Geologic carbon storage is a key component of any policy roadmap to reach net zero carbon emissions by mid-century. Recent studies have quantified the amount of carbon dioxide that needs to be stored annually, with results generally in the gigatonne per year range in the US. However, field trials over the past two decades have shown that such high storage rates may not be feasible with current technology due to subsurface engineering challenges. We show how properties of the subsurface place limits on storage rates and how field projects have provided evidence of those limits hindering carbon storage efforts. Without urgently addressing these limits, realizing injection rates consistent with net-zero emissions modeling would require drilling activity that would exceed the entire US oil and gas industry. We conclude with recommendations for overcoming these challenges through focused collaborative efforts at information sharing, technology transfer, and supportive policies.
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ISSN: 2753-3751
Environmental Research: Energy centres on rigorous and innovative analysis of energy systems as they transition to address climate change and climate impacts. We focus on research that facilitates this transition while promoting structural justice in energy infrastructure, access, institutions, and governance.
Indexed in Web of Science and Scopus.
- The following article is Open accessCan we sequester carbon fast enough? Growing disconnect between models and reality
Hugh Daigle and Arvind Ravikumar 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 031001
- The following article is Open accessProbabilistic resource adequacy assessment of ERCOT under high data center load growth and high renewable energy potential through 2050
Chen Chen et al 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 035005
View article, Probabilistic resource adequacy assessment of ERCOT under high data center load growth and high renewable energy potential through 2050PDF, Probabilistic resource adequacy assessment of ERCOT under high data center load growth and high renewable energy potential through 2050The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) faces mounting reliability challenges as electrification, large flexible loads (e.g. data centers, hydrogen, crypto, and industrial demand), and high renewable penetration reshape system dynamics. Traditional reserve margin–based planning is increasingly inadequate, as periods of highest risk are shifting to net peak hours and extended low-renewable events. To address these challenges, we developed a probabilistic resource adequacy (RA) framework using PLEXOS® to evaluate ERCOT’s long-term RA outlook through 2050. We modeled baseline growth, high load growth from data centers and cryptocurrency, enhanced ancillary service requirements, and targeted transmission expansion, with sensitivities to technology costs, fuel prices, and policy uncertainty (e.g. Inflation Reduction Act repeal). We quantified reliability outcomes through probabilistic metrics, including loss of load expectation, loss of load probability, and expected unserved energy, to capture the marginal contribution of conventional, renewable, and storage resources. Our results show that rapid load growth, particularly from data centers, intensifies RA risks absent complementary transmission and resource expansion; however, transmission upgrades and enhanced ancillary services improve adequacy by mitigating congestion and stabilizing net load variability. We benchmarked our framework against the February 2021 Winter Storm Uri through hourly operational simulations, which validate the framework’s capability to replicate observed stress conditions and unserved energy outcomes. These findings collectively underscore that ERCOT’s future reliability hinges on coordinated planning across generation, transmission, and demand-side flexibility. This study provides a novel integration of long-term capacity expansion and probabilistic RA modeling, offering actionable insights for system operators, policymakers, and market stakeholders navigating ERCOT’s transition to a high-renewable, high-load future.
- The following article is Open accessFossil fuel industry communication strategies and public responses: a scoping review
Patrick O Ansah et al 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 032001
View article, Fossil fuel industry communication strategies and public responses: a scoping reviewPDF, Fossil fuel industry communication strategies and public responses: a scoping reviewFossil fuel use is the primary driver of climate change. By systematically analyzing peer-reviewed research on the fossil fuel industry’s communication strategies and the public responses they elicit, this study maps how peer-reviewed research has examined fossil fuel industry communication strategies and public responses. A search of three scientific databases and five journals (covering January 1988–September 2025) yielded 64 relevant articles. These articles identify six messaging strategies, including emphasizing economic benefits, technological optimism, greenwashing, doubt-mongering, identity cooptation, and individualized responsibility. A small number of studies (n = 8) empirically assessed public responses, mostly focusing on the impact of consumer attitudes and brand-related outcomes, and largely ignoring impacts on social license to operate and policy and regulatory outcomes. This finding–the dearth of research on public responses to fossil fuel industry communication, especially the absence of impacts research on industry social license and policy and regulatory outcomes–is, in our view, the key contribution of this review.
- The following article is Open accessThe politics and policies governing China’s coal transition: implications for climate mitigation
Weila Gong and Joanna I Lewis 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 035006
View article, The politics and policies governing China’s coal transition: implications for climate mitigationPDF, The politics and policies governing China’s coal transition: implications for climate mitigationAs the world’s largest coal producer and consumer, China’s coal transition is crucial to the global low-carbon energy transition and achieving global climate goals. Yet over the past decade, despite goals to limit coal use, reduce air pollution and achieve climate goals, China’s domestic coal consumption has continued to grow. This trend calls into question China’s state capacity to transition away from coal. This study examines the policy frames introduced by the Chinese government related to coal transition and the role of bureaucracy in shaping the coal transition process. By analyzing an original dataset of coal policies promulgated by the national government between 2013 and 2025, we find while the national government has introduced a series of policies targeting the coal industry, the policy instruments for coal reduction led by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment are much weaker than those maintaining coal production advanced by the National Development and Reform Commission and National Energy Administration. This paper greatly improves our understanding of the politics of China’s coal transition and the role of bureaucratic agencies with diverging interests in influencing China’s state capacity in low-carbon energy transitions. At the same time, it also advances the literature of state capacity and climate policy by shifting the focus from the separation of power in the bureaucracy of Western industrial democracies to the competing bureaucratic influence over coal policymaking in emerging authoritarian economies such as China. We argue that to achieve its 2060 carbon neutrality pledge, the Chinese government must further coordinate its environmental and economic goals while strengthening its entire suite of policy instruments that support coal reduction.
