"Ringraziamo l'Ing. Massimo De Rose per averci consentito di pubblicare anche la traduzione in inglese del suo articolo sulla transizione energetica, già presente in questo numero della Rivista".
ENERGY TRANSITION: YES, BUT HOW?
Author: Ing. Massimo De Rose
It is widely accepted view that in order to prevent serious and irreversible environmental changes, the world’s activities and related energy consumptions must implement an energy transition.
In meetings like Glasgow – November 2021, targets and timings have been set.
The prime sectors consuming energy are: transport (aerial, maritime, terrestrial), industry, urban heating, agriculture.
The various energy sources have different environmental sustainability.
There is pressure against some sources and pressure in favour of others. There is consistent pressure against fossil fuels (carbon, petroleum products, natural gas) because their combustion inevitably produces CO2 (carbon dioxide) due to the Carbon atoms in their molecules. Consequently, they are considered as the main sources accountable for the world climate change.
On the opposite side there is extensive pressure in favour of photovoltaic and wind-power, seen as “pure” natural sources. Mixed opinions are expressed on nuclear, hydrogen, biomass.
The European Union(EU) has adopted the “Taxonomy”, i.e. a classification of the energy activities which can be considered eco-compatible with the environmental targets and their implementation timing. The Taxonomy targets are six: 1. Mitigation of the climate change; 2. Adaptation to the climate change; 3. Sustainable use and protection of the water and sea resources; 4. Transition toward circular economy, including waste reduction and recycling; 5. Pollution prevention and control; 6. Protection of the bio-diversities and health of the eco-systems.
To be classified as eco-compatible, an activity must: 1. Contribute positively to at least one the six objectives; 2. Produce no negative impact on the other objectives; 3. Be implemented in compliance with minimum social guarantees.
The eco-compatible activities could qualify for an EU financial support.
Based on the rather flexible structure of the above six targets, recently the EU has included nuclear and natural gas among the eco-compatible activities, provoking vibrant complaints from both those interpreting the above objectives and those invoking a stronger push in favour of bio-diversity, photovoltaic, wind-power, hydrogen.
As regards the pressures to accelerate the transition, it is indispensable that the various nations commit to comply with their eco – environmental objectives within their maximum implementation timing. However it is also necessary to consider that the energy sources change and the desired adoption of decarbonized sources imply huge transformations, investments, extended timings.
In this respect, it is appropriate to observe that some communication often induces the illusion that transformations could be implemented easily and within short timing, forgetting to explain some induced consequences, which risk to “shift” but not to eliminate the non-sustainability.
Transportation is a typical example. Automobile, electric or with hydrogen: both look perfect with their zero exhaust emissions. However, it is crucial that once the environmental problem is removed from exhaust, it is not then “shifted” to the corresponding source of electricity and hydrogen. The latter, for example, can be produced from natural gas in large amount and at competitive cost, but with a process producing CO2. Therefore, it would be essential to use the so called “green hydrogen”, produced through water electrolysis, in smaller amount and higher costs.
In goods transportation, energy transition of heavy vehicles is more complex and, probably, it will require more time. There is a striking project, recently tested, of carrying up to 100 Kg with a special drone! If this transport method were to develop, a special airspace management would be required.
The transition of alternative energy sectors poses similar questions and decisions to make the right choice. Nuclear is opposed by various parties because of the risks from operational accidents and from the waste disposal. However, with the fourth generation plants those risks have become remote and costs have become competitive, with further promising perspectives on waste disposal.
Biomasses are an interesting alternative source of energy, but their combustion emits CO2. However, their “anaerobic digestion” produces bio-methane, totally renewable gas.
Photovoltaic and wind-power (with some doubt on the effects of the magnetic field generated by the latter) are “clean”, but expensive.
To summarize, the choice of the sustainable sources of energy must conjugate the transition need and timing with the ecological, economic and social validity of the available transformations.
To further support the transition and to possibly give a comprehensive picture of the subject, it is appropriate to mention that part of the global warming seems to have an origin outside human control.
The Earth’s axis inclination and the elliptical shape of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun change gradually and cyclically. All this seems to provoke a cyclical change of the solar heating on the Earth and, consequently, of the Earth’s temperature. It is believed that this cycle will bring us from one glaciation to the next in several thousands years, through an intermediate period of heating especially in the boreal hemisphere. Currently we are in the gradual warming period of the cycle. Therefore, the warming produced by the human beings, especially in the last hundred years, has been exasperating Global warming.
Consequently, we all have a further reason to proceed with the energy transition while paying attention to feasibilities, costs, timings, socio-economic implications of the various alternatives.
For the fossil fuels producers, gas included (therefore Russia included), the world transition is a double challenge, because of the gradual loss of huge revenues. These countries have been encouraging the CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage), a process contemplating capturing the CO2 and storing it at great depths underground for centuries.
In conclusion, energy transition is a huge challenge for our socio-economic system and for the human ability to make and implement solutions which must be realistic and integrated on a global scale.