Global Energy Transition Research Articles

Measuring energy transition away from fossil fuels: A new index

With the adoption of carbon neutrality policies, an increasing number of countries have implemented diverse measures to facilitate the energy transition away from fossil fuels. Ascertaining the efficacy of these measures towards meeting the goals of Paris Agreement and carbon neutrality has emerged as a critical concern in recent years. This study offers a comprehensive review of worldwide energy transitions to carbon neutrality, and introduces the Decarbonization Index (DCI), an innovative indicator designed to gauge the progress of a nation's energy transition. The DCI quantifies the extent to which a country moves from the most carbon-intensive energy practices, enhancing quantitative grasp of energy transition logic and its connection to industrial evolution. The strength of the DCI rests in its ability to encapsulate the essence of energy decarbonization: the reduction of carbon in energy consumption. It establishes a definitive baseline for monitoring decarbonization efforts, thereby framing the historical evolution of energy transitions and providing comparative standards for policy formulation. Utilizing the DCI, this study evaluates the carbon neutrality efforts of the 15 highest carbon-emitting nations that have declared carbon neutrality agendas. These findings reveal that South Africa requires the highest annual DCI growth rate to achieve carbon neutrality, while France and Brazil are the most likely to attain this goal, given their substantial non-carbon energy sources such as hydropower and nuclear power. Nevertheless, the study uncovers a general trend: the current business-as-usual scenarios are insufficient to meet carbon neutrality objectives, underscoring an urgent call for accelerated global energy transition efforts.

A feasibility study of Boree Salt body mapping in the Adavale Basin using passive seismic data

Hydrogen plays a pivotal role in the global energy transition and may require underground storage. So far salt cavern storage is the only proven technology for underground hydrogen storage. The Boree Salt in the Adavale Basin, mostly at depths from 1 to 2.5 km and up to 550 m thick, consists predominantly of halite and is deemed suitable for hydrogen storage. However, current maps are inadequate. Recently passive seismic data (ambient noise) have received much interest for subsurface imaging. The main signal from passive data is surface waves (usually below 2 Hz). The capability of surface waves for the Boree Salt body mapping is examined. Parameters of seismic sensor spacing, the dominant frequencies of the surface waves, and data noise levels are all considered. It is demonstrated that surface waves from ambient noise can map the Boree Salt bodies with a survey distance of ~40 km. Between frequencies of 0.12 and 0.25 Hz, results from the latter have better resolution because of a shorter wavelength. Moving to higher frequencies of 0.5 and 1 Hz, however, the resolution becomes worse, because the depth sensitivity of surface waves moves to the shallower part of the model with increasing frequencies, rendering them incapable of effectively probing the targeted depths. For signal/noise ratio above five, station spacing can be as large as 1 km without compromising quality. Therefore, cost-effective and environmentally friendly passive seismic data can be a good alternative to the traditional active-source data for deep salt body imaging.

Public Opinion and the Energy Transition in East Asia: The Case of Taiwan

Previous research in Western nations has established a clear connection between pro-environmental public opinion and clean energy transition policies aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13. However, little is known about this relationship in East Asia, the most important region of the world in terms of carbon emissions. Using the International Social Survey Program and Taiwan Social Change Survey results from 2010 and 2020, this study examines public opinion in Taiwan on environmental issues, comparing it with opinion in a group of 18 OECD countries. Results show high but stable support for the environment and the energy transition in Taiwan over this period, with no indications of climate denial. However, willingness to make sacrifices for the environment is sharply lower among the lower half of the income distribution, highlighting existing socioeconomic disparities and inequality. Further, political engagement around environmental issues remains relatively low in Taiwan compared to engagement in the OECD comparison group. This disjunction suggests a unique model of public opinion and policy outcomes in Taiwan, which is clearly distinct from patterns in the West. Comprehending this model is vital, considering East Asia’s necessary role in a global clean energy transition.

