This week has two main focal points: fist how transformation processes work. This is a historical overview on the relationship between energy and societal development and includes a glimpse on multi-level-perspective (MLP) as of the most relevant approaches for analysing transformation processes
I. Great transformation processes
i) relationship between energy consumption and societal (and economic) development and have a look at main features of so-called “great transformations”
ii) The role of different actors and regimes in great transformation processes
From a historical perspective we first have a look at the link between energy consumption and econonmic (and social) development. Thereafter, also following a historic analysis from the WBGU (scienfitic comittee on global environmental changes) from the German Government, we analyse the main characteristic of great transformation processes. And the energy and mobility transitions can be seen as examples of those!
Here you can finde the Video and Slides.
II. Critical Materials for the energy transition
Critical materials are essential for the global energy transition, as they are key components in renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines, solar panels, and batteries for energy storage and electric vehicles. However, the analysis of the risk of supply and availability of such materials was a difficult endeavoir due to lack of reliable and mappable data.
Recently, new data sources and studies have provided valuable insights into supply chains, resource availability, and potential vulnerabilities, allowing policymakers and industry leaders to make informed decisions.
The European Union has recognized the strategic importance of securing a stable and sustainable supply of these materials, given their limited availability and the geopolitical risks associated with their extraction and trade (among others the EU eased in 2023 due to this recognition the “Critical Material Act“). This improved access to data helps in developing strategies for recycling, diversification of supply, and responsible sourcing, ultimately supporting Europe’s shift towards a more sustainable and resilient energy system. The increasing interest on common reliable data and assessment methodologies for criticality of relevant materials can be seen in the data bases and sources listed below.
After this brief motivation, Here go the slides for our lecture on the topic.