- The following article is Open accessMulti-hazard environmental risk assessment for electricity substations: integrating climate projections with atmospheric corrosion modelling
Cedric Bérard 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 035007
View article, Multi-hazard environmental risk assessment for electricity substations: integrating climate projections with atmospheric corrosion modellingPDF, Multi-hazard environmental risk assessment for electricity substations: integrating climate projections with atmospheric corrosion modellingElectricity substations face accelerating environmental stress from climate change, atmospheric corrosion, seismic hazard, and ageing infrastructure, yet quantitative multi-hazard risk frameworks at substation resolution remain scarce. We present an open, replicable framework that integrates CMIP6 climate projections, ISO 9223:2012 atmospheric corrosion classification, and a five-state Markov degradation model to produce location-specific expected time to critical-condition (ETTC) estimates for 159 720 substations across 23 OECD countries plus Greenland. The framework combines (i) a four-sub-index climate physical risk composite (R1) capturing projected changes in heat extremes, extreme precipitation, ice-storm frequency, and seismic peak ground acceleration (PGA); (ii) an atmospheric corrosion acceleration factor (κcorrosion) derived from coastal-distance salt aerosol modelling and Gaussian-plume industrial SO2 exposure mapped to ISO 9223 categories C1–C5; and (iii) a Bayesian Markov transition model anchored to CIGRÉ Technical Brochure 761 and IEEE Standard C57.91–2018 informative priors, updated by national DSO/TSO inspection records where openly published. R1 is computed under two complementary climate scenarios—SSP2-4.5 (production central reference) and SSP5-8.5 (academic stress test)—enabling explicit climate-scenario sensitivity analysis. Monte Carlo simulation with 10 000 iterations per substation, using a Gaussian copula across 20 normalised metrics, yields ETTC point estimates and bootstrap confidence intervals. Validation against 1220 documented substation failures from 2018 to 2023 (Pearson ρ = 0.72 between predicted and observed risk rank density; AUC = 0.78) supports the framework’s discriminatory power. Sensitivity analysis identifies atmospheric corrosion as the leading risk acceleration pathway under current modelling resolution—a finding robust to climate-scenario choice—with explicit acknowledgment that flood sub-index resolution lags corrosion modelling quality and warrants future improvement via global flood hazard map integration. All input data sources are public and verifiable through country-specific Data and Download pages; the framework is released under CC BY-SA 4.0 as part of the Systemic System Infrastructure Index, operated as a non-profit public-interest infrastructure resilience initiative.
- The following article is Open accessEmpirically-calibrated H100 node power models for accurate AI training energy estimation
Alex C Newkirk et al 2025 Environ. Res.: Energy 2 045016
View article, Empirically-calibrated H100 node power models for accurate AI training energy estimationPDF, Empirically-calibrated H100 node power models for accurate AI training energy estimationAccurately quantifying the energy use of artificial intelligence (AI) training is critical for infrastructure planning, carbon accounting, and sustainable data center operation, but few studies have directly measured the power consumption of production workloads on contemporary hardware. By combining empirical measurements from Brookhaven National Laboratory during AI training on 8-graphics-processing-unit H100 systems with open-source benchmarking data, we develop statistical models relating computational intensity to node-level power consumption. We measure the gap between manufacturer-rated thermal design power (TDP) and actual power demand during AI training. Our analysis reveals that even computationally intensive workloads operate at only 76% of the 10.2 kW TDP rating. Our architecture-specific model, calibrated to floating-point operations, predicts energy consumption with 11.4% mean absolute percentage error, significantly outperforming TDP-based approaches (27%–37% error). We identified distinct power signatures between transformer and convolutional neural network architectures, with transformers showing characteristic fluctuations that may impact grid stability. These results provide a measurement-grounded basis for improving AI training energy estimates, enabling more reliable infrastructure sizing, cost projections, and environmental impact assessments.
- The following article is Open accessWhat drives clean solar technology adoption in West Africa? A case study of Ghana and Nigeria
Norbert Edomah et al 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 033002
View article, What drives clean solar technology adoption in West Africa? A case study of Ghana and NigeriaPDF, What drives clean solar technology adoption in West Africa? A case study of Ghana and NigeriaClean energy innovation and adoption is critical to addressing energy poverty in West Africa. This article focuses on identifying which drivers actually govern solar technology adoption in West Africa and how energy users themselves interpret them. By utilizing a mixed method approach that combines desk review of academic and policy literature with field visits (direct observation and stakeholder interviews across Nigeria and Ghana) we explored the major drivers of clean solar energy adoption. The field engagement was conducted between November 2023 and January 2026, and the resulting observations and discussion notes were analyzed thematically and compared across (residential, commercial and industrial) sectors in Nigeria and Ghana. We found that two drivers, availability and affordability, dominated user decisions in practice, whose meaning differs (between the two countries, by the sectors studied, and from the global energy access definitions). This study reveals that: (1) local context and sector-specific meanings shape solar energy technology adoption and use across countries and sectors; (2) solar adoption strategies substitute for unreliable electricity supply in Nigeria, while in Ghana it substitutes for higher grid tariff. It concludes by highlighting the need for a clear understanding of the contextual dimensions of these drivers for effective interventions.
- The following article is Open accessAn analysis of the duration and severity of power outages during weather events across U.S. Counties
Allen G Moore et al 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 035004
View article, An analysis of the duration and severity of power outages during weather events across U.S. CountiesPDF, An analysis of the duration and severity of power outages during weather events across U.S. CountiesPower grids are increasingly vulnerable to weather events, which not only lead to power outages but also complicate analysis efforts to inform planning and mitigation strategies. While previous studies have focused on individual hazards or regions, comparative assessments across event types and geographic areas are limited. This study conducted a county-level, spatio-temporal analysis of power outages during weather events across the contiguous United States, utilizing an integrated dataset of historical outage and weather event records along with county-level environmental, infrastructural, and demographic features. We analyzed 124,291 historical weather events from November 2014 to November 2022 (categorized into 12 hazards and a co-occurring events category) to characterize outages by duration, severity, and correlations with local features. Our findings revealed that outage characteristics vary systematically by hazard, with tropical cyclones causing outages that are 5.4 times longer and 17.8 times more severe than the median for single-hazard events. Co-occurring events led to both increased outage duration and severity for almost 90% of paired hazards (compared to single-hazard events). An evaluation of local features identified multiple patterns in outage duration and severity. For example, across all hazards, highly developed areas generally experienced less severe but longer-lasting outages, while energy corridors were generally associated with more severe outages; affluence had an inverse relationship with both outage duration and severity. Hazard-specific patterns were also identified with local features, with outlying forested areas generally associated with longer and more severe outages, primarily during wind-based events. These insights provide a foundation for further assessments of power outages during weather events and can inform strategies to enhance grid resilience to weather events.
- The following article is Open accessEnergy justice in policy: assessing renewable energy and energy transition frameworks in Nigeria
Excel Obumneme Amaefule et al 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 035003
View article, Energy justice in policy: assessing renewable energy and energy transition frameworks in NigeriaPDF, Energy justice in policy: assessing renewable energy and energy transition frameworks in NigeriaRenewable energy is central to climate strategies in Nigeria, yet the policy architecture guiding this transition continues to prioritise technical and economic metrics while giving limited attention to social and ecological safeguards. This paper conducts a structured qualitative content analysis of eight national renewable energy and energy transition policy documents to evaluate the extent to which energy justice principles are embedded in Nigeria’s transition framework. Using a theory-driven coding schema spanning procedural, recognitional, distributional, and reparative justice, each document was assessed across eighteen parameters using a five-point explicitness-enforceability scale distinguishing between provisions that are explicit and enforceable, explicit but non-enforceable, general but enforceable, general and non-enforceable, and not addressed. Findings show that justice considerations are widely referenced but unevenly operationalised across the instrument set. When scores are normalised against the maximum available within each dimension, procedural justice achieves the highest proportional integration at 53.4% of its possible maximum, followed by distributional justice at 50.5%, recognitional justice at 34.4%, and reparative justice at 26.0%. This rank order holds independently of differential parameter weighting and indicates that access-oriented and process-focused provisions are more consistently embedded than those addressing identity, historical harm, and compensatory obligation. Enforcement mechanisms, community feedback and grievance pathways, cultural safeguards, and compensation frameworks for historically affected communities are the most consistently absent or under-specified provisions across the corpus. The findings demonstrate that the barrier to stronger justice integration is not the absence of legal authority within Nigeria’s existing statutory architecture but the selective application of that authority to community-facing and reparative provisions. The paper provides a replicable analytical framework applicable to comparable fossil fuel-dependent, climate-vulnerable transition contexts beyond Nigeria.