2023 PESA business environment review

In 2023, the world faced increased local and global headwinds in achieving the goal of net zero emissions by 2050 due to geopolitical factors, global economic variables, advancing technology, and evolving policies and regulations. Despite a 22% rise in global investments for renewable energy, the world fell short of the 76% required for a Net Zero Emissions Pathway by 2050. There was a collective return to fossil fuels, particularly natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), to meet the demand for secure and affordable energy amid global energy supply shocks. As a result of sustained elevated energy prices governments and energy companies are having to consider all three elements of the energy trilemma – affordability, sustainability, and security – in a more balanced way. The energy industry responded to these challenges by increasing investments in gas-oriented resources and the emergence of investments into the critical minerals value chain, indicating a historic convergence of multiple industries to address the global energy transition. Investment in new energy technologies to support decarbonisation continued, albeit at a slower pace than required. The energy transition also accelerated the decommissioning responsibilities of upstream energy producers for their mature infrastructure assets. As Australia and other countries globally, strive to deliver on net zero ambitions, the oil and gas sector continues to grapple with the delicate balancing act of providing reliable, affordable, secure and sustainable sources of energy, which only continues to emphasise the need for fossil fuels during this energy transition.

Hydrogen carriers – transporting hydrogen from producers to export power markets

As a global energy transition community there is a lot of talk about producing hydrogen in Australia, South America, the Middle East and now the USA, and transporting that as an energy source to markets such as Japan, Korea, Singapore and Europe. How will we do this, what are the carriers available, and what are the advantages and challenges of each? This is a practical assessment of the situation highlighting where we need to focus our efforts as a global community and Australia’s role in enabling hydrogen supply chains of the future to succeed.

On the potential of vehicle-to-grid and second-life batteries to provide energy and material security

The global energy transition relies increasingly on lithium-ion batteries for electric transportation and renewable energy integration. Given the highly concentrated supply chain of battery materials, importing regions have a strategic imperative to reduce their reliance on battery material imports through, e.g., battery recycling or reuse. We investigate the potential of vehicle-to-grid and second-life batteries to reduce resource use by displacing new stationary batteries dedicated to grid storage. Based on dynamic material flow analysis, we show that equipping around 50% of electric vehicles with vehicle-to-grid or reusing 40% of electric vehicle batteries for second life each have the potential to fully cover the European Union’s need for stationary storage by 2040. This could reduce total primary material demand from 2020–2050 by up to 7.5% and 1.5%, respectively, which could ease geopolitical risks and increase the European Union’s energy and material security. Any surplus capacity could be used as a strategic reserve to increase resilience in the face of emergencies such as blackouts or adverse geo-political events.

A system mapping activity to visualize lithium’s interconnectedness to societal and environmental aspects of the green energy transition

Abstract Lithium’s role in the global green energy transition provides an engaging context to visualize the interconnectedness of chemistry to seismic shifts taking place in society. Lithium has seen a dramatic increase in utilization, but given lithium’s current low rates of recyclability, this development is exacerbating the e-waste problem. Equally important, we posit that lithium extraction, from either brine or ore, and the associated impacts on the environment and local communities should not be so easily decoupled from the shift in human behaviors causing its demand. Presented here is a mapping activity that was trialed in professional learning workshops organized in New Zealand for secondary/high school chemistry teachers. In their mapping activity response, the teachers were able to connect typical school chemistry content (batteries, chemical processes) with environmental (planetary systems) and social, economic, and ethical considerations (useful products, unintended consequences, inequity in access to water) of the ongoing electrification of society. The teachers indicated a positive intention to utilize the activity, or one similar with a different chemical process or product, in their own classrooms. A school-ready version of the activity is provided in the supplementary information, which was revised based on feedback from the teachers attending the workshops.

First principles investigation of Li[formula omitted]Si and Li[formula omitted]Sn alloys: Unraveling atomic-scale influences on material properties

Commercial batteries have currently reached their peak specific capacity, which proves insufficient for the ongoing global energy transition. Consequently, there has been a surge of interest in developing new materials over the last decade, especially those based on silicon (Si) and tin (Sn), known for their high capacity. Despite numerous publications highlighting the advantages of these materials, crucial questions remain regarding volume expansion that must be addressed to propose effective solutions and facilitate their widespread commercial application. In this study, density functional theory was employed to investigate the formation of LixM (M = Si, Sn). Our analysis delves into crystal (c-LixM), amorphous (a-LixM), and amorphous slab (s-LixM) configurations during structural optimization calculations, with the aim of comparing and contrasting relevant findings. The exploration encompasses energetic aspects, volume expansion, and electronic properties. The obtained data enables the simulation of lithiation potential curves for each structural type, directly comparable with experimental results of these materials functioning as anodes in lithium-ion batteries. Notably, the volume expansion of a-LixM exhibits non-linear behavior, correlating with characteristic plateaus in the voltage profile curves.

