Perspectives on the pervasive energy-systems transformations

Oxford Open Energy ◽

10.1093/ooenergy/oiab005 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Nebojsa Nakicenovic

Keyword(s):

Energy Systems ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Great Promise ◽

Human Capabilities ◽

Digital Revolution ◽

Goods And Services ◽

Sustainable Future ◽

Net Zero ◽

End Use ◽

Systems Transformation

Abstract Energy is central for the global decarbonization and the achievement of a sustainable future for all. This calls for a fundamental energy-systems transformation that would bring multiple co-benefits for health, climate and other challenges facing humanity and especially those without access to affordable and clean energy services. Pervasive transformation toward zero-carbon electricity and electrification of energy end use are central to achieving higher efficiencies, decarbonization and net-zero emissions. This is not merely a technical and economic issue. It is about people, about societies and about values and behaviors. Technology is an integral part of the society and an expression of collective intentionality through aggregation of sundry individual choices. The next disruptive transformation toward a sustainable future may indeed be powered by the digital revolution. It poses dangers for privacy, dissemination of alternative realities and erosion of evidence-based information but it also offers a great promise of catalyzing the emergence of a sustainable future by augmenting human capabilities by new, more convenient, more efficient and decarbonized goods and services. The key question is whether humanity will have the political will to collectively achieve the energy-systems transformation toward a sustainable future and net-zero emissions in merely three decades.

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The Challenge of Climate Change—Complete Energy Systems Transformation: No Nuclear, No Net Zero

Nuclear Law ◽

10.1007/978-94-6265-495-2_6 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 85-140

Author(s):

Timothy Stone

Keyword(s):

National Policy ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Energy System ◽

Primary Energy ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Call To Action ◽

Net Zero ◽

Primary Energy Supply ◽

Systems Transformation

AbstractTo achieve Net Zero, natural gas, gasoline, diesel, and fuel oils must be replaced with another source. However, most of the current low-carbon energy sources will also need to be replaced as almost none have more than about 25 years remaining of useful life. The pace and scale of the needed change is unprecedented: almost the whole of the world’s primary energy supply must be replaced. The (re)development of the entire energy system is inherently a sovereign risk and it can only be governments who set national energy policy. There is no doubt that markets will continue to play a part in future energy systems, but at the top level, the pace and scale of change to achieve Net Zero is simply far too fast for markets to adapt properly. This chapter is a call to action to the national policy makers and presents this challenge as an opportunity for creating higher-quality jobs and potentially highly attractive and long-dated investment options. The chapter also outlines some risks, including political indecisiveness and policy volatility as potential impediments to making the most of this opportunity and achieving the Net Zero.

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Transition of clean energy systems and technologies towards a sustainable future (Part II)

Applied Energy ◽

10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.10.063 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 162 ◽

pp. 1109-1113 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Jinyue Yan ◽

Siaw-Kiang Chou ◽

Umberto Desideri ◽

Duu-Jong Lee

Keyword(s):

Energy Systems ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Sustainable Future

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Development and Full-Scale Experimental Validation of a Rapid Prototyping Environment for Plant and Control Design of Airborne Wind Energy Systems

Volume 2: Dynamic Modeling and Diagnostics in Biomedical Systems; Dynamics and Control of Wind Energy Systems; Vehicle Energy Management Optimization; Energy Storage, Optimization; Transportation and Grid Applications; Estimation and Identification Methods, Tracking, Detection, Alternative Propulsion Systems; Ground and Space Vehicle Dynamics; Intelligent Transportation Systems and Control; Energy Harvesting; Modeling and Control for Thermo-Fluid Applications, IC Engines, Manufacturing ◽

10.1115/dscc2014-5907 ◽

2014 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Chris Vermillion ◽

Ben Glass ◽

Balazs Szalai

Keyword(s):

Rapid Prototyping ◽

Wind Energy ◽

Control Design ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Full Scale ◽

Great Promise ◽

Adverse Weather ◽

Wind Energy Systems ◽

And Control

Airborne wind energy systems present great promise for inexpensive, clean energy at remote locations, but have only been demonstrated through short-duration flights in very limited wind conditions. Because of the time and money that is required to implement full-scale airborne wind energy prototypes, convergence toward designs that achieve longer-duration flight in adverse weather has been slow. This paper presents an inexpensive rapid prototyping approach for improving the flight dynamics and control of airborne wind energy systems, which has been implemented and validated on Altaeros Energies most recent full-scale flight prototype. The approach involves the 3d printing of lab-scale water channel models of airborne wind energy lifting bodies, which enable prediction of dynamic flight characteristics, rapid iteration between the designs, identification of unknown or poorly known parameters, and improved control design. By applying this approach to its last prototype design cycle, Altaeros demonstrated robust operation in double the wind speeds sustained by its previous prototype (reaching a maximum of 21.2 m/s, with sustained 10–15 m/s winds), with demonstrably improved flight characteristics.

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What Is Still Necessary for Supporting the SDG7 in the Most Vulnerable Contexts?

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12177184 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (17) ◽

pp. 7184

Author(s):

Andrea A. Eras-Almeida ◽

Miguel A. Egido-Aguilera

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Economies Of Scale ◽

Business Models ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Small Islands ◽

Great Opportunity ◽

The Sustainable Development ◽

Goods And Services

The common agreement of the United Nation members pushes the 2030 Agenda ahead to alleviate poverty and ensure wellbeing for all, recognizing energy as a crucial pathway to achieving this goal under three core dimensions: human development, sustainable economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Affordable and clean energy is represented by the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7). This great scope represents a multifaceted challenge for all countries, especially for the most disadvantaged environments such as small islands and rural areas from developing countries. Both small islands and rural areas experience a scarcity of goods and services such as energy and are isolated from markets, have lack of human resources, difficulties in deploying economies of scale, and other issues that affect their development. Along the same line, their energy security is limited by their dependence on imported fuels, increasing electricity prices or making it infeasible to access electricity. This research builds the state of the art of off-grid energy systems for both contexts based on an extensive review of literature. The evidence shows that moving sustainable energy systems forward requires getting more people involved, the application of several business models, prevalent technological innovations, and the application of technical quality procedures. This perspective would really help to address the vulnerabilities of fragile locations. Here, auctions, the Energy Service Company, community, and Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) models and renewable energy projects based on mature technology present a great opportunity for a sustainable future, powering a nexus among energy, environment, and society.

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