Energy Transition
Climate change is upsetting the balance of our planet.
Compared to the pre-industrial period, average global temperatures have increased by about 1.1°C (source – OMM – World Meteorological Organization and NASA Global Climate Change).
The impact of this change is evident: rising seas, drying up of rivers and lakes, monsoon rains, premature blooms, tornadoes, heat waves, migration of animal and plant species, melting of ice… the global ice masses (perennial glaciers, the poles, the cold expanses) are shrinking at a rate of about 430,000,000 tons per year (source – NASA Global Climate Change).
The consequences of climate change are of enormous concern, above all because some of the phenomena mentioned, which are less and less extraordinary, are now to be considered irreversible.
It is directly man who has to commit himself to stop this process and reversing its course since climate change’s main cause is anthropic activity (source - IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).
These activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, release greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), into the atmosphere.
These gases trap heat from the sun, creating a greenhouse effect, which leads to a gradual increase in global temperatures, raising of sea level melting of ice cups and acidification of oceans.
According to WWF, we lost Arctic sea ice at a rate of almost 13% per decade, and over the past 30 years and the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic has declined by a stunning 95%.
“The last seven years (2014-2021) have been the warmest seven years on record, whether one year is a record or not is not really that important; the important things are long-term trends” says NASA Director Gavin Schmidt. It becomes imperative to reverse this trend and prevent global temperatures to raise any further.
The commitment to change
Analyzing the data collected through systematic studies already started in 1970, the scientific community rekindles the spotlight on the need to reverse this trend promptly.
The ecological transition is a complex process that, in addition to the conversion of energy sources from fossil to renewable, also implies the questioning of the behavioral habits of each individual in order to achieve a complete degree of sustainability in our society.
The development of a green economy aims to progressively reduce and finally potentially abandon the use of fossil fuels, reducing human activity’s impact on the climate.
De Nora fully accepted this challenge.
The solution is an energy transition from employing fossil fuels to a world powered by infinite, sustainable and renewable energy sources.
The energy transition represents a fundamental change in the way we produce, distribute, and consume energy.
This paradigm shift is driven by a growing consensus that our current energy practices are no longer compatible with the long-term health of our planet and the well-being of its inhabitants.
In fact, according to the United Nation Development Program, at present, 73% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the energy sector.
The energy transition process
It is a shift away from the historical reliance on coal, oil, and natural gas to produce energy towards renewable sources like solar, wind, green hydrogen and hydropower, as well as improvements in energy efficiency and storage technologies.
It goes without saying that the success of the energy transition depends on a transformation of the global energy sector from fossil-based to zero-carbon sources by the second half of this century, reducing energy-related CO2 emissions to mitigate climate change and limit global temperature to within 1.5° of pre-industrial levels.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), reaching the 1.5 °C of pre-industrial levels implies a decarbonization roadmap where electrification and efficiency are key drivers of change, backed by renewables, green hydrogen and sustainable biomass.
The driving forces for the energy trantision
The foremost driving force for an energy transition is the urgent need to combat climate change.
Countries and organizations worldwide are compelled to reduce their carbon footprints and transition to cleaner energy sources. We should aim at reducing 70% of global emissions to be net zero by 2050.
Economic drivers play a pivotal role in the energy transition. The renewable energy sector has experienced remarkable growth, becoming increasingly cost-competitive with fossil fuels.
This has attracted and continues to attract significant investments. About $4 trillion worth of investments are needed to become net-zero by 2050 with more that 30 million jobs that could be potentially created in industries such as solar, wind, and electric vehicles.
Moreover, many nations see the energy transition as an opportunity to enhance energy security by reducing their dependence on energy imports and volatile global oil markets.
Additionally, there is a growing recognition of the ethical dimension of the energy transition.
It aims to rectify energy inequalities and improve energy access, particularly for underserved populations. Clean energy technologies also have fewer health impacts than fossil fuels, reducing air pollution-related illnesses and deaths.
This aligns with the broader goal of creating a more just and equitable society.