Global Energy Transition and the Efficiency of the Largest Oil and Gas Companies

The challenges posed by climate change and global warming loom large, necessitating a critical initial step towards the long-term growth and the enhancement of both environmental and operational efficiency. Within the energy sector, renewable energy sources are gaining increasing prominence. Consequently, traditional oil and gas companies (OGC) are undergoing a gradual transformation into comprehensive energy corporations, aligning themselves with energy transition policies. This paper examines two types of efficiency measures—operational and environmental—for the 20 largest OGC during the period of 2010–2019. Secondly, this research aims to explore the effect of the global energy transition on both environmental and operational efficiency. Based on three estimation methods, two estimation steps are used in this research. In the first step, the True Fixed Effect (TFE) model and the Battese and coelli (1995) SFA model are applied to evaluate, measure and compare the environmental and operational efficiency scores. In the second step, the TFE model and GMM approach for the dynamic panel data model are used to explore, evaluate and verify the effect of global energy transition on the environmental and operational efficiency of the largest 20 OGC in the world. The results reveal that the average operational efficiency of major OGC measured using the BC.95 model and TFE model is 66% and 85%, respectively, and the overall average level of environmental efficiency for OGC over a 10-year period is 31% (based to B.C.95 model) and 13% (based to TFE model). Our findings reveal that biofuels, solar and hydropower contribute to promote the operational and environmental efficiency of the largest 20 OGC. However, the analysis suggests that while the global energy transition significantly influences and bolsters environmental efficiency, its effect on operational efficiency among these major OGC remains less pronounced and insufficient.

Renewable Energy Transition, Trade Openness, and CO2 Emissions Nexus in the Middle East

Reducing pollutant emissions during the global energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables is a significant endeavor. Nonetheless, a significant portion of the Middle East (ME) economy continues to be based mostly on the extraction and use of fossil fuels, posing a threat to the environment in the area. Thus, the current study examined the impact of income growth, trade openness (TO), and the Renewable Energy Transition (RET) on CO2 emissions in 12 Middle East nations, from 2000 to 2019. The findings demonstrated that the ME area contains the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). RET decreased emissions of CO2. Therefore, the transition to renewable energy reduced emissions in this ME region. On the other hand, TO enhances CO2 emissions. For the ME region, TO is concerned with the environment. The research recommends a quick RET to safeguard the environment from CO2 emissions.

Left Behind: Funding Climate Action in the Global South

Global clean energy transition envisions zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as set by the United Nations. Consequentially, developed economies have made giant strides in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving full decarbonization. However, the opposite remains true in the Global South, lagging in financing its climate action. Despite being disproportionately impacted by climate change, financial efforts by developed economies and the Global South have failed in placing the latter’s countries at par with clean energy investments of developed countries. Absent adequate financing of climate action in the Global South, the net zero goal will be nothing but a mirage. This Article contends that financial incapacity to finance climate change has left the Global South behind in the global energy transition movement and, if left unchecked, will sabotage global energy transition efforts. Using Africa as a case study, this Article explores the need to develop realistic financing options for global energy transition in the region. This Article recognizes that financing climate change is expensive and much more strenuous on African economies that barely have the fiscal infrastructure to finance the transition. It unpacks the extant climate financing avenues and the inherent challenges in attracting climate finance in Africa and argues for improvements.

HyPLANT100: Industrialization from Assembly to the Construction Site for Gigawatt Electrolysis

The global push for sustainable energy has heightened the demand for green hydrogen, which is crucial for decarbonizing heavy industry. However, current electrolysis plant capacities are insufficient. This research addresses the challenge through optimizing large-scale electrolysis construction via standardization, modularization, process optimization, and automation. This paper introduces H2Giga, a project for mass-producing electrolyzers, and HyPLANT100, investigating large-scale electrolysis plant structure and construction processes. Modularizing electrolyzers enhances production efficiency and scalability. The integration of AutomationML facilitates seamless information exchange. A digital twin concept enables simulations, optimizations, and error identification before assembly. While construction site automation provides advantages, tasks like connection technologies and handling cables, tubes, and hoses require pre-assembly. This study identifies key tasks suitable for automation and estimating required components. The Enapter Multicore electrolyzer serves as a case study, showcasing robotic technology for tube fittings. In conclusion, this research underscores the significance of standardization, modularization, and automation in boosting the electrolysis production capacity for green hydrogen, contributing to ongoing efforts in decarbonizing the industrial sector and advancing the global energy transition.