- The following article is Open accessIndia’s National Green Hydrogen Mission: an analysis of the strategies, policies for net-zero emissions and sustainability
Balasubramanian Sambasivam and Rakesh Narayana Sarma 2024 Environ. Res.: Energy 1 045015
View article, India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission: an analysis of the strategies, policies for net-zero emissions and sustainabilityPDF, India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission: an analysis of the strategies, policies for net-zero emissions and sustainabilityGreen hydrogen (GH2) is emerging as a promising option for decarbonizing the energy, transport, and industrial sectors, playing a critical role in addressing climate change. India aims to achieve energy independence by 2047 and net-zero emissions by 2070. To realize these goals, the country has launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with a vision to become a global leader in GH2 production, electrolyzer manufacturing, and export. This article provides an overview of the National Green Hydrogen Mission’s initiatives, state-level policies supporting GH2, and key projects undertaken by public and private sector organizations. As part of the mission, India plans to establish a GH2 production capacity of at least 5 million metric tonnes per year and develop 60–100 GW of electrolyzer capacity. The government has initiated pilot projects focusing on the use of GH2 in shipping, long-haul mobility, and the steel industry. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of hydrogen energy in India is presented. The challenges posed by high equipment costs and the need for more indigenous technologies have been highlighted. The possibility of reducing fossil fuel imports, enhanced energy security, and the availability of a skilled workforce present significant opportunities and strengths. Key policy recommendations for enhancing GH2 production in India include encouraging all states to support the development, offering interest-free loans and incentives, and promoting Research and Development by establishing centres of excellence and fostering international collaboration.
- The following article is Open accessWorker preferences for time-dependent job attributes in an electrifying industry
Jiayu Geng et al 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 035009
View article, Worker preferences for time-dependent job attributes in an electrifying industryPDF, Worker preferences for time-dependent job attributes in an electrifying industryModels of industrial electrification transitions are becoming increasingly common, but usually do not consider impacts on workers. Many systems that rely on electricity are expected to experience more production variability as electricity prices fluctuate. To determine how workers may perceive these adjustments in production schedules, we conduct a choice-based conjoint survey of workers in the steel industry. The US steel industry provides an interesting case study: portions of the industry are already electrified (for steel recycling), while primary steelmaking is still dominated by fossil fuels. Workers perform a series of choice tasks where they select between two hypothetical jobs with different attributes, including annual salary, the number of weeks per year that they are scheduled to work overtime, the amount of overtime they work when they do work extra hours, the length of each working shift, and the timing of their shifts (either day shifts, night shifts, or rotating shifts between day and night shift). We find that there is significant heterogeneity in respondent preferences for different job attributes, although there are not strong correlations with demographic factors like gender, having children under the age of 18, or union status. We identify four latent classes of distinct preferences: one small group (3.4%) that is dissatisfied with the industry, one group that would prefer to maintain the status quo in terms of a rotating shift schedule and amount of overtime (28%), one group that would prefer to switch to night shifts (23%), and one group that would prefer to switch to either day shifts or night shifts instead of rotating shifts (45%). The willingness-to-pay model formulations provide a pathway for quantifying the utility or disutility workers may experience at their jobs as industry continues to electrify, while the heterogeneity in preferences highlights the potential benefits of opt-in policies for alternative schedules.
- The following article is Open accessCan we sequester carbon fast enough? Growing disconnect between models and reality
Hugh Daigle and Arvind Ravikumar 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 031001
View article, Can we sequester carbon fast enough? Growing disconnect between models and realityPDF, Can we sequester carbon fast enough? Growing disconnect between models and realityGeologic carbon storage is a key component of any policy roadmap to reach net zero carbon emissions by mid-century. Recent studies have quantified the amount of carbon dioxide that needs to be stored annually, with results generally in the gigatonne per year range in the US. However, field trials over the past two decades have shown that such high storage rates may not be feasible with current technology due to subsurface engineering challenges. We show how properties of the subsurface place limits on storage rates and how field projects have provided evidence of those limits hindering carbon storage efforts. Without urgently addressing these limits, realizing injection rates consistent with net-zero emissions modeling would require drilling activity that would exceed the entire US oil and gas industry. We conclude with recommendations for overcoming these challenges through focused collaborative efforts at information sharing, technology transfer, and supportive policies.
- The following article is Open accessDemand-side measures improve long-term resilience to supply shocks beyond emergencies
Caroline Zimm et al 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 033003
View article, Demand-side measures improve long-term resilience to supply shocks beyond emergenciesPDF, Demand-side measures improve long-term resilience to supply shocks beyond emergenciesRecent energy supply disruptions have prompted some governments to deploy demand-side measures as emergency responses. These crises reveal that systems built on high and inflexible energy and material demand are structurally exposed to shocks. This vulnerability is rooted in earlier political, infrastructural, and economic choices that locked societies into resource-intensive mobility, housing, and production. Crises are not only moments requiring rapid response; they are junctures where structural weaknesses become available for reform. We argue that demand-side measures are essential for reducing the immediate pain of crises and for reconfiguring provisioning systems toward lasting resilience. Drawing on examples spanning oil, electricity, buildings, and transport across multiple geographies, we document a consistent pattern: demand adjusts under crisis pressure, but only structural embedding produces lasting gains in energy security, affordability, health, and wellbeing. Japan’s post-Fukushima Setsuden campaign achieved approximately 15% electricity savings sustained over several years; India’s UJALA programme replaced 360 million lightbulbs nationwide. Persistence depended on structural policy follow-through, not crisis urgency alone. Without institutionalizing demand-side approaches in crisis preparedness frameworks, each successive shock will be met with the same supply-side reflexes, missing the opportunity for the structural change that would make societies genuinely less vulnerable to the next one.
