbon neutrality has been established by an important legislative package called “Clean Energy for all Europeans”. A novel approach introduced was to put the citizen at the center of the energy transition. On one side, by powering his freedom of action and, on the other side, by asking him an exceptional engagement in energy consumption reduction activities and in participating in the investments for new distributed Renewable Energy Sources (RES) power plants. The Renewable Energy Communities (REC) is the policy framework used to implement this strategy introduced by the Renewable Energy Directive Recast (RED II). In particular, RECs promote citizen’s active role by encouraging energy consumption reduction and energy demand flexibility while reducing the Not In My Bachyard (NIMBY) effect towards RES. Each member state is transposing the RED II directive, adapting it to national legislation and energy transition strategy. Pioneers countries like Italy have already started the experimentation of this framework and developing the first pilot projects. The citizens’ interest and their will to participate in REC projects indicate the need for supporting tools guiding them along all the project development stages: “design”, “creation”, and “operation”. This work presents three categories of supporting digital tools and platforms required to develop REC projects: Commercial, EU Founded and Freeware. We analyzed 30 tools, evaluating the services provided in each of the different stages of REC project implementation.

An unjust and failed energy transition strategy? Taiwan's goal of becoming nuclear-free by 2025

Taiwan launched an energy transition agenda to pursue a nuclear-free homeland by 2025 after the anti-nuclear party won the 2016 presidential and parliament elections. In 2016, the 2025 electricity mix target was set to 50% gas-fired power, 30% coal-fired power, and 20% renewable electricity (RE), and thus, no nuclear power. Despite many efforts, the electricity mix remained far from these targets at the end of 2020: coal-fired power, 43.5%; gas-fired power, 38%; RE, 7.1%; and nuclear power, 8.5%. This study evaluates the possibility of achieving the 2025 targets and the barriers to reaching each target. It also uses the concept of a ‘just’ energy transition to assess whether this vision meets the related criteria and why.

Matching energy targets, stakeholders’ needs and modelling choices in developing urban energy scenarios

In order to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals, cities need to develop robust energy transition strategies relying both on the local capacity of combining social, economic and environmental perspectives in the decision-making process and on the collaboration between different actors to achieve knowledge and data integration. Scenarios are well-established methodological instruments to guide decisions in energy and spatial planning and have been employed to compare possible future pathways and envision the consequences of implementing decarbonization measures. However, qualitative and quantitative scenarios approaches are often disconnected. With the primary goal of supporting the implementation of the energy plan, this study develops for the City of Gothenburg a participatory method to support the alignment of qualitative and quantitative scenarios approaches. Decarbonization actions and drivers of change were discussed and prioritized in workshop sessions with representatives from the energy supplier(s), municipal administrations (city planners, environmental department), and researchers to develop relevant qualitative scenarios descriptions. Based on this, a list of requirements for quantitative scenarios analysis is developed to be, in a next step, translated and integrated into urban building energy models. Findings indicate the importance of early knowledge integration from different fields and highlight the lines of advancement in urban energy modelling to facilitate decision-making towards successful implementation of decarbonization targets.