Collaborative strategy for electric vehicle charging scheduling and route planning

AbstractDue to varying energy demands and supply levels in different regions, the distribution of power load exhibits an imbalanced state. It contributes to increased power loss and poses a threat to the security constraints of the electrical grid. Simultaneously, the global energy transition has led to a continuous increase in the proportion of renewable energy integrated into the grid. Electric vehicles (EVs), serving as representative of renewable energy, further magnify this load imbalance with their charging requirements, which poses a significant challenge to the stable operation of the grid. Therefore, to ensure the smooth operation of the grid under the context of renewable energy integration, the authors investigate the coordinated strategies of EV charging scheduling and route planning. The authors first model the coupling of the transportation network with the smart grid as a cyber‐physical system. Subsequently, the authors simulate and analyse the daily charging load curve of the network, capturing the travel characteristics of EVs. Based on this, the authors research the EV charging scheduling in both individual and collective travel scenarios during peak and off‐peak hours. For the off‐peak travel period of EVs, a charging schedule strategy based on travel plans is proposed, which reduces the time cost of EV owners' travel. Furthermore, for the collective travel of a large number of EVs within the system, a multi‐EV charging scheduling strategy based on charging station load balancing is presented. This strategy effectively balances the load levels of various charging stations while reducing the overall system travel time. Ultimately, through experimental results, the authors demonstrate that by deploying appropriate charging scheduling strategies, EVs cease to be a burden on the grid and can be transformed into tools for balancing the loads across different regions.

The development, changes and responses of the European Union carbon border adjustment mechanism in the context of global energy transition

Energy production and consumption is the primary source of global carbon emissions. In order to achieve the goal of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) in the Paris Agreement, countries around the world have set off an upsurge of energy transition. The EU has ambitious INDCs. The Energy crisis has made it accelerate the energy transition, thus promoting the development of its circular economy. However, the EU focuses on carbon leakage during this process. To address this issue and maintain the competitiveness of EU industries during the transition, the EU proposed the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The EU proposed the background and development process of the CBAM, and organized the core content of the tripartite plan and final bill of the European Commission, European Parliament, and European Council. What's more, the framework system of the CBAM is clarified, and further analysis is conducted on the future development of CBAM of the EU based on various factors. In response to the new development of the CBAM, it is suggested that developing countries should adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities on the international front and attempt to build and improve a carbon market system to partially offset carbon tariffs. Finally, we should strengthen the research on the response plan of the EU CBAM and establish an effective communication mechanism with the EU, in order to better cope with the impact of the CBAM on the trade of developing countries in the future.

ENERGY COOPERATIVES IN BRAZIL AS AGENTS OF ENERGY TRANSITION AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Energy plays a fundamental role in modern society. Accelerating the global energy transition is necessary due to the effects of climate change, which is a challenge for governments that must balance conflicting agendas. Energy cooperatives have the potential to promote renewable energies and sustainable cities and have been growing in Brazil. This research investigates the possibility that Brazilian energy cooperatives may present for energy transition and regional development. Interviews reveal that cooperatives are motivated by environmental concerns, solidarity economy, and access to solar energy for low-income communities. Regarding the energy transition, they promote energy democratization, cost reduction, and regional development. However, they face significant challenges such as cultural resistance, lack of understanding, bureaucracy, obtaining financial resources, ambiguous regulation, and the influence of economic power. The research fills a gap in the Brazilian context, providing theoretical and practical information that can be applied to improve the renewable energy sector and enhance its environmental, economic, and social benefits.

An analysis of the abolition of premium motor spirit (PMS) subsidies in Nigeria: a breach of social contract or climate change action?

The study examines the payment of fossil fuel subsidies made in Nigeria on petrol, with an analysis of the laws governing its payments. It explores the reasons for the removal of the petrol subsidy and examines the merits advocated by proponents of its elimination. Additionally, it investigates the diverse pricing methods employed for petroleum products. Employing a doctrinal legal research methodology, the article relies on the existing primary and secondary sources of laws to provide insights for the reforms. The study concludes with recommendations such as the implementation of a mixed economic system, reinforcement of trade laws, consumer protection and competition laws, improvement of transparency and accountability, promotion of investments in local refineries, adoption of cleaner alternative energy sources such as renewable energy sources by adopting the global energy transition agenda, and provision of palliatives. The findings unravel the complexities surrounding petrol subsidy payments which have occasioned corruption, rent-seeking activities and insufficient utilization of clean sources of energy. A significant gap exists in Nigeria’s energy sector compared to the selected case study countries. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders. The recommendations promote transparency, and accountability and will facilitate the necessary reforms for sustainable downstream petroleum industry and global energy security.