- The following article is Open accessWhat drives clean solar technology adoption in West Africa? A case study of Ghana and Nigeria
Norbert Edomah et al 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 033002
View article, What drives clean solar technology adoption in West Africa? A case study of Ghana and NigeriaPDF, What drives clean solar technology adoption in West Africa? A case study of Ghana and NigeriaClean energy innovation and adoption is critical to addressing energy poverty in West Africa. This article focuses on identifying which drivers actually govern solar technology adoption in West Africa and how energy users themselves interpret them. By utilizing a mixed method approach that combines desk review of academic and policy literature with field visits (direct observation and stakeholder interviews across Nigeria and Ghana) we explored the major drivers of clean solar energy adoption. The field engagement was conducted between November 2023 and January 2026, and the resulting observations and discussion notes were analyzed thematically and compared across (residential, commercial and industrial) sectors in Nigeria and Ghana. We found that two drivers, availability and affordability, dominated user decisions in practice, whose meaning differs (between the two countries, by the sectors studied, and from the global energy access definitions). This study reveals that: (1) local context and sector-specific meanings shape solar energy technology adoption and use across countries and sectors; (2) solar adoption strategies substitute for unreliable electricity supply in Nigeria, while in Ghana it substitutes for higher grid tariff. It concludes by highlighting the need for a clear understanding of the contextual dimensions of these drivers for effective interventions.
- The following article is Open accessLimited influence of climate modes of variability on residual load in Australia’s electricity grid
Doug Richardson et al 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 035008
View article, Limited influence of climate modes of variability on residual load in Australia’s electricity gridPDF, Limited influence of climate modes of variability on residual load in Australia’s electricity gridMonitoring and predicting climate modes of variability, such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), can be useful for informing decision-making in numerous sectors. The influence of climate modes on electricity demand, and wind and solar photovoltaic generation in Australia varies spatially and temporally, but studies have so far considered demand and generation separately. Here, we quantify for the first time the relationships between three major climate modes and residual load, which integrates supply and demand. For Australia’s largest power system, we find that ENSO and the Indian Ocean Dipole have limited influence on residual load, both today and under future scenarios that model an increasingly renewables-dominated gird. This implies an overall resilience to climate mode variability. The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) is weakly correlated with residual load (
), but we find evidence of an asymmetric relationship, whereby a negative SAM more strongly influences residual load than its other phases. By imposing additional renewables capacity in strategic locations, we find it would require substantially more capacity to reduce variability associated with the SAM. Finally, we show that the ability to predict residual load with climate mode indices is limited, with random forest models outperforming benchmarks by a small margin (1 scores of 0.5 compared to the benchmark of 0.33). Our work suggests that there is limited influence of climate modes on the grid overall, and efforts to improve climate information for the energy sector should prioritise the evaluation and development of seasonal predictions of wind speed and solar radiation directly.
- The following article is Open accessFossil fuel industry communication strategies and public responses: a scoping review
Patrick O Ansah et al 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 032001
View article, Fossil fuel industry communication strategies and public responses: a scoping reviewPDF, Fossil fuel industry communication strategies and public responses: a scoping reviewFossil fuel use is the primary driver of climate change. By systematically analyzing peer-reviewed research on the fossil fuel industry’s communication strategies and the public responses they elicit, this study maps how peer-reviewed research has examined fossil fuel industry communication strategies and public responses. A search of three scientific databases and five journals (covering January 1988–September 2025) yielded 64 relevant articles. These articles identify six messaging strategies, including emphasizing economic benefits, technological optimism, greenwashing, doubt-mongering, identity cooptation, and individualized responsibility. A small number of studies (n = 8) empirically assessed public responses, mostly focusing on the impact of consumer attitudes and brand-related outcomes, and largely ignoring impacts on social license to operate and policy and regulatory outcomes. This finding–the dearth of research on public responses to fossil fuel industry communication, especially the absence of impacts research on industry social license and policy and regulatory outcomes–is, in our view, the key contribution of this review.
- The following article is Open accessGender dimensions in energy justice and just energy transitions: mapping the field and its gaps in a global literature review
Lira Luz Benites Lazaro and Rosie Day 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 022002
View article, Gender dimensions in energy justice and just energy transitions: mapping the field and its gaps in a global literature reviewPDF, Gender dimensions in energy justice and just energy transitions: mapping the field and its gaps in a global literature reviewThe widespread assumption that energy systems and policies are technologically and economically neutral, or apolitical, obscures the ways in which they reproduce and reinforce structural gender inequalities. Despite the growing prominence of energy justice and just energy transition frameworks, gender remains unevenly integrated into both academic research and policy debates. This study provides a comprehensive global analysis of 2505 academic publications addressing gender within the context of energy justice and just energy transitions. Using a mixed-methods approach combining bibliometric analysis, BERTopic modelling, and qualitative narrative analysis with T-Lab, the study maps the intellectual structure of the field across 15 thematic clusters, alongside emerging theoretical and methodological dimensions. The findings show that the literature is primarily concentrated around themes of justice and equity (11.2%), energy communities (9.1%), acceptance and perceptions (8.7%), and innovation (8.6%). In contrast, critical areas such as mineral resources (3.6%) and Indigenous perspectives (4.1%) remain marginal, revealing important blind spots related to gendered aspects of extractivism, territorial conflicts, and the material foundations of low-carbon transitions. Across the literature, gender is most often addressed through issues of access, participation, and vulnerability, while there are fewer analyses of structural power and political economy. Relatedly, gender is frequently treated as an instrumental or descriptive variable, rather than as a transformative analytical lens. Although feminist and intersectional approaches are increasingly present, they are still relatively under-represented, and new methods of advanced data analysis often remain descriptive and weakly connected to theoretical debates. This review argues that advancing a just energy transition requires moving beyond assumptions of neutrality and technocratic approaches toward more intersectional and feminist frameworks, applied to the institutional, cultural, and material dimensions of energy systems, in order to address persistent inequalities and transform the power relations that shape energy transitions.
- The following article is Open accessBecoming renewable energy zones: deploying clean energy infrastructure on abandoned mines for sustainable development
Joshua Matanzima 2026 Environ. Res.: Energy 3 022001
View article, Becoming renewable energy zones: deploying clean energy infrastructure on abandoned mines for sustainable developmentPDF, Becoming renewable energy zones: deploying clean energy infrastructure on abandoned mines for sustainable developmentRenewable energy developments, if properly planned and equitably implemented, can contribute to the achievement of sustainable development (SD). Informed by the SD theory and the United Nations’ SD Goals (SDGs), this article examines the opportunities and challenges presented by renewable energy projects that occur on previously mined landscapes. As the construction of renewable energy projects grows to meet the escalating demand of the global decarburization agenda, more land is being consumed, leading to land use conflicts between the agricultural and conservation sectors and the renewable energy industry. To minimize these conflicts, the industry is increasingly considering the redevelopment of abandoned or closed mines for clean energy infrastructure. A critical review of 26 peer-reviewed social science articles that focus mainly on the conversion of abandoned or closed mines to renewable energy identified opportunities that can contribute to the realization of some SDGs, and challenges to such achievements. The findings show that mine-to-renewable energy conversions offer several benefits, including reducing pressure on undisturbed land, accelerating remediation of contaminated sites, generating new employment opportunities, revitalizing regional economies, and improving energy access and security—contributing directly to SDGs. Identified challenges include uneven community participation, regulatory and policy gaps, investor hesitation, environmental uncertainties, and the potential reproduction of historical injustices such as land dispossession, inadequate compensation, and cumulative displacement. Such a review is essential in terms of igniting debate surrounding the complexities associated with these projects, providing urgently needed data for policy formulation and practice, as well as outlining directions for future research.
