1/ New research @UniLUT on value chain options for steel industry transition in Europe doi.org/10.1016/j.ener… - Key insights: low-cost renewable electricity & green, hydrogen required. 5 value chain combinations & DE, ES, FI with supply from CL, MA analysed. Impacts expected.
2/ Three different European markets investigated - DE, FI, ES – for primary and secondary steel production. Today’s main types are BF-BOF (coal), EAF (secondary with electricity), but also DRI-EAF (hydrogen) and BOF
3/ five different supply chain combinations investigated: a) full domestic production; b) import of H2 for steelmaking (shipping, pipeline); c) import of hot briquetted iron (HBI); d) import of crude steel.
5/ H2 imports from #Chile and #Morocco considered in LH2 shipping and H2 pipelines. New infrastructure is not competitive to local supply in all analysed cases, due to good local resources and high H2 transportation costs. Details on FI, ES, DE in the following ...
6/ Case Finland: domestic green e-steel competitive to coal-based steel from 2030 onwards. HBI and steel import from #Morocco may be a challenge. H2 import not competitive.
7/ Case #Spain: domestic green e-steel competitive to coal-based steel from 2030 onwards. #Spain is fully competitive to all analysed value chain compositions indicating a best positioning for internationally competitive steelmaking.
8/ Case #Germany: domestic green e-steel competitive to coal-based steel from 2030 onwards. Domestic production competitive to HBI imports with slight disadvantage to steel import from #Morocco. H2 import not competitive.
9/ Conclusions: green steel competitive to domestic coal-based steel; H2 imports are not helpful for steel industry due to high H2 transport costs; HBI imports may reconfigure steel value chain; #Spain can establish a fully competitive green steel value chain.
1/ New research @UniLUT @hasretshnmetu examines the net energy performance of 9 #decarbonisation global energy transition scenarios until 2050 by applying the systemwide #EROI at the electricity level. @NatureComms doi.org/10.1038/s41467…
2/ Methods: The energy quality discrepancy of #EROI analyses was overcome with alignment to the energy quality level of electricity () and analysing #EROI on system level instead of technology level.
3/ Key findings signify that 9 energy transition scenarios remain at the upper limit of the net energy cliff (above 10), and they are feasible from a techno-economic perspective. #100RE systems do not result in any significant disruption to #EROI trends.
1/ New research @UniLUT shows the impact of transportation on the final cost of green e-ammonia imported to #Europe . Cost of imports from #Chile & #Morocco are assessed for the case of shipping and pipelines in 2030-2050. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcle…
2/ Methods: The central focus of the paper is the impact of transportation on the overall competitiveness. Based on detailed e-ammonia cost modelling transportation via pipelines & shipping was considered, incl terminals, ships, storage. Imports vs domestic costs are investigated
3/ e-Ammonia production costs depend on availability of wind & solar resources. Today regions with excellent wind resources yield the lowest costs. In future, lowest cost ammonia is produced in regions with the best solar resources. Deeper cost analyses: sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
1/ New research @UniLUT demonstrates that a #100RE system for the Caribbean & Puerto Rico can be achieved with an important role of offshore floating PV in case of land restrictions. New insights @eu_scores & @serendipv_eu ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10268…
2/ Novelties: first #100RE study for the Caribbean & Puerto Rico considering all energy sectors (power, heat, transport). First inclusion of offshore floating PV in an energy system optimisation model, based on earlier analysis on the case of #Maldives . doi.org/10.1016/j.apen…
3/ background: Puerto Rico has a #100RE target for electricity , while scientific studies are missing. Review on scientific #100RE system studies for islands reveals substantial research gaps for the entire Caribbean bvirtualogp.pr.gov/ogp/Bvirtual/l… doi.org/10.1002/wene.4…
1/ New research @UniLUT examines critical materials in the energy transition. It finds the current definition is short term & local. Cobalt, copper, nickel, others, may face severe supply issues in two decades. A global approach is vital. doi.org/10.1016/j.mine…
2/ The core analysis reveals the complexities of critical materials in the energy transition. The current criticality concept is influenced by short-term local concerns, hindering a globally agreed list of critical materials.
3/ Global material flows are complex. Reserves don't always align with production locations. Politics & geology are entwined, complicating coordination. Global data can hide local challenges. Cobalt criticality ties to politics, silver to overexploitation. Balance is vital.
1/ New research @UniLUT identifies the Solar-to-X Economy as the central element towards prosperity in Africa and South Asia. Both regions will reach more than 50% of world population & energy demand in this century. sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
2/ Africa & South Asia represent 40% in world population and 17% in primary energy demand today, but will grow to 60% of world population and more than 50% of primary energy by end of this century.
3/ Energy systems will develop towards a Solar-to-X Economy as shown on the case of #Africa. This is a special case of the Power-to-X Economy . South Asia follows the same path.
1/ New opinion article @UniLUT & international collaborators doi.org/10.1371/journa… discusses requirement of tightening the 1.5°C climate target to avoid risk of elevating climate tipping points. A 1.0C climate target is a safer target and possible via negative emissions.
2/ Even the 1.5°C climate target requires about 500 GtCO2 negative emissions if fully accounting for uncertainties. Climate budget according to @IPCC_CH for reaching 1.5°C with max certainty has been used up in early 2022.
3/ Though reaching the 1.5C target seems already hard to reach, it is not a safe target for civilisation. Local extreme weather events will have global consequences risking global food security doi.org/10.1038/s41558…