Exploring synergistic and individual causal effects of rare earth elements and renewable energy on multidimensional economic complexity for sustainable economic development

The ongoing global energy transition has highlighted the instrumental role of rare earth elements (REEs) in achieving green growth through the deployment of renewable energy technologies, establishing a hypothetical progressive synergistic association between them. Therefore, testing this hypothetical synergy and its potential causal effects on economic and technological proxies based on empirical foundations becomes imperative in addressing rampant climatic change. First, we employed Deep Learning algorithms to explore the combined effects of this synergy on Multidimensional Economic Complexity (MEC) as an index using panel data of the largest producers of REEs from 1990 to 2023. Second, Temporal Causal Modelling (TCM) was employed to unveil the directional causality between REEs and renewable energy, as well as their causal roles in driving economic complexities. The deep learning models accurately predicted the positive role of this synergistic relationship in promoting overall MEC. Then, the results of TCM reveal that REE production increases renewable energy use and reduces CO2 emissions. Renewable energy promotes Research and Technology complexities while REE production affects them indirectly through renewables. It implies that harnessing this synergy to enhance economic complexities can, in turn, bolster green economic and technological development while mitigating CO2 emissions and addressing pervasive climate change.

Global low carbon transitions in the power sector: A machine learning clustering approach using archetypes

This study presents an archetype-based approach to designing effective strategies for low-carbon transitions in the power sector. To achieve global energy transition goals, a renewable energy transition is critical, and understanding diverse energy landscapes across different countries is essential to designing effective renewable energy policies and strategies. Using a clustering approach, this study identifies 12 power system archetypes based on several features, including energy and socio-economic indicators of 187 UN countries. Each archetype is characterised by distinct challenges and opportunities, ranging from high dependence on fossil fuels to low electricity access, low economic growth, and insufficient contribution potential of renewables. Archetype A, for instance, consists of countries with low electricity access, high poverty rates, and limited power infrastructure, while Archetype J comprises developed countries with high electricity demand and installed renewables. The study findings have significant implications for renewable energy policymaking and investment decisions, with policymakers and investors able to use the archetype approach to identify suitable renewable energy policies and measures and assess renewable energy potential and risks. Overall, the archetype approach provides a comprehensive framework for understanding diverse energy landscapes and accelerating decarbonisation efforts for the power sector.

An EV-fix for Indonesia: the green development-resource nationalist nexus

ABSTRACT The global energy transition is disrupting old industries needing to decarbonise. Meanwhile, resource-rich countries stand to benefit from the rush for ‘energy-transition minerals’. Here, institutional investors and governments promote climate policies compatible with natural resource extraction. This begs the question: How have extractive conglomerates reorganised their interests to benefit from the energy transition? Focusing on the nickel extraction to lithium battery to EV industry in Indonesia, this article contends that the intersection of decarbonisation, developmentalism, and resource nationalism offer extractive capital an ‘EV-fix’ for declining legitimacy. This is more than an ideological shift, as new alliances of state capital, domestic conglomerates, politicians and international battery and EV manufacturers are forged under a ‘green development-resource nationalist nexus’.

Water-soluble rare earth elements (REEs) recovered from uranium tailings

The global energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources poses substantial challenges to increase metal production, including industry-critical rare earth elements (REEs). Environmental and social concerns obfuscate the production of these ‘green’ metals and only ∼1% of REE demand is met from recycling. This work highlights the potential for the ‘economic rehabilitation’ of the Mary Kathleen Mine, a relinquished uranium (U) mine with very high (∼3 wt%) total REE concentrations within the tailings storage facility (TSF). Leaching of the tailings revealed that approximately 5% of the REEs are water-soluble, suggesting the possibility for in situ extraction. Using an in situ water leach, the projected total REE recovery is >10,000 t, which would exceed the total amount of U recovered (7,532 t) during the initial mining operation. The proposed in situ recovery would offer a truck-free mine, using solar energy and water recycling technologies to recover REEs from a waste source, reducing environmental contamination.