- The following article is Open accessModern energy cooking services (MECS) in African institutions: a review of policy, supply chain, and environmental impact pathways
Chipo Mukonza 2025 Environ. Res.: Energy 2 042001
View article, Modern energy cooking services (MECS) in African institutions: a review of policy, supply chain, and environmental impact pathwaysPDF, Modern energy cooking services (MECS) in African institutions: a review of policy, supply chain, and environmental impact pathwaysThis article reviews the current landscape of modern energy cooking services (MECS) in institutional contexts across Africa, with a focus on schools, hospitals, prisons, and refugee camps. A scoping review methodology was employed, following the Arksey and O’Malley (2005 Int. J. Soc. Res. Methodol.8 19–32) framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, to synthesise evidence from peer-reviewed publications, policy documents, project reports, and institutional case studies published between 2013 and 2024. Findings from the study highlight that there is growing policy momentum and international commitment toward institutional clean cooking, yet adoption remains constrained by reliance on imported appliances, inadequate grid infrastructure, high tariffs, and weak maintenance ecosystems. Case studies that were consulted revealed that Electric Pressure Cookers can reduce energy use by up to 60%, cut operating costs by 30%–40%, and lower cooking times by 35%, while also improving air quality and kitchen safety. However, institutions in off-grid and underserved regions face persistent barriers, including unreliable electricity and limited financing models. The study concludes with recommendations focused on accelerating institutional electrification, scaling solar-electric systems in remote contexts, strengthening local supply chains, and embedding emissions-linked financing mechanisms. These findings underscore MECS as a viable pathway for advancing health, climate, and sustainable development goals, provided systemic barriers are addressed.
- The following article is Open accessCo-locating offshore renewable energy farms with low-trophic aquaculture: recent developments and future challenges
Hanxiao Ma and M Salauddin 2025 Environ. Res.: Energy 2 032001
View article, Co-locating offshore renewable energy farms with low-trophic aquaculture: recent developments and future challengesPDF, Co-locating offshore renewable energy farms with low-trophic aquaculture: recent developments and future challengesThe escalating threat of global warming, exacerbated by increasing human activities, presents significant challenges for coastal environments and has led to conflicts between the use of marine space and the conservation of marine resources. A sustainable co-location approach to marine management, aims to restore marine ecosystems, mitigate climate change, and reduce marine spatial conflicts by placing offshore renewable energy (ORE) farms alongside low-trophic aquaculture (LTA). This systematic literature review analyses the strengths and limitations of the co-location method, and the findings suggest a strong potential for its development in offshore areas. The ORE farms and LTA farms can share space, vessels, and wave attenuation effects with each other. The renewable energy farms can supply power and provide anchors for the aquaculture system, while the low-trophic species capture carbon and nutrients in their ambient water. However, this multi-use strategy is still in its early stages and presents significant knowledge gaps that must be addressed before it can be widely implemented on a global scale. Previous field investigations and academic studies have been largely one-dimensional and insufficient. Critical issues in environmental, technical, and socio-economic domains remain unaddressed, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive solutions.
- The following article is Open accessUncertainty in life cycle emissions of blue hydrogen affects project eligibility for U.S. clean hydrogen tax credits
Iacob et al
View accepted manuscript, Uncertainty in life cycle emissions of blue hydrogen affects project eligibility for U.S. clean hydrogen tax creditsPDF, Uncertainty in life cycle emissions of blue hydrogen affects project eligibility for U.S. clean hydrogen tax creditsHydrogen is viewed as a potential low-carbon energy carrier, but its climate benefits depend on the production methods. In the United States, the Inflation Reduction Act’s 45V production tax credit provides incentives for hydrogen with low lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Eligibility for the credit requires transparent emissions accounting across the supply chain. The 45VH2-GREET model has been proposed as the basis for these calculations, but several key parameters, such as upstream methane emissions, electricity carbon intensity, hydrogen leakage, and carbon capture performance, are uncertain and vary regionally.
In this study, we develop an engineering-based extension of 45VH2-GREET to evaluate how variation in these parameters affects the lifecycle GHG intensity of blue hydrogen (produced from natural gas with carbon capture) across four U.S. Hydrogen Hub regions: Indiana, West Virginia, North Dakota, and eastern Texas. We find that: (1) electricity grid mix has the largest influence on total emissions, with GHG reductions of ~5-15%, depending on the grid composition; (2) fugitive methane emissions are a critical determinant of 45V tax credit eligibility, and could shift total emissions by -2% to 46%, depending on supply chain characteristics; and (3) hydrogen leakage, which is not currently included in 45V accounting, could increase total GHG emissions by ~10% if not managed. These results suggest that regional differences in upstream gas supply and electricity systems could lead to uneven eligibility outcomes and highlight the importance of transparent, region-specific data in tax credit implementation.
- The following article is Open accessLeveraging demand-side potentials for energy security and resilience in Austria
Zimm et al
View accepted manuscript, Leveraging demand-side potentials for energy security and resilience in AustriaPDF, Leveraging demand-side potentials for energy security and resilience in AustriaEnergy security is a major concern for Austria. Austria is an energy importer, with a notable and historically grown reliance on fossil fuel imports, mainly Russian gas for industry and heating and oil for transport. The related vulnerability of the Austrian economy following the Ukraine and now Iran war and the related energy crises necessitate action to bolster the system’s resilience. The Austrian government and other stakeholders have prioritized to enhance energy security. Some demand-side interventions and actions by users have shown notable potential. However, prevailing policy approaches predominantly emphasize energy supply, especially diversifying gas imports to reduce the dependence on Russia and reactive emergency measures targeted at affordability. Focusing on security of supply comes with the danger of novel lock-ins and overlooking the transformational potential of demand-side interventions and their many co-benefits for societal resilience, including health, trade balance, employment, and climate. To this end, we investigate how different supply- and demand-side interventions perform across diverse indicators of energy security for Austria using an accounting model. These interventions cover sectors such as buildings, transport, and industry. We show that demand-side actions demonstrate superior efficacy and provide an untapped readily available potential compared to conventional focus on import diversification in bolstering resilience and fortifying Austria against energy-related challenges, contributing to other policy goals such as climate change mitigation. We end with a call for action to Austrian policymakers to support demand-side actions to harness these resource potentials and diverse co-benefits instead of locking the energy system into expensive supply side infrastructure hampering transformational change opportunities.
- The following article is Open accessBalancing decarbonisation pathways: a comparative analysis of the effects of carbon pricing strategies on the decarbonisation of the EU energy system via a linked modelling approach.
