Implications of coal disappearance from the energy mix in Romania

The firm commitment of the European Union (EU) to fully implement the 2030 Agenda requires the Member States to find and implement solutions to meet global targets, including ensuring clean and affordable energy. The EU encourages the elimination of coal from the energy mix in order to quantitatively reduce emissions and the impact on the environment and human health. Romania attaches great importance to the 2030 Agenda and understands that developing the national economy, increasing the quality of life, and caring for the environment are inextricably linked to the development and modernization of the energy system, for which the National Energy Strategy 2019-2030 was developed. According to it, in the perspective of 2050, Romania will be based on a diversified, balanced, and modern energy mix through clean technologies. But what if coal would disappear from the energy mix? The causes of the disappearance of coal from the energy mix could be represented by global or national policies or the depletion of known exploitable reserves, the latter being a less probable variant. In this paper, we aim to highlight and analyze some scenarios related to the possibilities of replacing coal in the energy mix, which would change the perspectives.

Introduction

In 2014, the Swiss Confederation established the Swiss Competence Center for Research in Energy, Society and Transition to respond to important challenges posed by the Swiss energy transition, envisaged by the so-called “Energy Strategy 2050”. This chapter reflects on the research done by the 55 researchers within SCCER CREST that decided to conduct their work under the umbrella term “energy governance”. Given the plethora of findings and recommendations that can be derived from this research and that are compiled in this volume, the authors of this chapter have discussed extensively whether all these findings can be stitched together into an integrated narrative, thereby providing guidance on how to transform an energy industry. However, connecting the research results of this volume towards an integrated narrative would necessarily be a construct. Instead, we offer some thoughts on the urge of funding agencies to have such narratives at their disposal.

Research on the National New Energy Strategy From the Perspective of Political Economics

Based on the perspective of political economics analysis, this article conducts research on the national new energy strategy as the economic situation changes differently from the past. Under the socialist market economy system with Chinese characteristics, the new energy strategy is not only an inevitable choice for China as a responsible major country, but also a key measure to promoting high-quality economic development. Through the analysis of the main dilemmas faced by China’s implementation of new energy strategy, this article proposes to design policies in terms of core technology research, innovative industry financing, cultivating professional talents, and continuous expansion of opening up, to originate a high-quality development path for China.

Study of the Photoelectrochemical Properties of 1D ZnO Based Nanocomposites

Exploitation of common elements as photocatalysts for conversion of photons to electricity stimulates the development of a green energy strategy. In this paper, methods for the preparation of active coatings based on ZnO/Ag/CdS, which are used in the photocatalytic oxidation reaction, are examined. The physical and chemical properties of the resulting arrays were studied using optical spectrometers, an electron microscope, an X-ray diffractometer, and potentiostatic measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The effectiveness of photocatalysts was calculated by the ability to liberate gas from aqueous solutions when exposed to light. The rate of degradation was indirectly measured with a conductometer.

Perspectives for the development of energy strategies - Challenges towards a hydrogen economy in Cyprus

The present perspective aims to record the main actions that Cyprus, as a case study, needs to carry out in order to draw up a comprehensive long–term sustainable energy strategy for its transition from carbon economy to hydrogen economy. A brief description of the European sustainable energy strategy up to 2050 is provided. A transition to hydrogen economy by 2050, focusing on the importance of electricity interconnections including Cyprus’ crucial role with respect to the transition of Southeastern Mediterranean countries to hydrogen economy and how they could become energy exporters to Europe is discussed. Last but not least, this perspective presents the framework for drafting a long–term energy strategy for Cyprus and provides a set of targets for Cyprus’ energy transition to hydrogen economy by the year 2050