Perissi et al
View accepted manuscript, Balancing decarbonisation pathways: a comparative analysis of the effects of carbon pricing strategies on the decarbonisation of the EU energy system via a linked modelling approach.PDF, Balancing decarbonisation pathways: a comparative analysis of the effects of carbon pricing strategies on the decarbonisation of the EU energy system via a linked modelling approach.Achieving the European Union’s decarbonisation goals while safeguarding a reliable energy transition presents a complex policy challenge. This paper addresses this challenge through an integrated modelling approach that combines a system dynamics-based Integrated Assessment Model, pymedeas, with an agent-based model of the electricity market, TaxvsETS ABM. The two models are linked through a one-way transfer of information, whereby a realistic EU decarbonisation pathway derived from pymedeas2 is used to constrain the TaxvsETS ABM, allowing assessment of whether the faster decarbonisation achieved by Carbon Taxes remains robust under a realistic ETS cap and an equivalent carbon price. The linked framework combines decarbonisation pathway with firms' adaptive investment behaviours, enabling the comparison of alternative carbon pricing policies under empirically informed transition conditions. Results suggest that even when the ETS is calibrated using a realistic decarbonisation pathway derived from the integrated assessment model and compared under equivalent policy stringency, carbon taxes continue to outperform emissions trading schemes in terms of decarbonisation speed, cumulative emissions reductions, and investment efficiency. However, broader governance and political economy considerations also influence the feasibility and equity of implementation. This study further demonstrates the value of hybrid modelling frameworks in supporting the evaluation of alternative carbon pricing policies within complex socio-technical systems.

- The following article is Open accessComparative evaluation of environmental and economic impacts of residual biomass utilization in China
Feng et al
View accepted manuscript, Comparative evaluation of environmental and economic impacts of residual biomass utilization in ChinaPDF, Comparative evaluation of environmental and economic impacts of residual biomass utilization in ChinaBiomass, as a renewable carbon source, offers decarbonization possibilities for a wide range of energy and material-related end uses, including power and heat, fuels, fertilizers, and biomaterials. As the global concerns about climate change and carbon neutrality goals increase, the efficient allocation of limited biomass resources across these competing sectors has become a critical issue. This study integrates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-economic Analysis (TEA) to compare the benefits of intersectoral biomass resource utilization, and linking the evaluation results to the stakeholders under different system boundaries. Through evaluating 31 representative biomass utilization pathways in China, this framework quantifies the environmental and economic impacts under multiple policy scenarios. The results suggest that prioritizing biomass for green fuel production not only offers higher profitability but also delivers the greatest decarbonization potential across the entire biomass utilization system. This study finds that optimization of inter-sectoral biomass resource allocation could achieve low-cost decarbonization. This study offers valuable technical insights for optimizing biomass resource allocation and provides actionable recommendations for carbon neutrality strategies.
- The following article is Open accessCost-effective approaches to maintaining resource adequacy in wind and solar electricity systems over decades of weather variability
Reich et al
View accepted manuscript, Cost-effective approaches to maintaining resource adequacy in wind and solar electricity systems over decades of weather variabilityPDF, Cost-effective approaches to maintaining resource adequacy in wind and solar electricity systems over decades of weather variabilityMaintaining resource adequacy—ensuring supply can reliably meet demand—of electricity systems is increasingly challenging as the share wind and solar generation increases. Planning models typically optimize for generation and storage capacities in least-cost systems using a limited number of historical weather years. However, long-term reliability depends on how these systems perform under decades of real-world weather-derived resource variability. Using a stylized single-node macro-scale energy model of CONUS, we evaluated the additional generation and/or storage capacity required to ensure long-term resource adequacy for electric power systems initially planned using weather data over a limited period but then operated over decades of weather variability. Coordinated, strategic expenditures on additional storage and generation assets were more effective at improving resource adequacy than expenditures on a single asset category, either additional generation or storage assets. For spending limited to a single asset category, expenditures allocated solely to additional wind generation could achieve resource adequacy standards for the operational period of the system, regardless of the storage technologies available. In contrast, expenditures allocated solely to additional solar photovoltaic generation capacity, in many cases, could not achieve the required resource adequacy in the absence of sufficient storage capacity at night. Our work suggests that, to provide for long-term system reliability in wind-and-solar-reliant electricity systems optimized over a small number of years, both wind generation and storage capacities would need to be expanded beyond the levels determined in the relatively short-term optimization. These findings suggest that current resource adequacy standards, such as the NERC one-hour-in-a-decade standard, should be reevaluated considering extreme events, akin to a "once-in-a-century flood" or "wind drought", to ensure resilience against both historical weather variability and future climate-related weather uncertainties, ultimately highlighting the value of developing improved methods for extrapolating the needs of systems that will operate over decades from short-term optimization frameworks.
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- The following article is Open accessMeasuring exploration: evaluation of modelling to generate alternatives methods in capacity expansion models
Michael Lau et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Energy 1 045004
View article, Measuring exploration: evaluation of modelling to generate alternatives methods in capacity expansion modelsPDF, Measuring exploration: evaluation of modelling to generate alternatives methods in capacity expansion modelsAs decarbonisation agendas mature, macro-energy systems modelling studies have increasingly focused on enhanced decision support methods that move beyond least-cost modelling to improve consideration of additional objectives and tradeoffs. One candidate is modelling to generate alternatives (MGA), which systematically explores new objectives without explicit stakeholder elicitation. This paper provides comparative testing of four existing MGA methodologies and proposes a new Combination vector selection approach. We examine each existing method’s runtime, parallelizability, new solution discovery efficiency, and spatial exploration in lower dimensional (N ⩽ 100) spaces, as well as spatial exploration for all methods in a three-zone, 8760 h capacity expansion model case. To measure convex hull volume expansion, this paper formalizes a computationally tractable high-dimensional volume estimation algorithm. We find random vector provides the broadest exploration of the near-optimal feasible region and variable Min/Max provides the most extreme results, while the two tie on computational speed. The new Combination method provides an advantageous mix of the two. Additional analysis is provided on MGA variable selection, in which we demonstrate MGA problems formulated over generation variables fail to retain cost-optimal dispatch and are thus not reflective of real operations of equivalent hypothetical capacity choices. As such, we recommend future studies utilize a parallelized combined vector approach over the set of capacity variables for best results in computational speed and spatial exploration while retaining optimal dispatch.
- The following article is Open accessIndia’s National Green Hydrogen Mission: an analysis of the strategies, policies for net-zero emissions and sustainability
Balasubramanian Sambasivam and Rakesh Narayana Sarma 2024 Environ. Res.: Energy 1 045015
View article, India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission: an analysis of the strategies, policies for net-zero emissions and sustainabilityPDF, India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission: an analysis of the strategies, policies for net-zero emissions and sustainabilityGreen hydrogen (GH2) is emerging as a promising option for decarbonizing the energy, transport, and industrial sectors, playing a critical role in addressing climate change. India aims to achieve energy independence by 2047 and net-zero emissions by 2070. To realize these goals, the country has launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with a vision to become a global leader in GH2 production, electrolyzer manufacturing, and export. This article provides an overview of the National Green Hydrogen Mission’s initiatives, state-level policies supporting GH2, and key projects undertaken by public and private sector organizations. As part of the mission, India plans to establish a GH2 production capacity of at least 5 million metric tonnes per year and develop 60–100 GW of electrolyzer capacity. The government has initiated pilot projects focusing on the use of GH2 in shipping, long-haul mobility, and the steel industry. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of hydrogen energy in India is presented. The challenges posed by high equipment costs and the need for more indigenous technologies have been highlighted. The possibility of reducing fossil fuel imports, enhanced energy security, and the availability of a skilled workforce present significant opportunities and strengths. Key policy recommendations for enhancing GH2 production in India include encouraging all states to support the development, offering interest-free loans and incentives, and promoting Research and Development by establishing centres of excellence and fostering international collaboration.
- The following article is Open accessMeasuring the Dunkelflaute: how (not) to analyze variable renewable energy shortage
Martin Kittel and Wolf-Peter Schill 2024 Environ. Res.: Energy 1 035007
View article, Measuring the Dunkelflaute: how (not) to analyze variable renewable energy shortagePDF, Measuring the Dunkelflaute: how (not) to analyze variable renewable energy shortageAs variable renewable energy (VRE) sources increasingly gain importance in global energy systems, there is a growing interest in understanding periods of VRE shortage (‘Dunkelflauten’). Defining, quantifying, and comparing such shortage events across different renewable generation technologies and locations presents a surprisingly intricate challenge. Various methodological approaches exist in different bodies of literature, which have been applied to single technologies in specific locations or technology portfolios across multiple regions. We provide an overview of various methods for quantifying VRE shortage, focusing either on supply from variable renewables or its mismatch with electricity demand. We explain and critically discuss the merits and challenges of different approaches for defining and identifying shortage events and propose further methodological improvements for more accurate shortage determination. Additionally, we elaborate on comparability requirements for multi-technological and multi-regional energy shortage analysis. In doing so, we aim to contribute to unifying disparate methodologies, harmonizing terminologies, and providing guidance for future research.
- The following article is Open accessQuantifying the impact of energy system model resolution on siting, cost, reliability, and emissions for electricity generation
Anna F Jacobson et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Energy 1 035009
View article, Quantifying the impact of energy system model resolution on siting, cost, reliability, and emissions for electricity generationPDF, Quantifying the impact of energy system model resolution on siting, cost, reliability, and emissions for electricity generationRuntime and memory requirements for typical formulations of energy system models increase non-linearly with resolution, computationally constraining large-scale models despite state-of-the-art solvers and hardware. This scaling paradigm requires omission of detail which can affect key outputs to an unknown degree. Recent algorithmic innovations employing decomposition have enabled linear increases in runtime and memory use as temporal resolution increases. Newly tractable, higher resolution systems can be compared with lower resolution configurations commonly employed today in academic research and industry practice, providing a better understanding of the potential biases or inaccuracies introduced by these abstractions. We employ a state-of-the art electricity system planning model and new high-resolution systems to quantify the impact of varying degrees of spatial, temporal, and operational resolution on results salient to policymakers and planners. We find models with high spatial and temporal resolution result in more realistic siting decisions and improved emissions, reliability, and price outcomes. Errors are generally larger in systems with low spatial resolution, which omit key transmission constraints. We demonstrate that high temporal resolution cannot overcome biases introduced by low spatial resolution, and vice versa. While we see asymptotic improvements to total system cost and reliability with increased resolution, other salient outcomes such as siting accuracy and emissions exhibit continued improvement across the range of model resolutions considered. We conclude that modelers should carefully balance resolution on spatial, temporal, and operational dimensions and that novel computational methods enabling higher resolution modeling are valuable and can further improve the decision support provided by this class of models.
- The following article is Open accessThe effects of fair allocation principles on energy system model designs
Oskar Vågerö et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Energy 1 045011
View article, The effects of fair allocation principles on energy system model designsPDF, The effects of fair allocation principles on energy system model designsWhat constitutes socially just or unjust energy systems or transitions can be derived from philosophy and theories of justice. Assessments of distributive justice and utilising them in modelling lead to great differences based on which justice principles are applied. From the limited research so far published in the intersection between energy systems modelling and justice, we find that comparisons between the two principles of utilitarianism and egalitarianism dominate in assessments of distributive justice, with the latter most often considered representing a ‘just energy system’. The lack of recognition of alternative and equally valid principles of justice, resting on e.g. capabilities, responsibilities and/or opportunities, leads to a narrow understanding of justice that fails to align with the views of different individuals, stakeholders and societies. More importantly, it can lead to the unjust design of future energy systems and energy systems analysis. In this work, we contribute to the growing amount of research on distributive justice in energy systems modelling by assessing the implications of different philosophical views on justice on modelling results. Through a modelling exercise with a power system model for Europe (highRES), we explore different designs of a future (2050) net-zero European electricity system, and its distributional implications based on the application of different justice principles. In addition to the utilitarian and egalitarian approach, we include, among others, principles of ‘polluters pay’ and ‘ability-to-pay’, which take historical contributions of greenhouse gas emissions and the socio-economic conditions of a region into account. We find that fair distributions of electricity generating infrastructure look significantly different depending on the justice principles applied. The results may stimulate a greater discussion among researchers and policymakers on the implications of different constructions of justice in modelling, expansion of approaches, and demonstrate the importance of transparency and assumptions when communicating such results.
- The following article is Open accessFlexible emulation of the climate warming cooling feedback to globally assess the maladaptation implications of future air conditioning use
Edward Byers et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Energy 1 035011
View article, Flexible emulation of the climate warming cooling feedback to globally assess the maladaptation implications of future air conditioning usePDF, Flexible emulation of the climate warming cooling feedback to globally assess the maladaptation implications of future air conditioning useRising affluence and a warming climate mean that the demand for air conditioning (AC) is rising rapidly, as society adapts to climate extremes. Here we present findings from a new methodological framework to flexibly couple and emulate these growing demands into a global integrated assessment model (IAM), subsequently representing the positive feedbacks between rising temperatures, growth in cooling demand, and carbon emissions. In assessing global and regional climate change impacts on cooling energy demand, the emulator incorporates climate model uncertainties and can explore behavioural and adaptation-related assumptions on setpoint temperature and access to cooling. It is also agnostic to the emissions and climate warming trajectory, enabling the IAM to run new policy-relevant scenarios (Current Policies, 2 °C and 1.5 °C) with climate impacts that do not follow Representative Concentration Pathways. We find that climate model uncertainty has a significant effect, more than doubling the increase in electricity demand, when comparing the 95th percentile cases to the median of the climate model ensemble. Residential AC cooling energy demands are expected to increase by 150% by 2050 whilst providing universal access to AC would result in the order of a 400% increase. Depending on the region, under current policies and limited mitigation, climate change could bring in the order of 10%–20% higher cooling-related electricity demands by 2050, and approximately 50% by 2100. Set point temperature has an important moderating role—increasing internal set-point from 23 °C to 26 °C, approximately halves the growth in electricity demand, for the majority of scenarios and regions. This effect is so strong that the change in set point temperature to both residential and commercial sectors outweighs the growth in demand that would occur by providing universal access to AC by 2050 to the 40% of the global population who would otherwise not afford it.
- The following article is Open accessEstablishing best practices for modeling multi-day energy storage in deeply decarbonized energy systems
Gabriel Mantegna et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Energy 1 045014
View article, Establishing best practices for modeling multi-day energy storage in deeply decarbonized energy systemsPDF, Establishing best practices for modeling multi-day energy storage in deeply decarbonized energy systemsMulti-day energy storage (MDS), a subset of long-duration energy storage, may become a critical technology for the decarbonization of the power sector, as current commercially available Lithium-ion battery storage technologies cannot cost-effectively shift energy to address multi-day or seasonal variability in demand and renewable energy availability. MDS is difficult to model in existing energy system planning models (such as electricity system capacity expansion models (CEMs)), as it is much more dependent on an accurate representation of chronology than other resources. Techniques exist for modeling MDS in these planning models; however, it is not known how spatial and temporal resolution affect the performance of these techniques, creating a research gap. In this study we examine what spatial and temporal resolution is necessary to accurately capture the full value of MDS, in the context of a continent-scale CEM. We use the results to draw conclusions and present best practices for modelers seeking to accurately model MDS in a macro-energy systems planning context. Our key findings are: (1) modeling MDS with linked representative periods is crucial to capturing its full value, (2) MDS value is highly sensitive to the cost and availability of other resources, and (3) temporal resolution is more important than spatial resolution for capturing the full value of MDS, although how much temporal resolution is needed will depend on the specific model context.
- The following article is Open accessThe impact of regional resources and technology availability on carbon dioxide removal potential in the United States
Parisa Javadi et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Energy 1 045007
View article, The impact of regional resources and technology availability on carbon dioxide removal potential in the United StatesPDF, The impact of regional resources and technology availability on carbon dioxide removal potential in the United StatesTo achieve net zero carbon emissions by mid-century, the United States may need to rely on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to offset emissions from difficult-to-decarbonize sectors and/or shortfalls in near-term mitigation efforts. CDR can be delivered using many approaches with different requirements for land, water, geologic carbon storage capacity, energy, and other resources. The availability of these resources varies by region in the U.S. suggesting that CDR deployment will be uneven across the country. Using the global change analysis model for the United States (GCAM-USA), we modeled six classes of CDR and explored their potential using four scenarios: a scenario where all the CDR pathways are available (Full Portfolio), a scenario with restricted carbon capture and storage (Low CCS), a scenario where the availability of bio-based CDR options is limited (Low Bio), and a scenario with constraints on enhanced rock weathering (ERW) capabilities (Low ERW). We find that by employing a diverse set of CDR approaches, the U.S. could remove between 1 and 1.9 GtCO2/yr by midcentury. In the Full Portfolio scenario, direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) predominates, delivering approximately 50% of CO2 removal, with bioenergy with carbon capture and storage contributing 25%, and ERW delivering 11.5%. Texas and the agricultural Midwest lead in CDR deployment due to their abundant agricultural land and geological storage availability. In the Low CCS scenario, reliance on DACCS decreases, easing pressure on energy systems but increasing pressure on the land. In all cases CDR deployment was found to drive important impacts on energy, land, or materials supply chains (to supply ERW, for example) and these effects were generally more pronounced when fewer CDR technologies were available.
- The following article is Open accessSystem flexibility in the context of transition towards a net-zero sector-coupled renewable energy system—case study of Germany
Nourelden Gaafar et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Energy 1 025007
View article, System flexibility in the context of transition towards a net-zero sector-coupled renewable energy system—case study of GermanyPDF, System flexibility in the context of transition towards a net-zero sector-coupled renewable energy system—case study of GermanyTo integrate variable renewable energy sources into the energy system and achieve net-zero emissions, the flexible operation of the power system is essential. Options that provide flexibility include electrolysis, demand side management, import and export of electricity, and flexible power plants. However, the interplay of these flexibility options in a renewable energy system with highly interacting energy and end-use sectors (known as sector coupling) is not yet fully understood. The aim of this paper is to improve the understanding of energy flexibility from a system perspective by explaining which flexibility options can provide how much flexibility and when are they operated. The analysis of the hourly results of the sector-coupled, long-term energy system model REMod shows that in times with high renewable electricity production, sector coupling technologies, specifically electrolysis and power-to-heat, dominate the annual flexibility shares. On the other hand, in times with low renewable production and high non-flexible demand, combined and open cycle gas turbines and electricity imports dominate in winter, while discharging electricity storage technologies dominate in summer. The operation of short-term electricity storage aligns in particular with photovoltaic production, while the operation of electrolysis is especially aligned to wind production. Non-flexible demand variations are driving the operation of combined and open cycle gas turbines and electricity imports. The results emphasize the pivotal role of flexibility, highlighting the need for efficient surplus electricity utilization and sector coupling. The results further suggest that it is crucial to establish market conditions that facilitate the flexible operation of various technologies in order to achieve economic efficiency.
- The following article is Open accessThe energy transition and local government finance: new data and insights from 10 US states
Daniel Raimi et al 2024 Environ. Res.: Energy 1 035003
View article, The energy transition and local government finance: new data and insights from 10 US statesPDF, The energy transition and local government finance: new data and insights from 10 US statesFossil fuels are the primary contributor to global climate change, and efforts to reach net-zero emissions will require a dramatic curtailment of their extraction and use. However, fossil fuels fund public services at all levels of government, and research has not assessed whether clean energy sources can provide similar scales of revenue. In this paper, we analyze a novel dataset that we have assembled on how fossil fuels and renewable energy contribute to local governments in 79 US counties across 10 states. Revenues from fossil fuels far outweigh renewables in aggregate terms, providing more than $1000 per capita annually in dozens of counties. However, wind and solar in some states generate more local public revenue than fossil fuels per unit of primary energy production. In most counties that depend heavily on fossil fuels for local revenues, solar—but not wind—has the technical potential to replace existing fossil fuel revenues, but this would require dedicating implausibly large portions of developable land (in some cases, more than half) to solar. For counties with less reliance on fossil fuels, wind and solar can more plausibly replace fossil fuel revenue streams. This finding suggests that while renewable energy will provide new revenue streams for communities, fossil fuel–dependent regions will need to build new tax bases well beyond wind and solar, develop other sources of revenue, or risk a decline in public service provision.
Journal resources
Environmental Publications
- Environmental Research Communications
- Environmental Research Letters
- Environmental Research: Climate
- Environmental Research: Ecology
- Environmental Research: Energy
- Environmental Research: Food Systems
- Environmental Research: Health
- Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability
- Environmental Research: Water
Journal information
- 2024-present
Environmental Research: Energy
Online ISSN: 2753-3751